Wheeler Battles Past McEachern in Gritty 6A State Semifinal

ATLANTA, GA – In a heavyweight clash that lived up to its billing, the Wheeler Wildcats punched their ticket to the GHSA Class 6A state championship with a hard-fought 56–52 victory over the McEachern Indians on Saturday night at the Georgia State Convocation Center.

The win sets up a date for the Wildcats at the Macon Coliseum as they look to add more hardware to their storied trophy case.

The Standout Performers

UConn signee Colben Landrew proved why he is one of the most feared players in the state, leading all scorers with 22 points. Landrew’s impact was felt most in the swinging moments of the game—closing the third quarter with a thunderous dunk and opening the fourth with a cold-blooded three-pointer that shifted the momentum for good.

Wheeler also saw balanced contributions from Jaron Saulsberry and Kevin Savage III, who chipped in 9 points apiece to help weather the McEachern defensive pressure.

For McEachern, Chase Lumpkin was the engine that kept the Indians in the hunt. Lumpkin finished with a team-high 18 points, including a clutch bucket with just 32 seconds remaining that brought McEachern within a single possession. Emmanuel Alofe added 9 points in the physical interior battle.

Game Flow: A Tale of Two Halves

The opening frame belonged to Wheeler, as they jumped out to a 19–15 lead. However, McEachern responded with a defensive masterclass in the second quarter, stifling the Wildcats and mounting an 11–0 run to take a 29–24 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The third quarter saw the pendulum swing back. Wheeler ignited a 10–0 run of their own, reclaiming the lead and forcing McEachern into a trail position for the remainder of the night. Despite a frantic late-game surge from the Indians, Wheeler’s poise at the free-throw line and Landrew’s shot-making secured the four-point win.

Stat Leaders

Player	Team	Points	Key Highlight
Colben Landrew	Wheeler	22	UConn signee; 4th quarter momentum shifter
Chase Lumpkin	McEachern	18	Led Indians’ late-game comeback attempt
Jaron Saulsberry	Wheeler	9	Provided consistent secondary scoring
Kevin Savage III	Wheeler	9	Key defensive presence and timely buckets
Emmanuel Alofe	McEachern	9	Interior scoring and rebounding