Marist Defeats Kell in Class AAAA State Championship

Kate Harpring's record-breaking performance leads War Eagles to third title in five years

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:21am

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In the Class AAAA state championship game at the Macon Coliseum, the Marist War Eagles defeated the Kell Longhorns 58-50 behind a dominant performance from senior Kate Harpring. Harpring, a five-star North Carolina signee, scored 40 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, including 12 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Harpring also became the state's all-time leading scorer, breaking the former mark set in 1997.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the continued excellence of the Marist program, which has now won three state titles in the last five years. The loss was a tough one for Kell, but the Longhorns return nearly their entire team next season and will look to build on this experience and make another championship run.

The details

Marist got off to a quick start, leading 15-3 after the first quarter thanks to 13 points from Harpring. Kell settled down in the second quarter, outscoring Marist 18-11 to cut the deficit to 26-21 at halftime. The Longhorns took their first lead of the game at 28-26 early in the third quarter, but Marist responded with a 6-0 run to regain control. Kell got as close as 50-46 in the fourth quarter, but Harpring and Emily Morrison made key plays down the stretch to secure the victory for the War Eagles.

  • Harpring became the state's all-time leading scorer in the first quarter, breaking the former mark set in 1997.

The players

Kate Harpring

A five-star North Carolina signee who finished her high school career with 40 points and 16 rebounds in the state championship game, becoming the state's all-time leading scorer.

Kim Hixon

The head coach of the Marist War Eagles, who led her team to their third state title in the last five years.

Kandra Bailey

The head coach of the Kell Longhorns, who led her team to the state championship game in her first season.

Lyric Watson

A Kell player who scored 10 points, including a 3-pointer that gave the Longhorns their first lead of the game.

Emily Morrison

A Marist player who scored 13 points and helped the War Eagles regain the lead in the third quarter.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game showcased the continued dominance of the Marist program, led by the standout performance of Kate Harpring. While Kell came up short, the Longhorns have a bright future with nearly their entire team returning next season, setting the stage for a potential rematch and another thrilling state championship game.