Green City Boys Win Fifth Straight District Title

 Green City remained unbeaten on the season with a 74-58 win over a tough Atlanta Hornet team in the boys championship game of Class 1, District 11 at Green City. Tristin Harrison sank a Gopher three ball, opening a ten point lead at the 3:14 mark of the second quarter. 

Second ranked Green City (27-0) led 34-24 after a 10-2 run late in the first half. Atlanta freshman Jaden White scored with five seconds remaining in the third period for a 53- 43 Gopher lead entering the final period. 

Green City led by as many as 17 points in the second half. JJ White scored with 4:11 in the game for a 61-51 Gopher lead. Mason Reed sank a free throw pulling Atlanta back within a 68-58 deficit with 1:16 remaining. 

Green City free throws extended the lead to the final score of 74-58. The Gophers held a 20-15 lead in made field goals. Atlanta sank eight three balls to seven for Green City. The Gophers made 13 of 19 free throws. Atlanta was 4-9 at the line. 

Xander Salas scored a game high 24 points for Green City. Salas has been part of over 100 winning games at Green City including his fourth straight boys district basketball championship. 

“We turned the ball over too many times early in the game,” Atlanta coach Jason White said. “ When you get down to a team like this, you can’t turn the ball over and not get shots on our end.” 

“We got down 18 and cut it back to seven (points),” Jason White said. “That shows who these kids are. I was proud of the way they responded. They don’t ever give up. We didn’t get out hustled tonight, that’s for sure.” 

Ty Hall scored 15 points. Noah Tipton was the third Gopher in double figures with 14 points. Tristin Harrison scored five points. Ivan Littrell, Jaden O’ Haver and Preston Balfany added two points each. 

JJ White led Atlanta (20-8) with 16 points. Grady Hruska and Mason Reed scored 15 points each. Kevin Spearman scored six points. Sawyer Nelson and Jaden White added two Hornet points each. 

“Any time we can turn defense to offense that’s huge,” Green City coach Matt Ayers said. “We know what (Atlanta) is capable of. They are capable of big runs. We had to limit those runs. I felt like we did that for the most part.” 

“We finally got them stopped and then we went on a run. It was a game of runs,” Matt 

Ayers said. “I just feel very fortunate and blessed that we were able to come out on top.” 

Green City has now won five consecutive boys district basketball championships. The 

Gophers hosted second ranked Brunswick (25-2) in the Class 1 Sectional round on Monday, March 3, 2025, winning with a score of 71 to 61.2/