The Yellow Jackets took their first lead in the game following a 3-pointer by Rogers with 51 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, which capped a 5-0 run by Vincent and gave Rogers and his teammates 12-11 lead.

Vincent knocked down 11-of-18 free throws in the opening half, including 8-of-10 in the final four minutes of the second quarter, which allowed the Yellow Jackets to carry a 23-18 lead into the locker room at halftime after ending the first half with a 10-2 run.

Rogers drained a 3-pointer and McCrimon added a layup in the opening minutes of the third quarter, which gave Vincent its first double-digit lead in the game at 28-18 following a quick 5-0 run to open the second half.

McCrimon’s offensive rebound and putback gave the Yellow Jackets a 30-20 lead with 5:08 left in the third quarter.

Lanett responded with a momentum-changing 25-2 run, which included 19 points by guard Justice Jackson. Jackson’s two free throws with 6:05 remaining in the game gave Lanett a 45-32 advantage.

Vincent chipped away at the deficit in the final minutes, with Rogers’ three 3-pointers and a 3-pointer by Williams in the final 2:22 completing the comeback.

“They don’t have any quit in them,” Hadder said. “I can’t say enough about Anterio making big shot after big shot.”

Defensively, the 6-foot-1 McCrimon limited a 6-foot-7 post player and a pair of 6-foot-4 forwards to 20 points despite the size disadvantage and Lanett’s 50-35 advantage on the boards.

“It was hard,” McCrimon said, “but I got it done.”

Hadder said playing in the championship game validates the hard work put in by his players the past three seasons, including two years that ended with heartbreak in the Class 2A Northeast Region tournament.

“Each year, the buy-in has gotten stronger and stronger,” Hadder said.