Chris Mooneyham

Well, since things have settled down a bit…

I have spent the last few weeks covering the GHSA basketball playoffs; which culminated last week in Macon with perhaps the greatest weekend of championship games in state history.

There was history: McEachern’s ladies win a third title in four years, Jonesboro’s guys earn a second straight, Buford’s girls notched a fourth title in seven years, and Wesleyan and Taylor County’s ladies collected their record tying 11th titles.

And drama: Half of the 14 championships were decided in the final minute or overtime. Future NBA player Jaylen Brown knocked down two free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining to beat Pebblebrook. The ladies from St Francis won at the buzzer, Carrollton’s girls missed two free throws with 0.6 seconds on the clock, and Jenkins knocked off the defending state champs, and a kid named Tookie, with a layup at two seconds.

During the semifinal round, I was in Columbus for the play-by-play of the 2A, and 3A, boys and girls state semifinals. The eight contests from the Lumpkin Center can be seen, on demand, at NFHS Network.com. Below are links for the ballgames.

  1. http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ghsa/ce382a6410 3A Guys   Jenkins vs Rutland…One of the craziest, quickest comebacks in my twenty-plus-years of broadcasting. The Warriors led the Hurricanes 64-48 with a little over five minutes remaining. By the one-minute mark, Rutland claimed the lead…
  2. http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ghsa/8389dc01cc   3A Guys   Morgan County vs Laney…An easy description. The defending state champions take on #1. MoCo star Tookie Brown scored 32 of his 37 total points in the second half…
  3. http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ghsa/b54d7a1e3a   3A Ladies Laney vs Decatur…Laney was making its seventh straight appearance in the state semifinals-without a state title. Decatur had not reached this point since 1972…
  4. http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ghsa/3a83dc4784   3A Ladies…Beach vs East Hall…The Lady Vikings of East traveled from Gainesville to Calhoun to Columbus in a single day. Their reward was facing one of the stingiest defenses in 3A Girls basketball in Beach…
  5. http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ghsa/c51a9d4d36   2A Guys   Seminole County vs Vidalia…Potential future Georgia Bulldog Jordan Harris was really good, but Vidalia puts together a late rally behind Senior gridiron great Jordan Black…
  6. http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ghsa/bf623de380   2A Guys  Crawford County vs Swainsboro…A really entertaining, high octane ballgame that was 49-45 late 3rd quarter, with Crawford County leading, and trying to pull away…
  7. http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ghsa/d92fcf1a4e   2A Ladies   Holy Innocents vs Pelham…Nationally ranked Holy Innocents looked to finish off an undefeated season. In doing so, they would need to beat Pelham, arguably the most athletic team they would face all year…
  8. http://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ghsa/9ec1880bff   2A Ladies Wesleyan vs Lovett…The Lady Wolves try to become the first girls’ team in state history to win 11 state titles. While Lovett looks for their second title in the last four years…
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Published by Chris Mooneyham

Chris Mooneyham is a twenty-year broadcast veteran employed or freelancing for multiple companies across America. Currently he is a co-host, play-by-play person and guest anchor for Atlanta’s sports leader, The Fan 680AM/ 93.7FM; and its sister stations on The Sports X. In the Fall, Chris serves as the Sideline Reporter for Kennesaw State University football. He also works as studio host, play-by-play announcer and content producer for The Fan’s coverage of Georgia High School football. Come the Wintertime, the focus shifts to the National Lacrosse League 2017 World Champions, the Georgia Swarm (play-by-play). When Spring rolls around, the Atlanta native delivers the play-by-play for the Emory University baseball team, a two-time national finalist. All throughout the year, Mooneyham is a lead play-by-play person for the NFHS Network’s high school sports coverage and over the last decade was honored to call state championships in nearly every sport. A Kennesaw State graduate, Chris holds a Communication degree in Media Studies and a Minor degree in Film Studies. He is also a two-time graduate of broadcasting school (Connecticut School of Broadcasting-1998/ Atlanta Broadcast Institute-2008).

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