Sandy’s Spiel Showcase Preview

Sandy's Spiel Showcase

1:30:  No. 8 ELCA (11-2) vs. North Cobb (13-6)

After dealing with players being in and out of the line early in the season, No. 8 ELCA has hit a groove, winning 7-straight heading into the Sandy’s Spiel Showcase. Clemson-signee Weronika Hipp remains one of Georgia’s top guards averaging 17.2 points and 4.2 assists while Eagle’s Landing transfer Jalisa Dunlap has provided scoring at 18.9 points per game. The 5-foot-10 guard has received interest from MTSU and Mercer. 5-foot-8 junior Keslynn Oxendine is working her way back from an ACL injury and is a third scoring threat. Much like ELCA, North Cobb is finding its stride as well. All six of their losses have come against ranked opponents. Lacking size, the Warriors rely on an experienced backcourt led by Alabama A&M-signee Azonya Austin (14 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.6 spg). Sharpshooting 5-foot-7 senior Sydney Thomas leads the Warriors in scoring at 16 points per game to go with her 4 rebounds and 2.5 steals. 5-foot-7 senior Madison Edge averages 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds while 5-foot-8 sophomore Dayuna Colvin chips in 7.5 points a night.

3:00: ELCA (6-8) vs. No. 8 GAC (12-6)

After being state title contenders a year ago, ELCA losing in the Class A-Private title game while GAC was bounced by rival and eventual state champion Morgan County in the Class 3A Sweet 16, both programs were decimated by graduation but have found ways to still compete at a high level. ELCA has turned to 6-foot-7 Rider-signee Jordan Smalls and blossoming 6-foot-8 big man Izzy Momodu to carry the load from the frontcourt while the Spartans use guards 6-foot-2 senior Cliff Baskerville (18 ppg) and 6-foot-2 junior LaMarr Randolph (15 ppg) to pace the offense. 6-foot-5 sophomore Josh Fulton averages 20 points per game but has missed six weeks due to injury. Veteran 6-foot-5 wing Cole Perusek has offers from Oglethorpe and Sewanee.

4:30: Hart County (9-9) vs. No. 1 Douglass (12-5)

The recipe for success last season in Douglass’ march to a Class 2A state title was playing a brutal non-region schedule to prepare them for the rigors of the state tournament. Coach Alana Allen has followed the same blueprint this year and after a challenging start to the year, finds themselves atop the poll in Class 2A and undefeated in region play. 6-foot-3 senior Ikenya King anchors the Astros inside averaging 16 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks. She just earned offers from Tallahassee CC and South Georgia Tech. 5-foot-5 senior Kayla Sesberry has had a breakout year averaging 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals while shooting 40% from deep. 5-foot-10 junior Ashuntee Weems is a high-upside guard averaging 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Ashley McKee rounds out the offense, a 5-foot-9 senior that chips in 8 points per game. Like how Douglass lost star Nekiyah Thompson (Jacksonville State), Hart County graduated Class 3A Player of the Year Torrion Starks. It will be a must-see matchup in the low post as 6-foot junior Taniya Alexander, already part of the 1,000-point & 1,000-rebound club, will battle with King inside. Alexander averages 17 points and 15 rebounds per game and has had D-I interest. 5-foot-7 senior Shakendra Grove will be important for Coach Mike Edwards. The long-range sniper is averaging 14 points per game, hitting 33% from deep.

6:00: No. 6 Hart County (17-1) vs. No. 8 Evans (13-3)

Both programs come off their best seasons in years as Hart County fell in the Class 3A title game following a 24-8 campaign while Evans ripped off a 24-5 record in Class 6A, their best in over a decade before losing to state runner-up Tucker in double overtime in the Sweet 16. All eyes will be on the matchup between 6-foot-4 junior Shone “Spud” Webb of Hart County and 6-foot-2 senior Christian Chambers. Webb has blossomed into the go-to guy for Hart County, posting 18.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists while doubling as a defensive stopper. Chambers is one of the CSRA’s best players and a top unsigned senior in Georgia, averaging 22.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals with offers from Fort Valley State, Columbus State, Maryville and Chattahoochee Valley CC. Evans will have to slow down burgeoning star 6-foot-7 freshman Tahj Johnson who pitches in 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. 6-foot-1 senior Demetrius Glenn is a deep-threat that averages 9.5 points to space out the Hart County offense. Evans has blue-collar guards in 5-foot-10 junior Joshton Mincey (12.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.8 spg), 6-foot-1 sophomore Brasen James (9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Alaska move-in 6-foot-3 junior Rashad King (8.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 apg).

7:30: Elbert County (12-6) vs. Lanier (10-9)

The defending Class 6A state champion Lanier Longhorns were derailed by graduation and injuries this offseason but are starting to click at the right time and are a legitimate threat to win Region 8 again after losing to No. 4 Dacula twice in heartbreaking fashion, 51-47 and 45-42. One of the hottest prospects in the southeast before her injury, 6-foot-3 high-academic senior center Christabel Ezumah, is back averaging 5.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks with a host of D-I/II offers. Twin tower 6-foot-1 Lizzie Campbell, who also dealt with injuries in the offseason, holds offers from Shorter, Truett McConnell, Johnson and Lincoln Memorial. She averages 5.5 points, 9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. 5-foot-8 senior Morgan Manley (8.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) has stepped up in a big way while 5-foot-6 senior Zuriyah Davis has shouldered the load offensively, posting 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Elbert County’s lone college-signee Maggie Campbell is headed to Anderson but re-tore her ACL. A young group of freshmen have had Elbert County playing exceptional basketball, making the future in Elberton extremely bright for Coach Josh Jones. Freshman Aaniyah Allen leads the way with 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 steals. Freshman Niya Moon averages 11.1 points and 4.4 rebounds while third-leading scorer, also a freshman, Terrace Hester scores 9.1 points on average.

9:00:  Elbert County (6-12) vs. St. Anne-Pacelli (10-7)

The graduation of eight seniors off last year’s Class 2A 28-4 semifinalist has Coach Don Hurlburt playing a young and inexperienced team that will rely on energy and toughness to win games. Senior DJ Ardister, junior Jaelin Webb and sophomore Jamil Burton are three players to watch for. St. Anne-Pacelli, much like Elbert County has since Hurlburt took over, has improved every season under Coach Corry Black. After a humbling 0-22 season in 2016-17, the Vikings have clawed their way back to relevancy with a 5-21 mark in 2017-18 before finishing 13-14 a year ago. Sitting at 6-5 in Region 4-A, the next step isn’t just finishing above .500 but making the state playoffs. A large 2021 class has the Vikings set up for the future led by bouncy 6-foot-5 wing Travis Harper (19.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and skilled 6-foot-5 forward Ian Mathews (17.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg). The addition of equally explosive highlight-maker 6-foot-3 junior Keyshawn Fleetion makes St. Anne-Pacelli must-see tv.

No. 5 Sequoyah snaps No. 1 South Cobb 17-game winning streak behind Deshaun Robinson heroic performance

No. 5 Sequoyah 67, No. 1 South Cobb 56

It’s not often in Sequoyah basketball history that the Chiefs could go toe-to-toe and match fire power with the elites in the state. From Adam Benton to Tyler Deihl to Sean Tate, the Chiefs have seen high scoring guards pour through the doors. Mercer-signee Jacksen Greco tops them all, recently surpassing the historic trio for the all-time scoring record in Chiefs history but aside from his scoring prowess he is the front man for No. 5 Sequoyah (15-4, 9-2) who fields likely their best team in school history and have been knocking on the door of becoming a state contender. On Tuesday night, the Chiefs barged through the door with a 67-56 win over No. 1 South Cobb (18-2, 11-1) snapping the Eagles’ 17-game winning streak and pushing Sequoyah’s to 10-straight. Greco got his fill, scoring 17 points but it was 6-foot-5 senior Dashaun Robinson, who was showered with MVP chants, that took over in the fourth quarter and lifted the Chiefs past the Eagles to notch Sequoyah’s biggest win in school history and give them momentum but more importantly confidence heading into the home stretch of the season that they can beat the best of the best.

Winning 78-68 in their first meeting, South Cobb started the game with star sophomore Zocko Littleton Jr. on the bench. Once he checked in, the sharpshooter immediately drilled a three and sparked a 7-0 run before Arthur Parker hit a baseline jumper for Sequoyah to settle the score at 7-4 in favor of the Eagles.

6-foot-7 Illinois State-signee Emon Washington hurt the Chiefs early and often. Attacking from the high post, Washington scored nine points and put the Chiefs in foul trouble. Trailing 12-9 at the 2:49 mark, Greco was sent to the bench with his second foul but Sequoyah’s bench highlighted by Parker and sophomore Dylan Wolle combined for eight points to keep the Chiefs tight, ending the first quarter down 17-15.

Back on the floor, Greco sparked a momentum shifting 13-0 run on an off-balance runner.

A dunk from Ayden Watson and a Robinson bucket inside gave the Chiefs the lead 23-21, their first since 2-0 and a lead they would never relinquish. Donovan Shipp capped the stretch with a layup to make it a 30-21 advantage at the 2:46 mark before Raymond Baka ended the drought.

Sequoyah doubled up the Eagles in the frame, outscoring South Cobb 20-10 to take a 35-27 lead into halftime as the Chiefs held Washington scoreless in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, South Cobb turned up the heat by pressing but sans one ineffective possession, the Chiefs quickly regained their flow and kept their lead in double figures behind a Robinson put-back and Myles McGee kiss off the glass.

South Cobb couldn’t gain any ground after falling behind and traded buckets, finding themselves down 49-39 with just eight minutes remaining as a spirited War Lodge crowd made things tough.

The Eagles found life on the shoulders of Washington, who threw down a put-back dunk, two of his game-high 23 points, to cut the lead to 51-45 with 6:19 remaining, but from that point on the Chiefs did just enough to slowly eke the lead out while Washington continued to dominate inside.

Negating Washington’s impressive play was Robinson. Entering the game averaging 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, the long-armed energy giver made every play down the stretch scoring 10 of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter and finishing with a double-double of 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 blocks.

Robinson put the stamp on his heroic performance as he blocked a dunk attempt off a steal and then forced a South Cobb turnover seconds later, energizing the home crowd and all but dousing the Eagles’ hope of a comeback as the clock read 63-54 with just 60 seconds remaining. Robinson, who went 7-of-7 from the foul line including 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter, finished his night to MVP chants in an effort that won’t soon be forgotten.

Watson finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds while Shipp joined the collective effort on the glass with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Littleton was held scoreless in the fourth quarter and finished with 11 points.

 

Top Performers

Sequoyah
Dashaun Robinson – 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks
Jacksen Greco – 17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Ayden Watson – 9 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
Donovan Shipp – 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

South Cobb
Emon Washington – 23 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks
Zocko Littleton – 11 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
Raymond Baka – 6 points, 5 rebounds
Da’Quan Riggins – 6 points, 2 rebounds

Week 9 Girls Rankings

Sandy's Spiel Showcase

Class AAAAAAA

1. Westlake (16-2)
2. Collins Hill (19-0)
3. Cherokee (17-2)
4. Campbell (16-3)
5. North Forsyth (17-2)
6. Tift County (13-4)
7. Woodstock (17-2)
8. Pebblebrook (14-3)
9. West Forsyth (16-2)
10. Rockdale County (15-4)

Class AAAAAA

1. Lovejoy (16-1)
2. Forest Park (15-5)
3. Valdosta (15-2)
4. Dacula (17-2)
5. Glynn Academy (14-4)
6. Alexander (15-3)
7. Stephenson (14-5)
8. Harrison (15-4)
9. Langston Hughes (11-5)
10. Mt. Zion-Jonesboro (12-5)

Class AAAAA

1. Buford (17-0)
2. Kell (18-0)
3. Rome (15-3)
4. Jones County (16-3)
5. Villa Rica (16-3)
6. Statesboro (15-3)
7. Wayne County (15-1)
8. Veterans (15-2)
9. Starr’s Mill (14-3)
10. Southwest DeKalb (13-6)

Class AAAA

1. Americus-Sumter (15-0)
2. Spalding (13-4)
3. Carver-Columbus (13-4)
4. Woodward Academy (17-1)
5. Troup County (13-0)
6. Luella (14-5)
7. Marist (16-1)
8. Central-Carrollton (15-2)
9. Burke County (10-3)
10. Stephens County (14-5)

Class AAA

1. Johnson-Savannah (13-1)
2. Jefferson (16-3)
3. Beach (13-7)
4. GAC (9-9)
5. Coahulla Creek (15-3)
6. Fannin County (13-5)
7. Pierce County (14-2)
8. Ringgold (11-7)
9. Dawson County (11-7)
10. Cedar Grove (11-4)

Class AA

1. Douglass (11-5)
2. Laney (15-2)
3. Early County (11-4)
4. Rabun County (16-1)
5. Union County (14-3)
6. Putnam County (14-2)
7. Josey (13-4)
8. Southwest-Macon (14-2)
9. Washington County (13-2)
10. Vidalia (14-3)

Class A-Private

1. St. Francis (13-3)
2. Hebron Christian (20-0)
3. Wesleyan (13-2)
4. Holy Innocents’ (12-5)
5. Mt. Paran (14-2)
6. Greenforest (13-4)
7. Galloway (13-4)
8. ELCA (10-2)
9. Stratford Academy (13-2)
10. Darlington (15-2)

Class A-Public

1. Central-Talbotton (13-1)
2. Wheeler County (18-1)
3. Clinch County (12-1)
4. Greenville (13-4)
5. Calhoun County (12-4)
6. Bowdon (14-4)
7. Dooly County (11-5)
8. Macon County (11-3)
9. Pelham (11-1)
10. Turner County (10-6)

There are plenty of changes in Class 7A but the Top 3 remain unchanged.

Continue reading Week 9 Girls Rankings