For the first time since the 2008 Class AAAAA state championship game Redan's girls' basketball team walked back to their locker room with tears in their eyes and with long, somber faces.

"They played hard, and left it all out on the court," Jackson said of the team's effort. "That's all you can ask for as a coach."

Norcross defeated Redan, 76-63, as the Lady Raiders' foul trouble woes eventually cost them the game. Senior shooting guard Kierra Paige, junior power forward Aneesah Daniels and senior guard Mackenzie Dalrymple all fouled out of the game. Norcross took advantage of 31 foul shots in the second half by hitting 25.

"I just asked [the official] if we could get calls on both ends," Jackson said of receiving a technical foul in the waning minutes. "Then, [the official] said, 'Don't say anything to me'.

"No, that wasn't a factor," Jackson said of not being used to playing from behind. "Tonight, a couple of calls didn't go our way."

At the end of the game, Redan had 25 total fouls, while Norcross had 18. Three Redan players fouled out of the game, while Norcross freshman Kaela Davis was the Lady Blue Devils lone player to be disqualified from the game.

The Lady Blue Devils, coached by Angie Hembree, continued Hembree's streak of victories against Redan. As head coach at Collins Hill, Hembree led the Lady Eagles to their third state championship in five years when they beat Redan, 65-42, in the 2005 Class AAAAA state semifinals on the same floor.

Though Redan remained in the contest until the final 1:30 mark of the game, the Lady Raiders' chances came to a sharp end when Paige fouled out of the game. Paige was called for a push, protested the call and was then charged with a technical foul.

Norcross senior Judean Hanks sank her two free throws off the personal foul, which was followed by senior Briana Jordan sinking two more off the technical foul. The Lady Blue Devils stretched their advantage to, 73-62, and would not relent for the remainder of the game.

Through the first half, Redan had similar foul trouble, but was able to rely on Paige - who scored 15. Off the bench, the Lady Raiders were able to add 10 more points from Sydney Mason, Cynia Clark and Kiara King.

"My bench has played pretty well all season," Jackson said. "I think we have 15 of the best girls I can find [anywhere]."

For the game, Paige finished with 22 points. Over the course of the last two games, she contributed 37 points, and was certainly one of the team's leaders on both ends of the floor.

For the six seniors at Redan, the Lady Raiders accomplished a great deal over the past three seasons in reaching three state championship games and winning three region championships.

"The senior class is great," Jackson said. "They played great all the time. Win, lose or draw, when you play like [the seniors did], that's all you can ask for."