Duluth, Ga. -- Nationally ranked Miller Grove became the 10th team in Georgia history to win three straight state titles in boys basketball on Friday. The Wolverines (32-1) defeated Rockdale County 67-59 in Georgia's Class AAAA final at the Gwinnett Place Arena.
Rockdale, seeking its first state title, never led and once trailed by 15 but was tied 53-53 with 4:37 left. From there, Miller Grove went on a 9-1 run and held Rockdale to only one more field goal.
Miller Grove played without Henry Brooks, a 6-8 senior forward and the team's second-leading scorer.
Tony Parker, a 6-9 junior post player, was plenty to keep Rockdale on the ropes inside as he scored 21 points and had 13 rebounds and five blocked shots. Brandon Morris, another 6-8 forward on what many consider Georgia's best high school front line, scored 11 points.
Miller Grove's guards were outstanding, especially in the first half. Justin Colvin, who replaced Brooks in the starting lineup, scored all 11 of his points in the first half. That included two 3-point shots. Devon Provost scored 12.
Rockdale (26-6) was led in scoring by Bernard Thompson, who had 14 points. Carren Wilson and Darion Clark had 12. Kevin Ware, a guard who has signed with Tennessee, was limited to five.
Miller Grove is ranked in the top 25 of several national polls and has a shot at a final Top 10 national ranking. Miller Grove coach Sharman White believes his team's three-peat was more difficult than many nationally might imagine.
‘'It's extremely challenging because we've got a bull's eye on us all year long,'' White said. "We played some of the best teams all over the country. It prepared us for this.''