March 9, 2026 — Eleven years ago, almost to the day, the Pebblebrook Falcons headed south to the Macon Coliseum to square off with the Wheeler Wildcats in the GHSA 6A basketball state championship. That game has become lore for the Wildcats and fuel for the Falcons. Wheeler won the 2015 title with two last-second free throws by current NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown, 59-58.
A year later, Pebblebrook returned to the final dance in Macon, this time facing Westlake in the 6A Championship. Current Chicago Bull Collin Sexton had transferred to Pebblebrook from Hillgrove before the start of the 2015-16 season and led the Falcons to a 23-win season. Their path to the title game in 2016 was no easy task, but they eliminated powerhouses Collins Hill, McEachern, and Milton to earn their spot in Macon. A heartbreaking loss in overtime dashed their hopes for a state title for the second year in a row. Those two losses remain as vivid in Pebblebrook Coach George Washington's memory as the day they happened.
"I'm what you call a bridesmaid," said Coach Washington with a wry smile. "I've escorted a few teams to the championship. This will be our third trip since I've been here. We competed every time we went down there. I can replay each one of them in my mind."
The overtime loss against Westlake was a decade ago. This year, the ten-year anniversary, will feature Coach Washington's Falcons in Macon once again, in a rematch with county-rival Wheeler for the 2026 6A title. The sixteen-year head coaching veteran surpassed a major milestone earlier this year with his 300th career win. Will his third trip to Macon be the charm for Pebblebrook's state title hopes?
"Yeah, yeah, it's the anniversary of that Westlake game," Coach Washington said after his team's impressive Final Four victory over Hillgrove on Saturday at Georgia State University (GSU). "This year's team has seen so many different kinds of basketball throughout the season. One of the things I try to do is schedule a lot of games away from home to give them different styles of basketball in different environments. We've had a great run and these kids aren't afraid of the moment. We'll celebrate this one and then get back to work for next weekend."
Having a week to prepare his team is important since the Falcons will be facing the defending state champ Wildcats. Wheeler Head Coach Larry Thompson will be trying to win back-to-back championships for the second time in his career, and give Wheeler its 11th state title. The Macon rematch, separated by 11 years, will not only be for the 6A championship, it will also be the final basketball game in the state for the 2025-26 season. It will no doubt be one to remember.
"Pebblebrook versus Wheeler goes back a long way," Coach Thompson said after his Wildcats defeated McEachern at GSU on Saturday. "I haven't faced off with Coach Washington since we changed regions. This will be the first time in probably four, maybe five years. The guys are gonna be animated for sure, just like tonight. We will have to find a way to settle down early on."
This year's 6A Final Four featured four Cobb teams, and three from Region 3. It was a history-making event. In fact, Hillgrove, McEachern, Pebblebrook, and Wheeler aren't just the four best teams in the highest classification, they are four of the best teams in the entire state.
"There's no question where the best basketball is being played in the state," Coach Thompson said. "That means a couple of things. We've got coaches that really care about development and building programs. And it means we've got kids who are sold out to getting better and playing at the highest level because they want to advance. It was really hard with the matchups we had here tonight because two Cobb teams had to go home, but a week from today we'll do it again, with only one team holding the trophy. Coach Tre (Anchrum) has done an amazing job all season, and his guys were ready to play tonight. Kudos to McEachern."
The McEachern/Wheeler game was a rematch of the 2024 semifinals, when the Indians eliminated the Wildcats to advance to that season's title game against Grayson. Many of the Wheeler players on this year's roster remember that game well. The four-point margin of victory at the final buzzer (56-52) was enough to avenge that loss and secure a trip to Macon for the fifth time in seven seasons.
A special guest was in attendance for Coach Thompson's seventh Final Four win with Wheeler: his nephew and current Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier. He was on three of Coach Thompson's state championship teams and helped to motivate and focus the players before the game.
"Zay won three state championships in his days in high school, and to have him here for the Final Four is big. He talked to the guys and got them ready to play. It's always good to have nephew here," Coach Thompson concluded.
Cobb's historic run in 6A basketball is quickly coming to a finish, but only one team can claim the championship. Will it be Pebblebrook winning their first, or Wheeler adding an eleventh to their collection? We'll know this weekend. Make plans now to attend the final basketball game of the season at the Macon Coliseum on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 PM.
