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STATE BASKETBALL: Newton girls use huge second half comeback to knock off McEachern
Newton Celebrates
The Newton Lady Rams celebrate after coming back from an 18-point deficit to knock off 4-time defending state champion McEachern.

BUFORD, Ga. -- The Newton Lady Rams used lockdown defense and the heart of a champion to dethrone a champion as coach Tiffani Johnson's team erased an 18-point third quarter deficit to beat four-time defending champion McEachern, 65-57 Saturday in the Class AAAAAAA state tournament's Final Four. 

The win punched Newton's ticket to its first state championship game since 1963. Newton will play either Westlake or North Forsyth next Saturday at 6 p.m. at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion. 

Lexii Chatman led Newton with 21 points, while Jurnee Smith chipped in with 15. After McEachern star Jasmine Carson erupted for 13 points in the first half, she was shut out completely in the second half, thanks to a stifling box-and-one defense employed by Newton. 

Visit our website throughout the day for more coverage on both Newton basketball teams' trip to the Final Four.