Category Archives: GHSA

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Schedules

GHSA Master Schedule of Must See Games

November 11, 2015 KyleSandy

November

11/14 – No. 5 SWAC^1A vs. No. 8 Heritage-Conyers^5A (SWD Showdown II)

11/14 – No. 8 Henry County^4A vs. No. 9 Jones County^5A (SWD Showdown II)

11/14 – Tucker^6A at No. 10 Cedar Shoals^5A

11/17 – No. 9 Lakeview Academy^1A at No. 4 GAC^2A

11/17 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’^2A at Riverwood^5A

11/20 – No. 10 Rabun County^2A at Dawson County^3A

11/20 – North Atlanta^5A at No. 10 South Atlanta^3A

11/20 – No. 10 Columbia^4A at No. 1 Lithonia^4A

11/21 – Westminster^3A vs. No. 5 Sandy Creek^4A

11/21 – Cedar Grove^3A at No. 2 St. Francis^1A

11/21 – Buford^4A at Tift County^6A

11/21 – No. 8 Henry County^4A at No. 9 Newton^6A

11/21 – No. 8 Berkmar^6Avs. No. 8 Heritage-Conyers^5A(Run N’ Shoot Classic)

11/21 – Langston Hughes^6Avs. Alpharetta^6A

11/21 – No. 1 Greenforest^1A vs. Peachtree Ridge^6A (Jared Cook Classic)

11/21 – Sequoyah^5A vs. Dacula^6A (Jared Cook Classic)

11/23 – Buford^4A vs. Sequoyah^5A (Jared Cook Classic)

11/23 – No. 9 Lakeview Academy^1A vs. Stephens County^4A (Piedmont College Classic)

11/24 – No. 2 St. Francis^1A vs. No. 3 Gainesville^5A (Jared Cook Classic)

11/24 – No. 8 Berkmar^6A vs. Duluth^6A (Jared Cook Classic)

11/24 – No. 4 Whitefield Academy^1A vs. Hillgrove^6A(Thanksgiving Showcase)

11/24 – No. 4 East Jackson^3A at No. 3 Westlake^6A

11/24 – No. 7 Warner Robins^5A at Perry^4A

11/24 – Americus-Sumter^4A at No. 4 Allatoona^5A

11/24 – No. 6 LaGrange^5A at Mundy’s Mill^5A

11/27 – No. 2 Jonesboro^4A vs. No. 2 Norcross^6A

11/27 –No. 2 McIntosh^5A vs. Douglas County^6A (Holiday Hoopsgiving)

11/27 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’^2A vs. Duluth^6A (Holiday Hoopsgiving)

11/27 –No. 1 Greenforest^1A vs. No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A (Holiday Hoopsgiving)

11/28 – No. 2 Norcross^6A vs. No. 1 Greenforest^1A (Holiday Hoopsgiving)

11/28 – No. 3 Westlake^6A vs. No. 2 Pace Academy^2A (Holiday Hoopsgiving)

11/28 – Langston Hughes^6A at No. 10 Lambert^6A(On the Radar Hoops Showcase)

11/28 – Douglas County^6A vs. Dacula^6A (On the Radar Hoops Showcase)

11/28 – No. 8 Berkmar^6A vs. No. 9 Newton^6A (On the Radar Hoops Showcase)

11/28 – No. 1 Shiloh^6Avs. No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A(On the Radar Hoops Showcase)

11/28 – No. 4 East Jackson^3A vs. Grayson^6A (On the Radar Hoops Showcase)

11/28 – No. 2 St. Francis^1A at No. 5 Milton^6A (Dai-Jon Parker Classic)

11/28 – No. 1 Lithonia^4A vs. No. 3 Morgan County^3A(Hardwood Jam Fest)

11/28 – Cairo^4Aat No. 5 Thomasville^2A

11/28 – Riverwood^5A at No. 6 Blessed Trinity^3A

December

12/1 – No. 2 Hancock Central^2A at No. 3 Crawford County^2A

12/1 – No. 2 McIntosh^5A at Mundy’s Mill^5A

12/1 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’^2A at No. 5 SWAC^1A

12/1 – No. 4 Whitefield Academy^2A at Houston County^5A

12/1 – No. 6 St. Pius^4A at No. 9 Grady^4A

12/1 – Richmond Hill^5Aat No. 3 Liberty County^4A

12/1 – Dawson County^3Aat No. 10 Rabun County^2A

12/1 – No. 8 Vidalia^2A at No. 9 Swainsboro^2A

12/1 – No. 3 Gainesville^5A at No. 8 Heritage-Conyers^5A

12/4 – No. 7 Warner Robins^5A at Tift County^6A

12/4 – South Paulding^5A at No. 4 Allatoona^5A

12/4 – No. 7 Callaway^3A at No. 7 Greenville^1A

12/4 – No. 2 St. Francis^1A at No. 4 Whitefield Academy^2A

12/4 – No. 8 Stratford Academy^1A at Northside-Warner Robins^5A

12/4 – No. 2 Hancock Central^1A at No. 4 Wilkinson County^1A

12/4 – No. 7 St. Anne-Pacelli^1A at No. 8 Dooly County^1A

12/4 – No. 4 Bainbridge^4A at No. 1 Seminole County^2A

12/4 – No. 4 GAC^2A at No. 6 Holy Innocents’^2A

12/4 – No. 3 Morgan County^3A at No. 1 Laney^3A

12/4 – No. 6 Blessed Trinity^3A at No. 10 South Atlanta^3A

12/4 – No. 9 Central-Macon^3A at Westside-Macon^3A

12/4 – No. 10 Columbia^4A at No. 6 St. Pius^4A

12/5 – Duluth^6A at No. 9 Newton^6A

12/5 – No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A vs. No. 2 St. Francis^1A(Basketball Xplosion)

12/5 – Buford^4A at No. 3 Morgan County^3A

12/5 – No. 1 Greenforest^1Avs. No. 2 Pace Academy^2A (Basketball Xplosion)

12/5 – No. 3 North Cobb Christian^1A at No. 6 Landmark Christian^1A

12/5 – No. 9 Grady^4A at No. 4 Whitefield Academy^1A

12/5 – Mt. Vernon Presbyterian^1A at No. 8 Stratford Academy^1A

12/5 – No. 1 Calhoun County^1A at No. 7 Early County^2A

12/5 – No. 2 Hancock Central^1A at Greene County^2A

12/5 – Southwest DeKalb^5A at No. 1 Miller Grove^5A

12/8 – No. 3 Gainesville^5A at No. 10 Cedar Shoals^5A

12/8 – Buford^4Aat No. 2 St. Francis^1A

12/8 – No. 2 Norcross^6A at No. 7 Collins Hill^6A

12/8 – Georgia Military^1A at No. 4 Wilkinson County^1A

12/8 – No. 4 GAC^2A at No. 2 Pace Academy^2A

12/8 – No. 10 Rabun County^2A at Stephens County^4A

12/8 – No. 3 Morgan County^3A at No. 4 East Jackson^3A

12/8 – Dawson County^3A at No. 8 East Hall^3A

12/8 – Cedar Grove^3A at No. 10 South Atlanta^3A

12/8 – No. 7 Greenville^1A at No. 8 Dooly County^1A

12/8 – No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A at Langston Hughes^6A

12/11 – Douglas County^6Aat Langston Hughes^6A

12/11 – No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy^1A at No. 7 St. Anne-Pacelli^1A

12/11 – Banks County^3A at No. 8 East Hall^3A

12/11 – Northside-Warner Robins^5A at No. 9 Central-Macon^3A

12/11 – No. 4 Bainbridge^4A at Westover^4A

12/11 – No. 9 Grady^4A at No. 1 Lithonia^4A

12/12 – No. 1 Lithonia^4A at No. 6 St. Pius^4A

12/12 – No. 7 Worth County^4A at No. 4 Bainbridge^4A

12/12 – No. 8 Henry County^4A at No. 8 East Hall^3A

12/12 – No. 2 Jenkins^3A vs. No. 8 Berkmar^6A (Valhalla Classic)

12/12 – No. 6 LaGrange^5A at No. 7 Callaway^3A

12/12 – No. 1 Calhoun County^1A at No. 6 Randolph-Clay^1A

12/15 – No. 7 Early County^2A at No. 1 Seminole County^2A

12/15 – No. 9 Newton^6A at Tucker^6A

12/15 – No. 7 Callaway^3A at No. 6 LaGrange^5A

12/15 – No. 6 Pebblebrook^6Aat Douglas County^6A

12/18 – Apalachee^5A at No. 8 Heritage-Conyers^5A

12/18 – Stephens County^4Aat No. 10 Rabun County^2A

12/18 – No. 6 Landmark Christian^1A at No. 7 St. Anne-Pacelli^1A

12/18 – No. 8 Dooly County^1A at No. 1 Calhoun County^1A

12/18 – No. 5 Turner County^1A at No. 7 Greenville^1A

12/18 – No. 3 Treutlen^1A at No. 9 Portal^1A

12/18 – No. 2 Hancock Central^1A at Thomson^4A

12/19 – No. 5 Thomasville^2A at No. 4 Bainbridge^4A

12/19 – No. 7 Greenville^1A at No. 1 Calhoun County^1A

12/19 – No. 5 SWAC^1A at No. 2 St. Francis^1A

12/19 – No. 6 Blessed Trinity^3A vs. South Paulding^5A

12/19 – No. 2 McIntosh^5A at No. 5 Sandy Creek^4A

12/19 – No. 10 Cedar Shoals^5A vs. No. 9 Newton^6A (Classic City Shootout)

12/19 – McEachern^6A vs. Dacula^6A (SEBA Hoopfest)

12/21 – No. 10 South Atlanta^3A vs. No. 6 LaGrange^5A (War Eagle Classic)

12/22 – No. 10 South Atlanta^3A vs. Buford^4A(War Eagles Classic)

12/22 – No. 1 Calhoun County^1A at No. 1 Seminole County^2A

12/22 – No. 8 Dooly County^1A at No. 8 Stratford Academy^1A

12/22 – No. 4 GAC^2A at No. 6 St. Pius^4A

12/22 – Northside-Warner Robins^5A at No. 3 Crawford County^2A

12/28 – No. 2 Jenkins^3A vs. Buford^4A (Grayson Ram Classic)

12/29 – No. 6 Randolph-Clay^1A at No. 8 Dooly County^1A

12/29 – Thomson^4A at No. 1 Laney^3A

12/30 – No. 2 Jenkins^3A vs. Kennesaw Mountain^6A (Grayson Ram Classic)

12/30 – Perry^4Aat No. 8 Dooly County^1A

January

1/2 – Taylor County^1A at No. 3 Crawford County^2A

1/2 – No. 7 Early County^2Aat No. 1 Calhoun County^1A

1/2 – No. 7 Callaway^3A at Harris County^5A

1/5 – No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy^1A at No. 4 Wilkinson County^1A

1/5 – No. 4 Bainbridge^4A at No. 5 Thomasville^2A

1/5 – No. 2 Pace Academy^2A at No. 6 Holy Innocents’^2A

1/5 – No. 5 Thomasville^2A at No. 4 Bainbridge^4A

1/5 – Westover^4A at No. 7 Worth County^4A

1/5 – No. 7 Collins Hill^6A at Duluth^6A

1/5 – Douglas County^6A at No. 3 Westlake^6A

1/6 – Douglas County^6Aat No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A

1/8 – Langston Hughes^6Aat No. 3 Westlake^6A

1/8 – No. 5 SWAC^1A at No. 1 Greenforest^1A

1/8 – No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy^1A at No. 8 Stratford Academy^1A

1/8 – No. 10 Terrell County^1A at No. 1 Calhoun County^1A

1/8 – No. 5 Thomasville^2A at No. 7 Early County^2A

1/8 – Bryan County^2A at No. 8 Vidalia^2A

1/8 – Westminster^3A at No. 6 Blessed Trinity^3A

1/9 – No. 1 Laney^3A at No. 3 Morgan County^3A

1/9 – No. 5 Thomasville^2A at No. 1 Seminole County^2A

1/9 – No. 3 Crawford County^2A at Taylor County^1A

1/9 – No. 1 Calhoun County^1A at No. 5 Turner County^1A

1/9 – No. 4 Whitefield Academy^1A at No. 6 Landmark Christian^1A

1/9 – No. 2 Jonesboro^4A at No. 8 Henry County^4A

1/9 – North Atlanta^5Aat No. 9 Grady^4A

1/9 – No. 4 Wilkinson County^1A at No. 2 Hancock Central^1A

1/9 – No. 4 Wheeler^6A at No. 5 Milton^6A

1/9 – No. 6 LaGrange^5A at Carver-Columbus^5A

1/12 – No. 1 Seminole County^2A at No. 4 Bainbridge^4A

1/12 – Cedar Grove^3A at No. 6 Blessed Trinity^3A
1/12 – Westside-Macon^3A at No. 9 Central-Macon^3A

1/12 – No. 1 Lithonia^4A at. No. 10 Columbia^4A

1/12 – No. 1 Seminole County^2A at No. 4 Bainbridge^4A

1/12 – No. 3 Liberty County^4A at Richmond Hill^5A

1/12 – No. 3 Westlake^6A at No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A

1/12 – No. 1 Shiloh^6A at No. 8 Berkmar^6A

1/15 – No. 9 Grady^4A at No. 6 St. Pius^4A

1/15 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’^2A at No. 4 GAC^2A

1/15 – No. 4 East Jackson^3A at No. 3 Morgan County^3A

1/15 – No. 4 Allatoona^5A at South Paulding^5A

1/15 – No. 10 Cedar Shoals^5A at No. 8 Heritage-Conyers^5A

1/16 – No. 6 Blessed Trinity^3Aat No. 6 St. Pius^4A

1/16 – No. 3 Crawford County^2A at Northside-Warner Robins^5A

1/16 – Tift County^6A at Buford^4A

1/16 – Greene County^2A at No. 10 Rabun County^2A

1/16 – North Cobb^6Aat No. 3 North Cobb Christian^2A

1/16 – No. 8 Dooly County^1A at No. 7 St. Anne-Pacelli^1A

1/16 – No. 1 Shiloh^6A at Dacula^6A

1/18 – No. 1 Greenforest^1Avs. No. 10 South Atlanta^3A (BCB MLK Classic)

1/18 – No. 5 Calhoun^3A vs. Buford^4A(BCB MLK Classic)

1/18 – No. 3 Westlake^6A vs. Columbia^4A (BCB MLK Classic)

1/18 – Sequoyah^5A vs. No. 8 Berkmar^6A (BCB MLK Classic)

1/18 – No. 9 Grady^4A vs. North Atlanta^5A

1/19 – No. 7 Collins Hill^6A at No. 2 Norcross^6A

1/19 – No. 6 LaGrange^5A at Northside-Columbus^5A

1/19 – No. 6 St. Pius^4A at No. 10 Columbia^4A

1/19 – No. 7 Worth County^4A at Westover^4A

1/19 – No. 7 Callaway^3A at Rockmart^3A

1/19 – No. 4 Whitefield Academy^1A at No. 2 St. Francis^1A

1/19 – No. 2 Hancock Central^1A at Aquinas^1A

1/19 – Hebron Christian^1A at No. 9 Lakeview Academy^1A

1/19 – No. 2 Pace Academy^2A at No. 4 GAC^2A

1/19 – No. 8 East Hall^3A at Banks County^3A

1/22 – No. 4 Wilkinson County^1A at No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy^1A

1/22 – No. 8 Dooly County^1A at No. 7 Greenville^1A

1/22 – No. 2 Jenkins^3A at Johnson-Savannah^3A

1/22 – No. 9 Jones County^5A vs. Houston County^5A

1/22 – Langston Hughes^6Aat No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A

1/23 – No. 1 Lithonia^4A at No. 1 Miller Grove^5A

1/23 – No. 1 Calhoun County^1A vs. No. 3 Treutlen^1A

1/23 – No. 5 Thomasville^2A at Cairo^4A

1/23 – No. 9 Swainsboro^2A at No. 8 Vidalia^2A

1/23 – No. 3 Morgan County^3A at Buford^4A

1/23 – No. 3 Liberty County^4A at Burke County^2A

1/23 – Dacula^6A at No. 1 Shiloh^6A

1/26 – Langston Hughes^6Aat Douglas County^6A

1/26 – No. 1 Lithonia^4A at No. 9 Grady^4A

1/26 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’^2A at No. 2 Pace Academy^2A

1/26 – No. 5 SWAC^1A at No. 6 Landmark Christian^1A

1/26 – No. 8 Stratford Academy^1A at No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy^1A

1/26 – No. 3 Morgan County^3A at Jefferson^3A

1/29 – No. 7 Early County^2A at No. 5 Thomasville^2A

1/29 – No. 3 Liberty County^4A at Thomson^4A

1/29 – No. 4 Bainbridge^4A at No. 7 Worth County^4A

1/29 – No. 7 Warner Robins^5A at Houston County^5A

1/29 – Duluth^6A at No. 7 Collins Hill^6A

1/29 – No. 3 Westlake^6A at Douglas County^6A

1/29 – No. 6 St. Pius^4A at No. 1 Lithonia^4A

1/30 – No. 6 Landmark Christian^1A at No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy^1A

1/30 – No. 1 Calhoun County^1A at No. 10 Terrell County^1A

February

2/2 – Mt. Vernon Presbyterian^1A at No. 6 Landmark Christian^1A

2/2 – No. 1 Seminole County^2A at No. 5 Thomasville^2A

2/2 – No. 6 Blessed Trinity^3A at Westminster^3A

2/2 – No. 7 Callaway^3A at Pepperell^3A

2/2 – Mundy’s Mill^5A at No. 2 McIntosh^5A

2/2 – No. 8 Heritage-Conyers^5A at No. 10 Cedar Shoals^5A

2/2 – No. 5 Milton^6A at No. 4 Wheeler^6A

2/2 – No. 8 Berkmar^6A at Dacula^6A

2/2 – No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A at No. 3 Westlake^6A

2/5 – No. 3 Westlake^6Aat Langston Hughes^6A

2/5 – Perry^4A at No. 7 Warner Robins^5A

2/5 – Northside-Columbus^5A at No. 6 LaGrange^5A

2/5 – No. 1 Seminole County^2A at No. 7 Early County^2A

2/5 – No. 1 Greenforest^1A at No. 6 Landmark Christian^1A

2/5 – No. 8 Stratford Academy^1A at Mt. Vernon Presbyterian^1A

2/5 – No. 9 Lakeview Academy^1A at Hebron Christian^1A

2/5 – No. 8 Vidalia^2A at Bryan County^2A

2/5 – No. 10 Rabun County^2A at Greene County^2A

2/5 – No. 8 Berkmar^6A at No. 1 Shiloh^6A

2/6 – No. 6 Randolph-Clay^1A at No. 1 Calhoun County^1A

***REGION/STATE PLAYOFFS***

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Sequoyah Sweeps Preseason Tilt With Langston Hughes

November 10, 2015 KyleSandy

^5ASequoyah 78, ^6ALangston Hughes 69

Two teams on the precipice of cracking the top ten in their respective classifications met in the War Lodge in a preseason scrimmage. Missed opportunities and runs were the story of the game. Coach Rory Welsh’s 94-feet of pressure defense had the Sequoyah Chiefs on their heels early on, as the Panthers jumped out to an 11-3 lead. Jordan Usher of Sequoyah started out slowly, but found his first points of the game at the 1:41 mark of the first quarter. From that point on, it was all Chiefs.

Sequoyah would go on a 21-2 run to open up a 28-17 advantage mid-way through the second quarter before Khalil Cuffee would quiet the storm and score 11 of his game-high 27 points in the first half. At the break Sequoyah led 36-30 thanks to big second quarters from Cameron Cox, who announced before tip-off he would play his college ball at Navy, and Usher. At the half Cox led all scorers with 13 points while Usher added 8.

Usher defending Cuffee as Coach Welsh looks on

After trading offensive fouls to start the second half, Cuffee canned three straight three-pointers to take a 39-38 lead. Hunter Gaddis of Sequoyah fought for an offensive rebound and scored a contested putback at the buzzer to give the home-standing Chiefs a 54-51 advantage heading into the decisive final quarter.

Free throws crushed the Panthers’ hopes of winning as Langston Hughes shot just 6-of-14 from the line in the fourth, featuring key misses from Cuffee and Derrick Cook, who combined to go 3-of-10. Sequoyah converted 12-of-17 free throws in the final frame to stem the tide and hold off the Panthers.

Turning Point: Langston Hughes fought back from a 66-57 deficit and had a chance to make it 66-63 with just over 2:30 remaining in regulation, but a blown opportunity at a point-blank look turned into a Chiefs fastbreak layup, making it 68-61 with 2:39 to play.

Highlight of the Night: Jordan Usher and Hunter Gaddis punched in back-to-back slams on the fastbreak to give Sequoyah a 64-56 advantage.

My Take: The guard play did not disappoint. Khalil Cuffee looked extremely smooth and should have Division-I colleges knocking at his door. Cameron Cox stole the show in what was an emotional night, committing to Navy. Cox, like Jordan Usher, rebounded from a slow start and scored his first points of the night on a baseline jam. Role players Levi Biddy and Hunter Gaddis get a lot of credit for the W. Derrick Cook did a little bit of everything for the Panthers. I think the early setback will be a good wakeup call for the Panthers as they enter a gauntlet of a regular season schedule. Coach Welsh’s team showed good discipline, they just could not convert from in close or at the line. Give credit to Sequoyah for not folding after a slow first few minutes and bouncing back to give the Panthers a punch in the mouth and take momentum.

Top Performers:

Sequoyah
Cameron Cox – 26 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Jordan Usher – 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
Levi Biddy – 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Hunter Gaddis – 10 points, 5 rebounds

Langston Hughes
Khalil Cuffee – 27 points, 3 rebounds
Derrick Cook – 13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals
Justin Jones – 13 points, 3 rebounds

Cameron Cox announces he is heading Navy pic.twitter.com/NM41K52xKI

— Kyle Sandy (@KyleSandy355) November 11, 2015

Girls

Sequoyah 61, Langston Hughes 43

Two crucial spurts put the Lady Panthers away. Sequoyah led 22-15 at the half and used a 22-to-8 run to gain a 44-23 advantage heading into the fourth. Langston Hughes fought back and cut the Lady Chiefs lead to 49-38 with 3:14 remaining, but a 9-0 run ballooned the lead to 58-38 with 48.8 seconds left ending the comeback bid. Kelley Hartman and the rest of the Sequoyah length hurt the Panthers inside, while Megan Garcia’s three-point shooting and super sophomore Alyssa Cagle’s all-around ball handling and shooting powered the She-Chiefs attack.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Schedules

1A (Public & Private) Must See Games

November 10, 2015 KyleSandy

Here is a quick rundown on some of the best 1A (Public & Private) matchups between GHSA teams this season:

Class A

11/14 – No. 5 SWAC vs. No. 8 Heritage-Conyers^5A (SWD Showdown II)

11/17 – No. 9 Lakeview Academy at No. 4 GAC^2A

11/21 – Cedar Grove^3A at No. 2 St. Francis

11/21 – No. 1 Greenforest vs. Peachtree Ridge^6A (Jared Cook Classic)

11/23 – No. 9 Lakeview Academy vs. Stephens County^4A (Piedmont College Classic)

11/24 – No. 2 St. Francis vs. No. 3 Gainesville^5A (Jared Cook Classic)

11/24 – No. 4 Whitefield Academy vs. Hillgrove^6A(Thanksgiving Showcase)

11/27 –No. 1 Greenforest vs. No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A (Holiday Hoopsgiving)

11/28 – No. 1 Greenforest vs. No. 2 Norcross^6A (Holiday Hoopsgiving)

11/28 – No. 2 St. Francis at No. 5 Milton^6A (Dai-Jon Parker Classic)

12/1 – No. 2 Hancock Central at No. 3 Crawford County^2A

12/1 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’^2A at No. 5 SWAC

12/1 – No. 4 Whitefield Academy at Houston County^5A

12/4 – No. 7 Callaway^3A at No. 7 Greenville

12/4 – No. 2 St. Francis at No. 4 Whitefield Academy

12/4 – No. 8 Stratford Academy at Northside-Warner Robins^5A

12/4 – No. 2 Hancock Central at No. 4 Wilkinson County

12/4 – No. 7 St. Anne-Pacelli at No. 8 Dooly County

12/5 – No. 1 Greenforest vs. No. 2 Pace Academy^2A (Basketball Xplosion)

12/5 – No. 2 St. Francis vs. No. 6 Pebblebrook^6A

12/5 – No. 3 North Cobb Christian at No. 6 Landmark Christian

12/5 – No. 9 Grady^4A at No. 4 Whitefield Academy

12/5 – Mt. Vernon Presbyterian at No. 8 Stratford Academy

12/5 – No. 1 Calhoun County at No. 7 Early County^2A

12/5 – No. 2 Hancock Central at Greene County^2A

12/8 – Buford^4Aat No. 2 St. Francis

12/8 – Georgia Military at No. 4 Wilkinson County

12/8 – No. 7 Greenville at No. 8 Dooly County

12/11 – No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy at No. 7 St. Anne-Pacelli

12/12 – No. 1 Calhoun County at No. 6 Randolph-Clay

12/18 – No. 6 Landmark Christian at No. 7 St. Anne-Pacelli

12/18 – No. 8 Dooly County at No. 1 Calhoun County

12/18 – No. 5 Turner County at No. 7 Greenville

12/18 – No. 3 Treutlen at No. 9 Portal

12/18 – No. 2 Hancock Central at Thomson^4A

12/19 – No. 7 Greenville at No. 1 Calhoun County

12/19 – No. 5 SWAC at No. 2 St. Francis

12/22 – No. 1 Calhoun County at No. 1 Seminole County^2A

12/22 – No. 8 Dooly County at No. 8 Stratford Academy

12/29 – No. 6 Randolph-Clay at No. 8 Dooly County

12/30 – Perry^4Aat No. 8 Dooly County

1/2 – Taylor County at No. 3 Crawford County^2A

1/2 – No. 7 Early County^2Aat No. 1 Calhoun County

1/5 – No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy at No. 4 Wilkinson County

1/8 – No. 5 SWAC at No. 1 Greenforest

1/8 – No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy at No. 8 Stratford Academy

1/8 – No. 10 Terrell County at No. 1 Calhoun County

1/9 – No. 3 Crawford County^2A at Taylor County

1/9 – No. 1 Calhoun County at No. 5 Turner County

1/9 – No. 4 Whitefield Academy at No. 6 Landmark Christian

1/9 – No. 4 Wilkinson County at No. 2 Hancock Central

1/16 – North Cobb^6Aat No. 3 North Cobb Christian

1/16 – No. 8 Dooly County at No. 7 St. Anne-Pacelli

1/18 – No. 1 Greenforest vs. No. 10 South Atlanta^3A (BCB MLK Showcase)

1/19 – No. 4 Whitefield Academy at No. 2 St. Francis

1/19 – No. 2 Hancock Central at Aquinas

1/19 – Hebron Christian at No. 9 Lakeview Academy

1/22 – No. 4 Wilkinson County at No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy

1/22 – No. 8 Dooly County at No. 7 Greenville

1/23 – No. 1 Calhoun County vs. No. 3 Treutlen

1/26 – No. 5 SWAC at No. 6 Landmark Christian

1/26 – No. 8 Stratford Academy at No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy

1/30 – No. 6 Landmark Christian at No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy

1/30 – No. 1 Calhoun County at No. 10 Terrell County

2/2 – Mt. Vernon Presbyterian at No. 6 Landmark Christian

2/5 – No. 1 Greenforest at No. 6 Landmark Christian

2/5 – No. 8 Stratford Academy at Mt. Vernon Presbyterian

2/5 – No. 9 Lakeview Academy at Hebron Christian

2/6 – No. 6 Randolph-Clay at No. 1 Calhoun County

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Schedules

2A Must See Games

November 10, 2015 KyleSandy

Here is a quick rundown on some of the best 2A matchups between GHSA teams this season:

Class AA

11/17 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’ at Riverwood^5A

11/20 – No. 10 Rabun County at Dawson County^3A

11/27 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’ vs. Duluth^6A (Holiday Hoopsgiving)

11/28 – No. 2 Pace Academy vs. No. 3 Westlake^6A (Holiday Hoopsgiving)

11/28 – Cairo^4Aat No. 5 Thomasville

12/1 – No. 2 Hancock Central^1A at No. 3 Crawford County

12/1 – Dawson County^3Aat No. 10 Rabun County

12/1 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’ at No. 5 SWAC^1A

12/1 – No. 8 Vidalia at No. 9 Swainsboro

12/4 – No. 4 Bainbridge^4A at No. 1 Seminole County

12/4 – No. 4 GAC at No. 6 Holy Innocents’

12/5 – No. 2 Pace Academy vs. No. 1 Greenforest^1A(Basketball Xplosion)

12/8 – No. 4 GAC at No. 2 Pace Academy

12/8 – No. 10 Rabun County at Stephens County^4A

12/15 – No. 7 Early County at No. 1 Seminole County

12/18 – Stephens County^4Aat No. 10 Rabun County

12/19 – No. 5 Thomasville at No. 4 Bainbridge^4A

12/22 – No. 4 GAC at No. 6 St. Pius^4A

12/22 – Northside-Warner Robins^5A at No. 3 Crawford County

1/2 – Taylor County^1A at No. 3 Crawford County

1/5 – No. 4 Bainbridge^4A at No. 5 Thomasville

1/5 – No. 2 Pace Academy at No. 6 Holy Innocents’

1/8 – No. 5 Thomasville at No. 7 Early County

1/8 – Bryan County at No. 8 Vidalia

1/9 – No. 5 Thomasville at No. 1 Seminole County

1/9 – No. 3 Crawford County at Taylor County^1A

1/12 – No. 1 Seminole County at No. 4 Bainbridge^4A

1/15 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’ at No. 4 GAC

1/16 – No. 3 Crawford County at Northside-Warner Robins^5A

1/16 – Greene County at No. 10 Rabun County

1/19 – No. 2 Pace Academy at No. 4 GAC

1/23 – No. 5 Thomasville at Cairo^4A

1/23 – No. 9 Swainsboro at No. 8 Vidalia

1/26 – No. 6 Holy Innocents’ at No. 2 Pace Academy

1/29 – No. 7 Early County at No. 5 Thomasville

2/2 – No. 1 Seminole County at No. 5 Thomasville

2/5 – No. 1 Seminole County at No. 7 Early County

2/5 – No. 8 Vidalia at Bryan County

2/5 – No. 10 Rabun County at Greene County

Coaches' Corner, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Faith & Excitement Surround McKissic & Sandy Creek

November 9, 2015 KyleSandy

If you haven’t heard, there is a new sheriff in town leading the Sandy Creek boys program. A new head coach who is a self-proclaimed “Hype-man” for his team. Anthony McKissic has taken the reins of the Patriots after spending eight years at Morrow, coaching the boys for five years and most recently the girls team for three seasons. With his new gig, McKissic inherits a team that went 17-11 in 2014-15 and enters 2015-16 as Class AAAA’s No. 5 ranked team.

McKissic and his family have lived in Peachtree City for the last two years and with his wife already working at Sandy Creek, pouncing at the job opening after Coach Willie Reese left for Meadowcreek, was a no-brainer.

Bringing over a versatility of coaching both boys and girls in the past, there are different approaches that McKissic uses to get the most out of his players.

“There’s a big difference. There’s a different motivating tool when you’re coaching girls. Boys are usually a little bit tougher, getting them to understand using skill,” explained McKissic. “Girls are obviously more skilled than boys, because boys are more athletic and tend not to want to use skill. That’s how the better teams use a mix of athleticism and skill.”

Coach McKissic uses a variety of ways to make sure his players stay fundamentally sound and play the right way. More importantly, he wants to grow men and women as people off the court. He has held a multitude of positions over his coaching career, helping coach football, tennis, cross country and being the lead recruiting coordinator while at Morrow, but possibly his most gratifying job title has been Minister. McKissic is a man of God and leans heavily on his beliefs to not only guide himself, but help others along the way.

“I think that’s the basis of my whole philosophy. I’m just blessed to be at the position that I am and somebody helped me out at a young age and I just try my best to give back to the kids and be a good role model for them and be a leader in the community and in the school.”

His faith has allowed him to touch numerous people around him, players, parents and coaches alike. When it comes to how he leads on the court, McKissic believes he pulls from both ends of the spectrum.

“I would think I am a mix between a players’ coach and a hype-man,” he said. Some coaches play it close to the vest, but McKissic is a strong supporter of making sure the players have fun while striving for the goal of being the best they can.

“I just think that if they play excited and are happy about what they are doing they’ll do it with a lot more passion,” explained the energy filled coach. “The kids are kids. They want to have fun…I think they get a better experience out of it not making it necessarily a job for them. That’s how the kids get burnt out because coaches come in and they want it to be [like a job]. I believe you can work hard and have fun at the same time.”

Hype Machine

Coach McKissic is likely one of the funnest coaches to play for in the state. His advanced knowledge of cutting up videos, making highlight tapes and putting together pictures promoting the team have been littered all throughout social media, making fans at the Creek as excited as they have ever been for an upcoming basketball season, proud to stake claim to the fact that they are “Just a kid from Sandy Creek.”

CS5Ym_CWsAQAvAM — One of McKissic’s many graphics

“It’s something that I’ve done since the start of my career,” he said when speaking about his numerous ways of marketing and advertising his teams through social media.

“I use technology as a recruiting piece and a marketing piece to get the guys looked at. A lot of coaches don’t want players using it at all, but I tell them it’s okay to use it as long as you’re mature with it and are being responsible with your social media.

“It’s a tool; you can reach college coaches across the nation with the click of a finger instead of having to send out letters and DVDs. You can just shoot a link to it or shoot out a hype video to the fans and they can get excited about coming to see us play, whereas if we didn’t do that, they might not know what we have here at school.”

Patriot Pride

With hype videos being released to the public, there needs to be a good product on display. Sandy Creek shouldn’t worry about there being a letdown if everyone continues to buy into McKissic’s philosophies.

“They [fans] can expect an exciting and fast paced game. We want to give them something to come back to. We are going to work hard,” stated McKissic.

I may have put a target on the Patriots’ back this season, ranking them No. 5, but it is a challenge and responsibility that the team will embrace.

“The ranking means nothing to us, but, it does put a big target on your back so you have to make sure that you come in and every game play as if you’re respecting the person who gave you the ranking and not disrespecting them by coming out and playing lackadaisical and making it seem like the person didn’t know what they are talking about,” McKissic explained of the Patriots who were eliminated in the first round of the state playoffs last year, 63-46 by 2015-16 preseason No. 6 St. Pius.

“So if you’re going to be the No. 5 team in the state, you need to play like a No. 5 team in the state and not play down to the level of your opponent.”

Minutemen

The Patriots are ranked No. 5 in the state for a reason: good coaching and loads of talent. McKissic had great things to say about everyone on his roster but seven players stood out to me as being potential game-changers night in and night out.

Seniors Christian Turner, Keith Heard and AJ Freeman will be leaned on heavily to balance the offense.

Turner is a 5-foot-11 guard that is committed to Gardner-Webb.

“He’s a solid point guard. It all flows through him. He controls the ball, he’s not afraid to pass and give up shots to get his teammates involved.”

Heard, a 6-foot-8 power forward, brings length and a high-motor.

“He’s a hard-working kid. He can rebound, he’s big on put-back dunks and he’s a shot blocker.”

Freeman is a guard with good size that often gets overlooked playing alongside other great talent.

“A lot of people aren’t talking about him but he’s a great shooter.”

Juniors Elias Harden and Evan Jester both bring versatility and athleticism. Harden, a four-star wing prospect according to 247Sports, has a chance to be special.

“He’s got offers from about six or seven Division-I schools and he’s just a pure shooter. He’s an athletic kid. He’s gotten a lot better since we’ve been working on him this offseason.

“Jester is another one of those unknown kids,” McKissic told me. At 6-foot-6, his skillset projects well in Sandy Creek’s style of play. “I’m expecting big numbers from him this season on offense and on defense.”

Xavier Brewer will also see plenty of time as a sophomore and freshman guard TJ Bickerstaff has had an exceptional offseason and will fight to see the court.

“We are going to use him [Bickerstaff] kind of to just get his feet wet this year…If you don’t guard him he’ll put up a lot of numbers this season.”

Piecing It Together

With a talented roster expected to do great things this year, the one question mark was would the players be able to mesh with their new coach and form a quick bond heading into the season. Luckily for Sandy Creek fans and possibly bad news for the rest of the state, Coach McKissic feels like everything has gelled quickly.

“I think it was just a match made in Heaven. They are great kids, the community is a great community and I think they bought into it very quick what I was selling, with my main goal for them is just help the kids get scholarships and get looks. I think being that that was my main goal and it wasn’t all about winning, they bought in real quick.”

It takes a special group of kids to get adjusted to a new leader so seamlessly.

“They are just great people, I can say that. The kids are a different kind than the ones I’ve worked with in the past. They are all self-motivated and they all have high GPAs and are very focused…It wasn’t a hard transition.”

The perfect recipe is in place. A fun-loving leader who can keep players motivated with a great group of kids who are hungry to compete and contend for the program’s first-ever state championship. Before long, Sandy Creek might not just be known as a football powerhouse, but a force to be reckoned with come winter time as well.

^{All Photos Courtesy of Anthony McKissic & Sandy Creek Basketball}

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Faith & Excitement Surround McKissic & Sandy Creek

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