Two big dunks late in the fourth quarter helped the Cedar Grove Saints fend off the Monroe Golden Tornadoes 54-45 to advance to the Class 3A boys’ state championship next week in Macon.

Cedar Grove (28-3) led by five or more for most of the third quarter only to see the Tornadoes (21-10) pull within 38-36 with 6:28 to play on a three-pointer by Nehemiah Tinch.

The Saints responded as Dontavious Stringfield made a steal, headed up court and passed to Manny Green for a big slam to push the lead back out to four with 5:29 to play.

Yusef Bowyer followed with a baseline jumper and free throws to increase the lead to 44-36 only to have it chipped back down to five on a basket by Monroe’s Tinch with 2:22 remaining.

On the Saints next trip down court a missed shot was caught in the air by Green and slammed home with defenders underneath him. Cedar Grove got the ball up the court again following a turnover Green catching a pass on the right wing and lobbing to Javonte Floyd for another big jam and a 48-39 lead with 1:36 to play.

Keith Gillespie hit two free throws, Bowyer one as Monroe began to foul after scores before cutting the lead to 51-45 with 13 seconds left on the game clock.

Green hooked up with Floyd again as the clock was running out for another flush by Floyd for the final of 53-45.

The Saints led 12-6 as Stringfield hit back-to-back shots in the final two minutes of the period. Green gave Cedar Grove a 23-16 lead with an offensive put back late in the second quarter.

Green finished the night with 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Saints. Bowyer added 13 points to go with eight points each from Keith Gillespie and Floyd.

Brayden Burns led Monroe with 17 points and Lorenzo Still added 13.

Cedar Grove moves on to the state title game next Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Macon Coliseum in a rematch of the 2023 title game against the Sandy Creek Patriots (28-3).