Category Archives: GHSA Basketball

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Girls Recaps, Recaps

Statewide Recap 1-19

 

BOYS

Class AAAAAAA

No. 7 Grayson 77, Archer 66: Unsigned senior guard Nick Edwards continued his red-hot play, going off for 27 points. Deivon Smith posted 22 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals. Kenyon Jackson added 4 points and 8 boards.

Lambert 82, North Forsyth 59: Jordan McIlwain drilled 6 threes en route to 26 points and 8 rebounds. Mitch Ganote had 18 points and 10 assists. Andrew Hama added 11 points and 4 steals. Damon Stoudamire Jr. collected 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Parkview 79, Central Gwinnett 75: Ahmir Langlais powered the Panthers with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks.

Berkmar 64, Brookwood 40: Tony Johnson dropped 23 points in the win.

Class AAAAAA

No. 2 Gainesville 89, Dacula 55: The Red Elephants blasted the Falcons. KJ Buffen (16), Bailey Minor (15), Griffin Nevel (12), Xavier Bledson (11) and Jarred Rosser (10) paced Gainesville. Clayton State-signee Arusha Hunter and Quincy Ademokoya led Dacula with 13 points apiece. Shayne Buckingham had 10 points and Brenden Tucker scored 8. Mekhail Bethea did not play.

No. 9 Bradwell Institute 60, No. 3 Brunswick 52: The Pirates ran out of late game magic, losing to the Tigers. Isaiah Scott scored 16 points, picking up the slack for an injured Javonte LeCounte.

Lee County 75, Northside-Warner Robins 60: TJ Harris (21) and Javian Johnson (20) combined for 41 points in the Trojan win.

Alpharetta 67, Centennial 62: Brandon Barron poured in 23 points and RJ Pass had 17. Ryan Jenei scored 16. Rodney Howard totaled 13 points in the loss for the Knights.

Lanier 70, Habersham Central 50: Sion James (18), Alex Walker (15) and Adrian Martin (14) paced the Longhorns.

Apalachee 64, Winder-Barrow 56: Derek Miller finished with 14 points, 19 rebounds and 3 steals. Jamonte Wallace had 18 points and Deron Collier tacked on 7. Brandon Bannis tallied 13 points and 8 rebounds. Parker Miller scored 6.

Chattahoochee 68, Northview 57: Will Bracknell and AJ White scored 21 points apiece while Grant VanBeveren had 9 points in the win.

Class AAAAA

No. 1 Warner Robins 68, Thomas County Central 38: Jacolbey Owens (18), Champ Dawson (15) and Keshun Houser (12) all scored double figures. Jaron Zanders added 8 points.

Flowery Branch 66, Loganville 38: Justin Quick finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Myles Janess had 12 points and 7 rebounds. Patsheko Lutumba added 10 points. Blake Coxworth chipped in 8 points and 5 assists. JJ Greene had 7 points.

Starr’s Mill 58, McIntosh 48: The Panthers avenged a 64-54 loss in the Battle of the Bubble round 2. Julian Lynch put up 17 points. Drew Hudson and Nate Allison each had 16.

Class AAAA

No. 1 Upson-Lee 89, No. 3 Mary Persons 58: The Knights embarrassed Mary Persons in front of a capacity crowd at The Castle. MTSU-commit Tye Fagan poured in 31 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Cameron Traylor had 17 points and Travon Walker posted 12 points and 15 rebounds. Cam Holden scored 21 in the loss.

No. 2 St. Pius X 71, Stephens County 56: Troy Stephens scored 17 points and snagged 3 steals. Kennedy Willis finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Matt Gonzalo had 12 points, 5 assists and 5 steals. Niko Broadway had 10 points. DeUndra Singleton piled in 21 points, Ty Nails had 14 points and Tae Thornton netted 10 points for the Indians.

No. 4 Westover 85, Hardaway 50: Jordan Brown dumped in 28 points and 7 assists. Cam Weston had 18 points, 4 assists and 3 steals. Kris Gardner posted 16 points and 8 assists. Mike Isler Jr. had 7 points and 12 rebounds.

No. 7 Cartersville 58, Cedartown 25: Furman-signee Jaylon Pugh had 17 points and Perignon Dyer netted 10 in the win.

No. 9 Carver-Columbus 51, Columbus 37: AJ Watts scored 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds to pace the Tigers. Jalen King added 8 points and 7 rebounds. Xaiyhir Jacobs finished with 5 points and 9 rebounds. Noah Lott led Columbus with 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Gray Voltz had 6 points.

Northwest Whitfield 79, Pickens 42: In the loss, Seth Bishop had 13 points and 5 rebounds. Keinyuan Hooks added 10 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

Jefferson 63, Madison County 42: Coach Kevin Morris’ reclamation project in Year 1 continued to flourish as the Dragons earned their 14th win after going 4-21 last season. Jasper Gibson (14), Jacob Radaker (11) and Donsha Gaither (10) led the way.

West Hall 60, Marist 37: Dee Buffington dropped 20 points and Noah Edmondson pitched in 15 in the Region 7 win.

LaFayette 61, Ridgeland 39: Alex Kelehear had 26 points. Jon Morgan added 13.

Class AAA

No. 1 Morgan County 66, Franklin County 49: Alec Woodard finished with 17 points to lead the Bulldogs while Anthony Cooper had 14 and Tyrin Lawrence 11. Franklin County received 14 points apiece from Titus Brown and Micah Roebuck.

No. 4 GAC 75, Union County 31: Roy Dixon scored 17 points, Chris Hinton had 13 and Ben Sheppard netted 12 for the Spartans. Hunter McIntosh finished with 11 points.3d Pierson Allison led Union County with 12. Patrick Baggett tossed in 11.

No. 5 Westside-Macon 103, Kendrick 90: Greg Holloway scored 26 points as the lead man for the Khavon Moore-less Seminoles. Javian Mosley tacked on 20 points and Des Foston scored 17.

No. 8 Windsor Forest 68, Savannah 53: Benjamin Mitchell scored 19 points and Lamon Page had 16.

No. 9 Dawson County 71, Lumpkin County 42: Cullen Reed scored 16 points to lead four double digit scorers. Ryan Gallenkamp had 13 points, Campbell Reed 13 and Jeremiah Crumley 10. Kane Pelfrey scored 7.

Monroe Area 80, Jackson County 61: Isaiah Glasper (19), Lakendric Lyles (12) and Quontarius Lackey (10) led the Hurricanes in scoring. Elijah Goodman had 9 points and 4 blocks. Michael Gray added 8 points and 5 rebounds.

Hart County 59, East Jackson 40: Elijah Robinson scored 14 points to help the Bulldogs to their fourth-straight Region 8 win. Tay Howard had a game-high 17 points in defeat.

Long County 65, Tattnall County 62: The Blue Tide is surging. Henry Blair scored 23 points followed by Terry Smith’s 16 and Christian Bass’ 10 points as Long County moved into first-place in Region 2.

Class AA

No. 4 Dublin 73, Bleckley County 59: Kam Pauldo had 28 points and 7 assists. Clarence Jackson added 20 points and 14 rebounds.

No. 5 Elbert County 54, Social Circle 31: Jamison Syphore had 17 points and 9 rebounds.

No. 10 Banks County 68, Monticello 61: Carl Cleveland pumped in 25 points and had 7 assists for the Leopards. Dylan Orr added 21 points and 10 rebounds. Gabe Martin scored 16 points and blocked 2 shots. Darius Bonds tallied 11 assists. In the loss, Ashton Bonner finished with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Malik Crawford double-doubled with 21 points and 11 rebounds. De’Ivion Lawrence had 9 points and 5 rebounds.

Gordon Central 80, Armuchee 63: Quan Curtis dropped 30 points to power the Warriors. Christian Marycz had 13 and Turner Mathis scored 11 in Gordon Central’s first win of the season.

Dodge County 67, East Laurens 17: Nick Cummings had 20 points. DeMarcus Caines scored 18 and Chris Clark netted 13.

Jeff Davis 74, Metter 57: Ja’Queze Kirby erupted for 34 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks in an important region victory.

Class A-Private

No. 5 Stratford Academy 60, Mt. de Sales 48: Jaden Harris scored 21 points and Devin Butts had 10.

Wesleyan 42, No. 6 Mt. Vernon Presbyterian 41: Wesleyan received 10 points from Micah Smith and 8 from JD Kavel in an important win. Stevie Crawford snatched 8 rebounds. In the loss, Tahj Keeton posted 18 points and 10 rebounds. Marques Frye had 10 points and Cam Bennett finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

No. 7 Lakeview Academy 72, Towns County 55: Blake McIntyre had 19 points followed by Drew Cottrell’s 16 and Holden Cooper’s 10.

Darlington 65, Trion 54: JD Hull had 16 points and Sam Tackeberry netted 14 in the win. Griffin Brewster and Barrick Wade added 10 apiece.

Fellowship Christian 71, Walker 68: Walker’s struggles continued with a loss to the Paladins. The Wolverines were led by Chandler Baker’s 22 points. Darius Garvin had 11 and Omar Cooper had 10.

Class A-Public

Dooly County 78, Crawford County 43: Jarquavius Brown had 21 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Zeff Felton added 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Non-GHSA

Oak Hill, VA (B-Team) 91, Dawson Christian Academy 87 OT: Luke Chism had 32 points. Ethan Bryant scored 16 followed by Ahmad Kamara (15), Eli Burruss (13) and Seth Davis (11).
 

GIRLS

Class AAAAAAA

No. 5 Cherokee 57, Roswell 37: Sydne Watts had 15 points. Kate Johnson scored 8 and Laiken Wade, Olivia Herrera and Chatham Brown all had 6 points.

No. 6 North Forsyth 46, Lambert 30: Catherine Shope had 23 points. Caroline Martin added 7 points and 9 assists. Cassie Markle posted 6 points and 9 rebounds.

Grayson 67, Archer 63: Jazmine Robinson had 18 points and 5 rebounds. Bianca Fizouaty had 16 points and 3 rebounds.

Class AAAAAA

No. 2 Winder-Barrow 54, Apalachee 28:  UConn-commit Olivia Nelson-Ododa scored the 1,500th point of her career while College of Charleston-commit Latrice Perkins pumped in 15 points.

No. 7 Northview 71, Chattahoochee 20: Eden Sample outscored the Lady Cougars with 23 points. Ashlee Austin had 12 points. Alahna Richards and Megan Cistulli had 8 apiece.

Dacula 49, Gainesville 46: The Lady Falcons drilled five threes in the fourth quarter to beat Gainesville. Kendall Bollmer had 14 points and 4 rebounds. Aiyana Hamilton collected 11 points and 9 rebounds while Keyanna Gibbs finished with 8 points and 7 boards. Chelsey Abel contributed 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Class AAAAA

No. 2 Flowery Branch 73, Loganville 35: Lexie Sengkhammee had 16 points and 5 assists while Alabama-signee Taniyah Worth posted 14 points, 4 assists and 5 steals. Ashley Scott collected 11 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Ashley Woodroffe had 10 points and 4 rebounds. Caroline Wysocki chipped in 8 points and 4 assists.

Class AAAA

No. 1 Carver-Columbus 81, Columbus 33: Sya Hall had 18 points, Olivia Cochran posted 13 points and 6 rebounds and Mariah Igus surpassed the 1,000-point barrier with 13 points and 3 steals in the win.

No. 4 Northwest Whitfield 72, Pickens 61: The Bruins received 18 points from Holly Heath. Jada Griffin double-doubled with 16 points and 10 rebounds. MaLane Kyer had 11 points and 5 steals. Mykenzie Weaver had 32 points in a losing effort. Torie Williams put up 9 points and 7 assists. Shelby Cook chipped in 6 points and 9 rebounds.

No. 6 Madison County 54, Jefferson 38:  Jordan Bailey dropped in 17 points to pace the Red Raiders. McKenzie Tyner scored 11 to lead Jefferson.

St. Pius X 63, Stephens County 44: Nana Eades (12) and Tykia Thompson (9) paced the Lady Indians in the loss.

West Laurens 69, Perry 56: Ja’Kerra Wilbur had 22 points and 5 assists while MaKayla Murray double-doubled with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Calmela Mack pitched in 16 points and 4 steals in the win.

White County 57, Chestatee 51: Naomi Crumley and Dasha Cannon scored 14 points apiece. Madi Phillips (9) and Erin Dorsey (8) chipped in.

Class AAA

No. 1 GAC 66, Union County 53: MTSU-signee Taylor Sutton dropped 21 points and Wofford-commit MaryMartha Turner added 13 in GAC’s win over Union County. The Lady Panthers were led by Bailey Daniel’s 25 points. Brooke Dockrey scored 11 and Kait McCarter added 10.

No. 8 North Murray 52, Murray County 40: Raven Stone scored 16 points. Korbin Tipton netted 15 and Sarah Plemons had 12.

No. 9 Hart County 62, East Jackson 29: Torrion Starks poured in 30 points in the win. A’cira Teasley added 9 points while Taniya Alexander finished with 8 points and 17 rebounds. East Jackson was led by Abbie Howington’s 8.

Jenkins 36, Islands 29: Ki Gaskins had 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 1 block. Zaniyah Sealey put up 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. Jessie Barre had 7 points and 4 rebounds.

Dawson County 43, Lumpkin County 22: A healthy Kaylee Sticker was a major difference, scoring 16 points in the win. Sticker did not play in their 46-39 loss to Lumpkin County in December. Anna Lowe scored 11 points and Cadey Ayers had 8.

Class AA

Monticello 51, No. 2 Banks County 41: Banks County had a chance to take a death grip on Region 8 but instead were upset by Monticello after skyrocketing in the rankings. Amber Williams had 12 points in the loss. Jaycie Bowen had 10, Allison Smith (8) and Maddie Thomas (6).

No. 5 Putnam County 56, No. 6 Rabun County 47: In the loss, Laken Stiles finished with 19 points and 5 rebounds. Georgia Stockton had 13 points and 4 rebounds while Destiny Deetz added 12 rebounds. Putnam County rallied, taking their first lead with 2:30 left in the game to close out the LadyCats.

East Laurens 55, No. 8 Dodge County 47: The Squaws continued their slide with another loss. Destanee Wright had 16 points, Europe Brown scored 13 and Zanessia Mitchell netted 12.

No. 10 Bryan County 53, Toombs County 42: Olonna Rawls went off for 28 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals. Kelsey Leggett added 11 points.

Class A-Private

No. 2 Wesleyan 77, Mt. Vernon Presbyterian 17: Nicole Azar scored 14 points and Paige Lyons added 12 points and 6 assists. AC Carter had 11 points. Furman-signee Sutton West collected 8 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Athens Academy 51, No. 7 Prince Avenue Christian 44: Gabby Mastandrea had 19 points and 5 rebounds while Rose Bone posted 18 points and 6 rebounds. Maddie McCleary scored 7 points and Greer Moseley netted 7.

Galloway 65, SACA 47: Jada Ryce poured in 21 points followed by Caitlin Felts’ 16 points and Meredith Potts’ 13. Mel Hartz added 9 points.

Savannah Christian 46, Woodville-Tompkins 32: Paige Dennis scored 15 points and Keziah Goodway had 14 for the Lady Raiders.

Fellowship Christian 62, Walker 58: Colorado-signee Cameron Swartz exploded for 46 points (6 threes) on Senior Night to rally the Lady Paladins, scoring five points in the final 44 seconds to push past the Wolverines.

Lakeview Academy 58, Towns County 38: Maddy Towles had 14 points, 7 assists and 4 steals. Tori Taylor added 13 points and 7 rebounds while Sasvanna Kinsey posted 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Fitzgerald 64, Thomasville 62: Kirstin Crook had 18 points while Trinity Jones had 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the win. Hayleigh Ross added 13 points and 5 rebounds.

Class A-Public

No. 3 Telfair County 68, Echols County 46: India Wells had 29 points and Tanajawa Graham added 10. Brandy Mackey pitched in 8 points.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Player Feature

Gentle giant Derek Miller, more than just a force in the paint

Contributed by Rob Grubbs   (@RCGJr226070)

Sponsored by:   @sportalspace

In a generation of excess, many today are defined by what they don’t have instead of the things they do. While the destination is important, the journey is richer and more rewarding. Apalachee senior 6-foot-7 forward Derek Miller is on a journey as he nears his graduation from high school. Derek is a star for the Wildcat basketball team, but to define him by that fact comes up woefully short, he is so much more. While basketball is a big part and figures to provide the avenue for his journey in the near future, it is just one component of this young man who is extremely comfortable being himself, a trait that can never be taken for granted and refreshing in today’s athletes.

His senior year has been interesting to say the least. Gone is the only high school head coach he knew, Kevin Morris, who moved on to Jefferson High School and in his place, first-year head coach Spencer Bernstein. Add to that he is returning from a season ending injury last year and there were a lot of unknowns coming into the year. While the record is not as strong as they would like (8-10), all of their losses have been by seven points or less including three in overtime; they could easily be 12-6 or better with a few breaks here and there. But there is still a lot of that story to write, as Derek and the Wildcats have improved throughout the season and look to jell at the right time when the Region 8-AAAAAA tournament starts. But again, Derek is so much more than just the leader of an improving basketball team.

A Special Bond

Derek was born in Peoria, Illinois, he says he still prefers the cold and misses it with his easy smile.  He moved here when he was six, his father passed away when he was a youngster and the family moved south. His mom, Tiana and older sister, Saboyce, settled in Winder, Georgia. When talking to Derek and his mom, you can sense the closeness; they finish each other’s sentences at times and even communicate with an unspoken eye language. Tiana works the night shift and does not get to see him play usually. She keeps up with his games via text messages afterwards and even then, “He forgets to tell me, so I have to text him to see how it went,” she said while cutting her eyes towards him.

Derek with his mother Tiana

The special times for them are on her off days, when Derek cooks breakfast for her and they enjoy the opportunity to share the moment. His specialty is waffles, they are good he said.  Tiana almost glows when she talks about Derek, but not just about his athletic prowess, but because of who he is and how he is becoming a man right before her eyes. If success in life for a man is predicated on the amount of love and prayer invested in him by his mother, then Derek is in good shape.

And Derek is there for her as well. When she faced major health scares in the past two years, Derek became the son/nurse, they are family and they stick close, which is all they know. Success is born in the tight knit fabric of family and Tiana and Derek are a testimony to that.

A Legacy at Apalachee  

Derek’s sister, Saboyce, five years his senior, left a great legacy at Apalachee. Quite the basketball player herself, she reached the 1,000-point threshold in her career and signed a scholarship to play college ball at Emanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia after she graduated in 2012.  She held the Apalachee High School girls shot-put record with a throw of 34-2.5 until 2016 when current junior Nakia Hooks, another basketball player, took the honors. Derek’s conversation was light-hearted as we talked, but when it came to his sisters’ influence, he suddenly got serious.  “I remember – I was in middle school and was not playing basketball and she would go outside to play and I would go with her. Even though she was with her older friends, she treated me with respect, she treated me like I was someone. That changed me. Her attitude towards me changed how I saw myself. I wanted to be like her.”

Saboyce lives in Illinois now and the gym she starred in is now under her brother’s watch, but as a player who scored often – she once took 50 shots in a game against Clarke Central – her biggest current contribution is the assist she provided by helping the in development of Derek.

Late Bloomer

In today’s microwave environment of developing the basketball talents of youngsters, the norm is for players to enter to the competitive grind of club basketball around age 9 or 10. For those who want to go big time, the prevalent thought is you play year-round at the highest level. From this, skills are honed but more importantly, players become known to the college recruiters before ever entering high school.  While the current stars of the Class of 2018 were spending their summers traveling to gyms all around the state, Derek took a different path; he developed his music. Before Saboyce drug him outside to play hoops, he was at home with his drum set.  Music was his oasis and playing in the praise band at his church was his arena to be seen.

To this day, he still plays the drums at Grace Missionary Baptist Church. The Pastor there, Robert Ballard has been his mentor since he was in the fourth grade. Coincidently, Rev. Ballard is also the PA announcer for Apalachee basketball, so he gets to see both sides of Derek, the music and the basketball.  Ballard shared, “Derek is really an exceptional young man. Whether it is his athletic or musical abilities, it is clear to see he is truly gifted. But his greatest gifts are his ability to connect with people regardless of age, interests or skin color. Everyone loves him and sees him as their own.  The school cafeteria workers adore him because he is one of the few students that give them hugs and tells them thank you.”

Tiana said it best, “He is a well-rounded young man, he has a love for people and people are drawn to him. He lost his father at an early age and I think that is a big reason for him loving people.” It doesn’t take long to be around Derek to sense that about him.

Revisiting a Scare

Last season, the Apalachee Wildcats, led by two senior All-Region guards, were holding onto third-place in the region. On January 20, 2017, Derek scored 21 points as the Wildcats held off rival Winder-Barrow.  In early February, with the tournament coming up, Derek suffered a season-ending knee injury. While there was physical pain for the injury, the mental strain was tough too. His jovial, whimsical demeanor turned very serious during the conversation. He shared, “While I was hurting, it was tough because I felt like I let my teammates down. It took a long time for me to get over that.”

The Wildcats lost their final four games of the 2016-17 season, including twice against Winder-Barrow and came up short in their goal to make the state tournament. It is easy to see that experience left mixed emotions on Derek and he has wrestled with those feelings a lot over the past 12 months.  While the pain is gone, the desire to move past the experience mentally is evident.

Game Day

A tour of the Apalachee High School student parking lot is like many of the affluent schools in the metro-Atlanta area, big trucks and nice cars. But for Derek, game day starts on the school bus. Tiana gets off work around 3:15 a.m. and is asleep when it’s time for him to head to school. But as in all the other aspects of his life, Derek uses the time on the bus to begin preparation for the game, “I start the day with my music,” he offered, “I listen to different things, it always starts my routine and gets me ready.”

After school, when the JV and 9th grade games start, you will find the star forward in the concession stand making fries and hot dogs, he loves serving and being around people, it is where he is most comfortable.

Derek Miller, Rob Grubbs
Even our own Rob Grubbs can not score in the paint on Miller

Once it’s game-time, Derek is mentally at peace, no moment is too big for him. Coach Bernstein says of Derek, “He is a physical specimen, he has unbelievable stamina and he is fast and never shows fatigue on the court.” When asked what he thinks when he gets the ball, he dead-panned, “Four things, in this order; dunk, hook shot, pass or get fouled.”  His dunks are what the fans wants to see.  Against Banks County earlier this season, Derek had an exceptional flush that jolted the crowd. He said, “I could feel the rush of energy from the crowd, it was an exciting moment.” While he may be a late bloomer to the game, he has no problem thinking like a big man.

In terms of the professional game, his favorite player is Russell Westbrook, “I admire the way he runs the floor, but I really like the way he hypes up his teammates. I want to be like that. Everyone on the team is my teammate and I want to make them better. “

Wrapping up a Career

Derek has come back strong from the injury, he is currently averaging 15.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. His career field goal percentage sits at 55%, he is a three-year starter and has improved each year. While he may have gotten a late start, his passion for the game burns hotter that any five-star. His immediate goal is to push the Wildcats to the state tournament and finish high, but then the curtain on his high school career will close.

But that will not be the ending, it will just be a new chapter. Derek just wants a chance to play at the next level, he and his coaching staff are working towards that goal. Coach Bernstein summed it up, “I wish I had a team full of Dereks, he is that special. If I am a college coach, I want Derek on my team. I know he can play at the next level, there is no doubt in my mind. We just need to get him the looks, we need coaches to come out and experience Derek’s game firsthand.”

When that goal becomes a reality in Derek’s life, there will be a new chapter to write in this story, but for now, Derek is just happy to be Derek, to spend a few more mornings making waffles for Tiana and being a great friend to those at Apalachee High School.  While many want to move on to the next level, Derek has the unique ability to just enjoy the moment and soak it all in. It’s a lesson that Derek can teach us all.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Spielin' & Dealin' Podcast

Spielin’ & Dealin’ Ep. 40: McDonald’s All-American Game snubs + Khavon Moore injury

***SUBSCRIBE/DOWNLOAD/LISTEN ON iTUNES***
***FOLLOW/DOWNLOAD/LISTEN ON PODBEAN***

A hot new episode to melt away the winter blues. Landers Nolley was snubbed, Khavon Moore’s illustrious high school career is over and the rankings are sorting themselves out

  • McDonald’s All-American Game rosters announced [2:22]
  • Khavon Moore high school career over [12:34]
  • Confidence in rankings increasing [16:42]
  • MLK tourney recaps [22:21]
  • Sponsored by:  @sportalspace
GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Rankings

Week 9 Boys Rankings

Class AAAAAAA

  1. McEachern (14-2)
  2. Norcross (16-2)
  3. Pebblebrook (16-2)
  4. Mountain View (16-2)
  5. Newton (15-3)
  6. Meadowcreek (13-3)
  7. Grayson (13-3)
  8. Peachtree Ridge (14-3)
  9. Collins Hill (16-2)
  10. Wheeler (11-7)

Class AAAAAA

  1. Langston Hughes (15-4)
  2. Gainesville (11-6)
  3. Brunswick (17-1)
  4. Tri-Cities (14-4)
  5. Douglas County (13-4)
  6. Stephenson (12-5)
  7. Jonesboro (13-6)
  8. Cambridge (17-1)
  9. Bradwell Institute (13-5)
  10. Coffee (9-6)

Class AAAAA

  1. Warner Robins (14-2)
  2. Buford (15-3)
  3. Miller Grove (12-6)
  4. Southwest DeKalb (13-6)
  5. Lithonia (15-4)
  6. Villa Rica (16-0)
  7. Maynard Jackson (17-1)
  8. Stockbridge (13-4)
  9. Statesboro (14-3)
  10. Eagle’s Landing (13-5)

Class AAAA

  1. Upson-Lee (18-0)
  2. St. Pius X (16-2)
  3. Mary Persons (17-1)
  4. Westover (13-4)
  5. Americus-Sumter (15-2)
  6. Salem (14-4)
  7. Cartersville (12-2)
  8. Baldwin (13-5)
  9. Carver-Columbus (15-4)
  10. Sandy Creek (12-5)

Class AAA

  1. Morgan County (17-0)
  2. Jenkins (12-3)
  3. Johnson-Savannah (13-2)
  4. Greater Atlanta Christian (14-3)
  5. Westside-Macon (9-7)
  6. Cedar Grove (12-6)
  7. Central-Macon (12-3)
  8. Windsor Forest (11-6)
  9. Dawson County (13-4)
  10. Towers (11-5)

Class AA

  1. Glenn Hills (16-0)
  2. Thomasville (15-2)
  3. South Atlanta (15-2)
  4. Dublin (13-2)
  5. Elbert County (16-2)
  6. Swainsboro (12-3)
  7. Washington County (10-5)
  8. Laney (13-3)
  9. Therrell (11-7)
  10. Banks County (16-3)

Class A-Private

  1. St. Francis (15-2)
  2. Aquinas (16-3)
  3. Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (15-2)
  4. Christian Heritage (16-0)
  5. Stratford Academy (10-4)
  6. Mt. Vernon Presbyterian (11-4)
  7. Lakeview Academy (11-5)
  8. North Cobb Christian (13-5)
  9. Holy Innocents’ (10-7)
  10. Drew Charter (8-8)

Class A-Public

  1. Manchester (14-0)
  2. Woodville-Tompkins (15-2)
  3. Calhoun County (16-2)
  4. Montgomery County (13-3)
  5. Central-Talbotton (14-2)
  6. Wilcox County (13-3)
  7. Lanier County (15-2)
  8. Pelham (13-3)
  9. Macon County (12-3)
  10. Wilkinson County (11-6)

 

We have two new No. 1 teams this week, but in Class AAAAAAA, No. 1 McEachern is still the team to beat. There has been some major shuffling below the Indians, however. No. 9 Collins Hill drops six spots after getting swept by returnee, No. 8 Peachtree Ridge, 54-49. The Lions raced past the Eagles, outscoring them 17-7 in the final quarter with Florida State-signee Devin Vassell dropping in 23 points. Collins Hill’s inability to beat Peachtree Ridge has opened up a half-game lead in Region 6 for No. 4 Mountain View, just ahead of the Lions. The Bears have quietly won 11-straight games but have a murderer’s row to finish the regular season; luckily for them all at home. Mountain View hosts Duluth (13-6), Peachtree Ridge, Collins Hill and Discovery (9-9) over their final four games. No. 6 Meadowcreek shut down EJ Montgomery and No. 10 Wheeler 59-47, sending the Wildcats down three positions. No. 3 Pebblebrook survived a tough road week, winning at South Cobb 80-74 and at Westlake 69-59. No. 5 Newton dispatched of Class 3A No. 5 Westside-Macon 86-70 at the Covington News Super 8 Showcase. Falling out of the Top 10 is Etowah (16-2). The Eagles were upset in overtime by Walton, 43-38.

No. 1 Langston Hughes was upset on Tuesday night in Region 5-AAAAAA play at Alexander 70-66, but retains their top position since Landers Nolley did not play. Nolley, however, made up for lost time by hanging 31 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals in a 69-58 win at No. 4 Tri-Cities, and followed up with a 50-point outburst in a 78-56 win at Creekside. No. 2 Gainesville could never quite pull away from Lanier (13-5) even after leading 47-29 after three quarters and eventually holding on for a 57-46 win. The Longhorns exit the poll and are replaced by No. 10 Coffee. The Trojans have won 5-straight, including a 53-47 win over Lowndes. Coffee is 7-3 since football season ended. Also out of the poll is Dacula (10-7). The Falcons have been one of the state’s biggest disappointments with three future D-I players and a Columbus State-signee on the roster. They were upset by Mill Creek 53-49. Breaking back into the Top 10 for the first time since Week 5 is No. 6 Stephenson. The Jaguars beat No. 7 Jonesboro in overtime 65-58. Down four spots is No. 9 Bradwell Institute. The Tigers have not found consistency this year, losing to Glynn Academy 63-54.

Following No. 2 Buford’s unforeseen 65-64 loss at Cedar Shoals, No. 1 Warner Robins regains control of Class AAAAA. No. 3 Miller Grove continues to turn back competition in Region 5, beating No. 4 Southwest DeKalb in overtime, 63-58. No. 5 Lithonia visits Southwest DeKalb on Tuesday.  No. 6 Villa Rica continues to slip by, beating 3-13 East Paulding 77-72, 10-7 Cass 54-43 and 10-8 Kell 53-51. No. 8 Stockbridge knocked Woodland-Stockbridge (12-5) out of the Top 10, 76-69 at Woodland. Columbia (11-7) also tumbles out of the rankings following a 73-72 loss to Arabia Mountain. Reentering are No. 9 Statesboro and No. 10 Eagle’s Landing. The Blue Devils blew out Ware County on the road 64-45 while the Eagles won at Union Grove 62-38 and beat Dutchtown 70-63.

If No. 3 Mary Persons can’t contend with No. 1 Upson-Lee in Region 2-AAAA, the classification is shaping up to be relatively drama-free come state tournament time. Cam Holden will need a monster game if the Bulldogs are to shock the nation. Holden piled in 46 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals in Mary Persons’ 92-76 win against Northside-Warner Robins and was suspended for their 76-46 loss at home against the Knights. No. 2 St. Pius X blasted Wesleyan 67-33 on the road. No. 4 Westover has won 11-straight and took advantage of a tired No. 5 Americus-Sumter team that won a 125-122 six overtime game against No. 9 Carver-Columbus the night before. The Patriots beat the Panthers 68-63 at Westover. No. 10 Sandy Creek plummets seven spots. Much like last year, the Patriots just can’t seem to play up to their full potential for the entire season. They lost 62-58 at No. 7 Cartersville and fell at LaGrange 50-49, putting themselves in a hole in Region 5.

No. 1 Morgan County scored a pair of 68-47 Region 8-AAA wins over East Jackson and Monroe Area (10-6), who has lost four in a row and falls out of the Top 10. No. 2 Jenkins turned back No. 8 Windsor Forest for the second time this year 61-57, but did not impress in a 61-52 win over Peach County at the Covington News Super 8 Showcase. No. 4 Greater Atlanta Christian proved the Sandy’s Spiel Rankings are the only polls you should ever go by, crushing an overwhelmed Union County team 70-39 on the road. No. 6 Cedar Grove suffered a very bad loss at Lovett, 47-45, dropping the Saints two spots. Pierce County (12-4) did not last long in the Top 10, losing to Ware County 55-48. Back into the poll is No. 9 Dawson County, who beat Union County 48-45. Debuting is No. 10 Towers. The Titans beat Pace Academy 79-77 and now visit Cedar Grove on Tuesday.

The pressure was too much for No. 7 Washington County in Class AA as the Golden Hawks wilted and dropped four spots after losses to Dodge County 65-59 and to Southwest-Macon 47-45. Over half the roster was sick with the flu, saving the Golden Hawks from falling completely out of the Top 10. No. 3 South Atlanta earned a pair of wins at the MLK Inspire Classic, beating Northeast (FL) 73-65 and Fleming Island (FL) 74-56. No. 4 Dublin took care of Northeast-Macon 82-67 but will have their hands full on Friday as they welcome hard-charging Bleckley County. The Royals are 13-3 under first-year head coach Randall Owens after finishing 16-13 a year ago. Multi-sport star 6-foot-4 Torenio Davis is a freakish athlete that is averaging 16.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. No. 10 Banks County drops another spot after the Leopards still can’t find their swagger. The Leopards blew out Region 8 opponents last year, but had to hold on for a 70-66 win over the 3-13 Oglethorpe County Patriots on Saturday.

Class A-Private No. 1 St. Francis clocked King’s Ridge Christian 65-45 and Mt. Pisgah 79-35. It didn’t take long for last week’s new faces in the poll to falter. Walker (12-4) drops out after barely beating Pinecrest Academy in overtime 64-62 and losing at Galloway 58-52. Landmark Christian (10-7) has lost 3-straight, sinking out of the Top 10. Taking their place is debutant No. 10 Drew Charter. First-year head coach James Williams has guided the Eagles to 4-straight wins, highlighted by a 79-71 win over Greenforest, a 74-60 victory against Landmark Christian and a 61-51 win over Fulton Leadership Academy. No. 8 North Cobb Christian returns after a 68-63 overtime win against Allatoona. No. 5 Stratford Academy beat Class A-Public No. 10 Wilkinson County in overtime, 74-65. No. 6 Mt. Vernon Presbyterian beat Riverwood 72-59 for the first time in four years, moving the Mustangs up two spots. No. 9 Holy Innocents’ roller coaster season continued, taking a tough loss to Liberty County 78-74 at the Covington News Super 8 Showcase.

We have a new No. 1 and a completely changed Top 10 outside of spots No. 8 and No. 9 in Class A-Public. Road warriors No. 1 Manchester bowed up, taking the top spot away from No. 5 Central-Talbotton in a hostile environment 66-54 and then outlasting No. 9 Macon County 74-73, an hour and 15 minutes away from home. Central-Talbotton has lost all momentum, losing to Harris County 40-38 as well. No. 7 Lanier County slips four spots after losing at No. 6 Wilcox County 75-69, the Patriots rising four spots. No. 10 Wilkinson County falls three positions after losses to Stratford Academy and Class 4A No. 8 Baldwin, 64-51. No. 4 Montgomery County cracks the Top 5 after beating rival Treutlen 93-87 behind Jahleel Wilson’s 32 points, Daveaun Coglin’s 27 and Shaw Robinson’s 22.

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

No. 10 Etowah earns Cherokee County bragging rights on Senior Night against Creekview

No. 10 Etowah 60, Creekview 51

Good boys basketball in Cherokee County has been at a premium over the past decade. No. 10 Etowah (16-2) and Creekview (15-2) have tried to change that narrative this season. The Eagles, ranked in Class AAAAAAA, hosted the Grizzlies out of Region 6-AAAAAA, a team still on the search for a real resume building win, while Etowah already had scored wins over Southwest DeKalb, Peachtree Ridge and Lithonia. With their 15-game winning streak snapped last night in a 43-38 overtime trap game against Walton, the Eagles were focused on Saturday to make sure there were no lingering effects on Senior Night.

Etowah opened the game starting five seniors; regular starters Adrian Cohen (Tusculum), Carter Ingersoll (Claremont McKenna) and junior Jaxon Etter on the bench. Just 40 seconds into the game, Coach Jason Dasinger called timeout before the Eagles even had a chance to advance the ball into the frontcourt as the Grizzlies opened with a zone press.

Creekview took advantage of the situation and led 7-4 with 4:22 left in the first quarter before Dasinger subbed in his usual trio. Etter quickly hit Cohen for a corner three while 6-foot-7 Julian Baldwin had his way around the rim as Creekview’s 6-foot-6 James Wall watched from the stands, suspended after getting ejected for two technicals in Wednesday’s 74-71 win at Sequoyah. Baldwin was aggressive, knocking down two jumpers before attacking the basket and scoring 10 of his 16 points as the Eagles led 17-15 after eight minutes.

Dynamic scorer KJ Jenkins, the No. 4 ranked senior point guard in the GHSA, netted five points in the opening frame, but it was apparent that Etowah was committed to making someone else beat them. That someone else was nowhere to be found in the second quarter as the Eagles outscored the Grizzlies 16-3 in the frame.

Everyone got involved as things were clicking on both sides for the Eagles. Ingersoll knocked down a jumper to ignite a 16-1 run.

The Eagles forced countless turnovers and converted on the other end. Nick Nagy hit Za’ki Lowe for a late three to help Etowah carry a 33-18 lead into the half.

In the third quarter, it was more of the same. Etowah led by 22 at 43-21 at the 4:38 mark as Cohen bombed away from deep. The 6-foot-5 wing drilled two of his four three-pointers en route to eight of his game-high 18 points.

Creekview was on the verge of packing it in until a 39-second stretch changed the entire complexion of the game. Jenkins scored his first bucket of the second half with 39 seconds left. Grant Potts completed a 4-point play from deep. Then, after a wild inbounds, the Grizzlies came away with a Paxton Nayman steal which led to a Jenkins three at the buzzer, a 9-point spurt that turned a 23-point deficit into a manageable 50-36 hole heading into the fourth.

The madness continued in the fourth quarter as the celebratory home crowd grew quieter and quieter. Timmy Davis knocked down a corner three, followed by a Grayson Baker triple in the same spot. Baker scored nine of his team-high 12 points in the opening 3:43 of the final quarter, bringing the Grizzlies to within 52-48 with 4:17 remaining.

With flashbacks of the previous night coming all too true, the Eagles turned to Etter and Cohen to stem the tide. Etter and Cohen finished with back-to-back lay-ups to cushion the lead to 56-48 at the 2:38 mark.

With a 21-to-2 run now behind them, the Grizzlies ran out of firepower. Etowah responded with an 8-to-3 run to close a 60-51 victory, clinching their claim as the best team in Cherokee County.

My Take

The game played out how I thought it would – kind of. Etowah was the better team with more size and better wins. After paying homage to their seniors, the Eagles took off with their usual starters in the game. Julian Baldwin was at his best, attacking Creekview’s limited front line. Seeing two early jumpers fall through really gave the 6-foot-7 unsigned senior a boost of confidence. He set the tone in the first quarter and was Coach Dasinger’s cornerstone as they waited for the cavalry to arrive at the first substitution. Carter Ingersoll did what he does inside – the dirty work. I’m a fan of the 6-foot-6 post’s old school game. He collected 9 points and 7 rebounds and did it without the flash and frills. Adrian Cohen is major grab for Tusculum at the D-II level. Once primarily a slasher, Cohen has improved every season. He knocked down four three-pointers and picked up 7 rebounds. Jaxon Etter was quiet with 8 points, but he impacted the game where the scorebook doesn’t show. His steadiness played a big role in Etowah closing out the victory while it seemed everything was unraveling. He had four points in the fourth quarter, had a few nice passes and moved his feet well defensively, especially on top of the defense.

Coming into the game, I was concerned about who would be able to create their own shot outside of KJ Jenkins. Etowah locked down the potent scorer, holding him to a pair of threes, finishing with 10 points. Jenkins had no easy looks and no free passes to the basket. With deep range and the green light to pull, Jenkins tried to warm himself up with a couple tough, long threes that were contested. He was never able to get it going, which is why the Grizzlies were down big. Grayson Baker came to life in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t sustainable for the length of the game. Creekview’s most constant offense came from bruising Paxton Nayman inside. He had 11 points and 6 rebounds. For the Grizzlies to continue winning at a high clip, they will have to free up Jenkins more. If he’s not creating for himself, he must rely on finding spot up shooters. Creekview sank six threes on the night. Coach Casey Gramling’s offense is predicated on ball-movement as they just don’t have enough options that can consistently create their own shot outside of Jenkins.

Top Performers

Etowah
Adrian Cohen – 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
Julian Baldwin – 16 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Carter Ingersoll – 9 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Jaxon Etter – 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block

Creekview
Grayson Baker – 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Paxton Nayman – 11 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
KJ Jenkins – 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal