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GCA's defensive pressure early was to get the ball out of Flint River's lead guards hands, which started a 9-2 advantage for the Cougars out of the gates.

Senior Keith Eidson and freshman Riley Weaver look to double the ball-handler and make Flint River initate their offense elsewhere.

GCA's Owen Earnest attacks his defender one-on-one after a turnover.

Earnest elevating in the air using his floater on the baseline.

Eidson attacks the glass and muscles his way to two points.

Grace Christian family and friends gathered tightly for the 4 o'clock start time.

Senior Dawson Worsely scores an easy two late in the third quarter before all the starters we're taken out.

Earnest looking for his teammates in transition.

Cade Wells attacks the rim furiously.

Wells was an effective +35 on the court and coming up one rebound shy of a double-double.

Coach Williams talking to senior Dawson Worsely following two free-throw attempts by Flint River's No. 12 Jamir Muhammad.

In the first round of the 2025 GIAA Class A State Basketball Tournament, the No. 6 seeded Grace Christian Cougars hosted and routed the 11-seeded Flint River Wildcats 84-55 to advance to the Elite Eight and challenge No. 3 Robert Toombs Christian Academy on Saturday at Tattnall High School at noon.

It was a packed crowd inside Perry Memorial Gymnasium, which was immense, with every seat filled and spectators standing shoulder to shoulder, creating an electric atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. These fans are deeply connected to the GCA sports program(s) and players, fully supporting them at every turn. 

It’s the first State win for the Grace Christian basketball program since 2019 when they defeated Citizens Christian Academy 54-49. 

“It all starts with my seniors,” Grace Christian basketball coach Chris Williams said. “They’ve come in every day and keep everybody in order. They’re leaders on and off the court, they’ve been together since the seventh grade, so it all starts with them.” 

Four players scored in double figures for the Cougars. Senior No. 10 Keith Eidson led the Cougars in scoring and rebounds, putting together a dominant 22-point, 12-rebound, and 5-steal stat line. He also surpassed the remarkable milestone of 1,000 rebounds, which required just eleven more rebounds to achieve. This solidified his reputation as a dominant force on the court and a key player for the Cougars. 

“One thing about Keith,” Williams said. “I’ve had the pleasure to coach him for three years and he didn’t let the milestone get in the way of being a team player first, I applaud him for that.”

No. 2 junior, Luke Boyett finished with 19 points, six rebounds, and three steals. No. 12 senior, point guard Owen Earnest had a spectacular double-double scoring 15 points and producing 13 assists, 72 percent of the team’s assists. He engineered the offense for the Cougars, which was humming to the tune of 80+ points, and an offensive clinic in the third quarter, where GCA would extend their seven-point halftime lead (34-27) into a 22-point cushion entering the fourth quarter 62-40. 

Eidson, Boyett, and Earnest were all a plus/minus +30. No. 5 senior, Cade Wells netted 12 points, nine rebounds, and a team-high plus/minus +35. No. 20, senior Dawson Worsley had five points and seven rebounds. 

The Cougars were scorching hot from three-point range coming out of halftime and finished 8-for-22 from deep and 45 percent from the field. Eidson was red-hot from behind the arc nailing all three of his attempts. 

“Keith came out and shot the ball exceptionally well,” he said. “It carried over to the third quarter, and Luke Boyett came on, tagged in three threes. Sometimes the third quarter is our biggest downfall, tonight it was our greatest.” 

After GCA bested Flint River, two teams from Region 3, including Fullington Academy, have advanced to the Elite Eight and made it into the weekend. This stands as a testament to the rigorous challenges both teams have faced and overcome, showcasing their ability to adapt and progressively improve their performance as the stakes have become higher and the significance of each game has increased.

“This region is competitive, of course, we lost the region championship, last Thursday,” Williams said. “But I think we actually needed that. We kept everything together.”