Central plays from behind, can't get over the hump in tough semifinal loss

          Central was in a comeback mode almost from the start, down 14-9 after one and 28-21 at halftime.

          The Chargers stayed within a few possessions of Jefferson, and bowed up to tie it – finally – at the end of the third quarter.

          And just like that, momentum was gone.

          Jacob Radaker, a 6-9 post player, stepped outside and buried three 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter and propel Jefferson to a 66-58 win over the Chargers in a GHSA Class AAA boys semifinal at Valdosta State.

          Central was trying to join Southwest’s girls as Bibb County teams in the GHSA championship, and do so for the first time in program history.

          By the end of that 11-2 run, the Chargers (23-8) were down 53-44, Jefferson’s patient halfcourt game dictating tempo.

          Yet again, the Chargers battled back, getting within 53-50 on two Quay Primas buckets and one from Kory Bond.

          A Harold Thompkins bucket at the 1:10 mark got the Chargers within 58-56, but the momentum stopped there.

          Four free throws around a Jefferson steal pushed the Dragons’ lead to 62-56 with 44 seconds left. Another turnover soon after was followed by another Jefferson bucket, and that was it.

          Central scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, but could match a score and stop or stop and score to get back into a tie.

          Owen Parker and Kam Robinson had 16 for Jefferson (22-7), with Radaker adding 15.

          Primas led the Chargers with 30 points, 51.7 percent of Central’s output, with Tony Card adding 11, the pair coming up with 70.2 percent of Central’s scoring.

          It was the final game for Bond, Card, Thompkins, and Xavier Gibson, four of the eight Chargers who played Saturday.