By Joel Paris
The Leeds News
LEEDS — After splitting the regular season matchups, the Leeds Green Wave got it down when it mattered against Altamont, winning 43-33 in the Class 3A Area 9 tournament championship game Monday night at Altamont.
The Green Wave will host Glencoe tomorrow at 7 p.m. in a Northeast Sub-Regional game.
Leeds picked up a 61-58 win over Tarrant in the first round of the area tournament at Altamont Friday night.
Tarrant went ahead early but Leeds quickly bounced back for a 19-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The first half was played at a frantic pace with early run outs and fast breaks for both sides and at the half the Green Wave led 35-28 as they pushed for their spot in the playoffs.
Mark Buckner and Brandon Woods once again played big down the stretch. The score was tied at 46-46 headed into the fourth quarter.
A Jermaine Smith layup and Buckner’s two free throws moments later gave the Green Wave a 59-51 lead with 31.5 seconds remaining in the game. Leeds earned a playoff berth with the win and advanced to the Class 3A Area 9 championship game.
Leading the Green Wave was Buckner with 17 points, DeAndric Thomas with 11 and Smith with 11.
