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GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Class AAAA Region Run Down

Class AAAA

Region 1

          Team                                        Overall            Region
No. 10 Worth County           14-3                 4-0
Monroe                                          11-5                 9-1
Bainbridge                                    12-7                 6-3
Westover                                      10-7                 5-3
Americus-Sumter                     11-6                 5-3
Crisp County                               14-5                 6-5
Dougherty                                    10-9                 5-5
Albany                                             7-9                   3-5
Thomas County Central       4-15                 2-5
Cook                                                 5-14                 2-6
  Cairo                                                2-18                1-11

Region 1 isn’t quite the region it was a year ago with five teams over 18 wins, but it still is regarded as a deep and dangerous group of teams. Bainbridge opened the season at No. 4 with its star trio headed by UGA signee Tyree Crump returning, but the Bearcats quickly fell from the poll and are just now hitting their stride, winners of five-straight including an 82-69 upset of 2A No. 2 Seminole County last Tuesday. Bainbridge plays at Monroe at Jan. 23 in an important tilt. Monroe cracked the top ten for one week before getting blasted by South Cobb 72-55. The Tornadoes’ only region loss came to No. 10 Worth County last Friday, 60-59. The Rams might have the best frontcourt in the state with 6-foot-8 Auburn signee Anfernee McLemore and unsigned 6-foot-5 Brandon Moore. Moore went for 32 points and 10 rebounds against Monroe and is averaging over 22 points and 12 rebounds. McLemore is chipping in 15 points, 12.8 rebounds and over six blocks a game. Westover is sneaky good with possibly the best three-man backcourt in the region. Senior Allec Williams leads the team in points and assists while freshman Jordan “Snow” Brown and sophomore Kris Gardner have bright futures ahead of them.

Region 2

  Team                                 Overall           Region
Perry                                  11-7                 8-0
No. 7 Upson-Lee         15-3                 6-1
Mary Persons               12-7                 5-3
Howard                            8-10                 4-4
Baldwin                            7-12                 2-6
Veterans                          2-17                 2-6
West Laurens                3-16                 0-7

Perry nicked No. 7 Upson-Lee 68-63 on Dec. 8; the Knights’ lone region loss. The two meet this Friday to decide who will have the inside track for the No. 1 seed heading into the region tournament. You would think the Panthers are led by 6-foot-8 Georgia State signee Chris Clerkey, but the senior has yet to average double digits over his career. It is 6-foot-3 Damion Bagley who is averaging close to 20 and 10. To stay undefeated in region play, Perry beat Veterans 55-52 on Tuesday. Bagley went for 17 points and 13 rebounds while Clerkley chipped in eight points and 10 rebounds. The Knights turn to O’Qualan Harris for the bulk of their offense. Bagley finished with 24 points and eight rebounds against Upson-Lee in their first meeting, while the Knights held Chris Clerkley to six points on 0-of-7 shooting from the field.

Region 3

       Team                                        Overall            Region
No. 5 Liberty County            15-1                 4-0
Burke County                            11-4                 3-1
No. 9 Thomson                          14-3                 3-1
New Hampstead                      10-6                 1-3
Windsor Forest                         8-10                 1-3
Wayne County                          3-15                 0-4

No. 9 Thomson had a chance to make a statement with a win at No. 5 Liberty County on Jan. 9. Instead, the Bulldogs were thrashed by the Panthers 100-53, who look like they are going to roll into the state playoffs undefeated in region play and sweep through the tournament. Human highlight reel and Auburn-commit, Davion Mitchell poured in 31 points while running mate and fellow junior Richard LeCounte dropped 27. The potent duo is likely the best backcourt in the classification. Mitchell averages 22.5 points and 7.3 assists while LeCounte averages 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Need a third option? Coach Julian Stokes has a third and fourth. Sophomore Will Richardson is a name to write down. He is posting 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a 6-foot-3 guard. The Panthers don’t have much size, with their tallest player 6-foot-4, but the 6-foot-3 Martial Washington is up to the task averaging close to eight points and eight rebounds. Against Thomson, he carved them up for 23 points and 19 rebounds. Aside from the win over the Bulldogs, Liberty County also stomped Burke County 88-68. Thomson has the size and talent with 6-foot-8 San Antonio Brinson being able to play inside and out, and Darius Turman, Marquez Winfrey and RJ Johnson all talented players making the 47-point loss inexcusable. The Bulldogs have come a long way however, finishing just 8-21 a year ago.

Region 4

          Team                                      Overall            Region
(B) No. 1 Jonesboro               17-3                 6-0
(A) No. 6 Eagle’s Landing    19-1                 5-0
(A) No. 8 Walnut Grove       17-3                 3-2
(A) Eastside                                 14-5                 3-2
(B) Riverdale                                7-10                 3-2
(B) Spalding                                  7-14                 3-2
(B) Mt. Zion                                  5-16                 3-3
(A) Henry County                    12-8                 2-3
(A) Locust Grove                       7-12                 2-3
(B) Griffin                                      5-15                 1-4
(B) Pike County                         1-15                 0-5
(A) Hampton                               0-19                 0-5

Just when you think No. 1 Jonesboro’s dominance of Class AAAA is finally over after winning back-to-back state titles, junior MJ Walker decides to take his game to the next level and keep the Cardinals atop their perch as the team to beat. Walker is posting 23.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game and is quickly becoming one of the best juniors in the country. Eric Lovett (14.2 ppg) and sophomore Jamari Smith (10 ppg) have picked up the slack and filled roles left behind by Austin Donaldson (GSU) and Tracy Hector (KSU). Point guard Tariq Jenkins has also stepped up his play with 9.1 points and 4.6 assists. Region 4 is no cakewalk however. No. 6 Eagle’s Landing and No. 8 Walnut Grove are threats to dethrone Jonesboro. Even Henry County, with the explosive duo of Damion Rosser and Javon Greene, has pushed Jonesboro to the brink, falling 70-65 in overtime. Griffin may not be ready to compete, but keep tabs on the progress of 7-foot junior center Tyshaun Crawford. He is new to the game but has continued his steady improvement, averaging 9.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocks on the year.

Region 5

         Team                                       Overall            Region
Sandy Creek                              14-5                 4-1
Woodward Academy            9-9                   3-2
Whitewater                               12-7                 3-2
Carrollton                                   9-11                 2-3
Fayette County                       10-7                 2-3
Troup County                           6-10                 1-4

Sandy Creek is as talented a group as they come in Class AAAA, that’s why it’s puzzling why they haven’t taken the region by the throat. The Patriots’ only loss came to Whitewater last Friday 56-54, closing their margin for error. They survived rival Fayette County 78-73 in overtime and held on against last year’s state runner-up Carrollton, 61-59. Gardner-Webb signee Christian Turner is a true bulldog at point guard, averaging 14.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3.8 steals. Both AJ Freeman (10.8 ppg) and Evan Jester (10.1 ppg) score double digits with Freeman providing three-point marksmanship and Jester a double-double threat, grabbing 9 rebounds a night. The most talented player is junior Elias Harden. The 6-foot-6 wing averages 21.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, but gets too trigger happy from deep, launching a team-high 123 three-pointers, but connecting on just 28 percent. Both Whitewater and Fayette County will be tough outs. The Wildcats of Whitewater are led by Garrett Owen and Zach Yeager. 6-foot-7 junior power forward Noah Gurley paces the Tigers with 17.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.4 blocks after averaging just 2.1 points and 2.6 rebounds as a sophomore. Four players average over eight points for Woodward Academy led by Julian Cameron’s 11.8. Carrollton has go-to guys in Desmond Webb and Jarel Rowe, who can carry the Trojans.

Region 6

      Team                                       Overall            Region
No. 4 Grady                              18-2                 12-1
No. 2 Lithonia                         15-4                 12-1
No. 3 St. Pius                           17-2                 11-2
Redan                                       13-6                 7-6
Stone Mountain                  9-10                 6-7
Marist                                        8-12                 6-7
Columbia                                 7-10                 4-9
Arabia Mountain                   7-12                 3-10
Chamblee                                   5-14                 3-10

Make no bones about it; Region 6 is the best region in AAAA with Region 4 close behind. Three teams litter the top five with a wild push towards the region tournament ready to ensue. No. 4 Grady and No. 2 Lithonia have both held the No. 1 ranking in the state for multiple weeks. The Knights have four wins over ranked teams at the time they played them. Grady holds a slim lead atop the standings thanks to a Dec. 1 51-50 win vs. No. 3 St. Pius and a 62-52 win at Lithonia on Dec. 11, but last Friday the Golden Lions trimmed into their region lead with a 62-50 win at the X-Dome. The region will be won and lost on Jan. 26 and Jan. 29. On the 26th, Lithonia travels to Grady and on the 29th, St. Pius visits Lithonia. Stars headline the region’s top teams. Lithonia has 6-foot-7 Cedar Grove transfer Jacara Cross and Rodney Chatman (UTC). Coach Brian Weeden of Grady features Avi Toomer (Bucknell) and St. Pius uses Kerney Lane (18.5 ppg, 7 rpg) to power the Golden Lion offense. Redan and Stone Mountain are likely battling for the fourth-seed come playoff time. They may not have the amount of wins they would like, but they are tough teams that could surprise Region 7’s No. 1 seed. There’s a good chance that Region 6 could advance every playoff team through to the next round.

Region 7

             Team                                       Overall            Region
Heritage-Catoosa                        15-5                 9-1
Cartersville                                     13-5                 9-1
Northwest Whitfield                15-5                 8-2
Southeast Whitfield                  7-13                 4-6
Pickens                                              5-14                 3-6
LaFayette                                          9-9                   2-7
Gilmer                                                  5-13                 2-8
Ridgeland                                          3-14                 1-7

Region 7 brought home the state title in football this year thanks to Cartersville. Don’t expect the same in basketball as they draw the brutal Region 6 with three top five teams. The race to grabbing the No. 1 seed will be imperative for playoff survival. Cartersville has split the season series with Northwest Whitfield, but has beaten Heritage 60-54 with their final meeting coming at Heritage on Jan. 29. Jaylon Pugh, Cade Archer and JKobe Orr are dangerous for the Purple Hurricanes with football standout Kobie Whitfield chipping in as well. 6-foot-5 sophomore Cole Wilcox averages 13.5 points and 8.1 rebounds for Heritage while Hunter Erickson adds 13.5 points a night as well. Northwest Whitfield has split with Heritage, but their Nov. 27 win didn’t count in the standings because it was in a holiday tournament. Sophomore Luke Shiflett and junior Paxton Pardee are key contributors for the Bruins. Southeast Whitfield is powered by the state’s leading scorer, Ty Pendley, who averages 27 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists. If the Raiders want to make it into the postseason, Pendley will have to carry them. He is a free throw magnet, taking nearly 10 attempts a game, sinking 90 percent of them. His 90 percent mark was tops in the entire country last year.

Region 8

         Team                                       Overall          Region
Stephens County                   15-4                 3-0
Buford                                          9-11                 4-0
North Hall                                  15-5                 3-1
White County                          14-6                 2-1
Monroe Area                           10-8                 1-2
North Oconee                         4-15                 1-2
Johnson-Gainesville            5-15                 1-3
Madison County                    12-8                 1-3
Chestatee                                   1-18                 0-4

My preseason Sandy’s Spiel Super Sleeper Stephens County has delivered, but both Buford and North Hall are coming on strong. Buford scheduled a brutal non-region schedule and have been better for it. Alex Jones is starting to heat up with Sahil Patel causing problems inside with his 6-foot-8 frame. Coach Eddie Martin will find a way to make the Wolves a team others do not want to face in the state playoffs. Coach Tyler Sanders’ North Hall Trojans are making some noise. Their only loss came to Buford 58-55 last Friday but they quickly rebounded this Tuesday, stopping White County on the road 65-52. The trio of Carson Heinen, Sam Jackson and Evan Easton has been a handful to stop for opponents. Even with their latest loss, don’t count out White County as a contender for the region title. The Warriors defeated Stephens County 71-57 in a non-region game on Dec. 1.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Class AAAAA Region Run Down

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Class AAAAA

Region 1

   Team                  Overall            Region
Carver                 13-4                 4-1
 Shaw                     13-6                 5-2
Northside          13-4                 4-2
LaGrange          15-4                 4-2
Columbus          7-10                 2-4
Hardaway          2-11                 1-5
Harris County 5-12                 1-5

 LaGrange and its explosive backcourt find itself in a struggle to climb the standings after losing on Tuesday at Northside 53-50. Trailing 45-33 heading into the fourth, the Grangers made a late push but could not get over the hump. First-place Carver has split with Northside, but its Dec. 21 loss came in a Christmas Tournament, meaning it does not reflect on the standings. The two teams will meet at Northside on Feb. 2. Carver’s lone region loss came to Shaw, 76-72 on Jan. 12. Dakeen Diaz led the Raiders with 21 points while Kourtney Shakespeare chipped in 18. Shaw finished just 8-16 a year ago and has enjoyed an impressive turnaround behind Coach Terry White. Things have gotten tougher however, as the Raiders are losers of their last two of three games, including a bad 82-67 loss at last-place Harris County on Tuesday.

Region 2

            Team                                     Overall         Region
(B) No. 8 Warner Robins     12-2                3-0
(A) Richmond Academy       15-4                6-0
 (B) Jones County                      12-8                2-1
(A) Greenbrier                            12-9                4-2
(A) Lakeside                                 8-10                3-3
(A) Cross Creek                         10-8                3-3
(B) Northside                              10-8                1-2
(A) Grovetown                            9-9                  1-5
(A) Evans                                      10-11              1-5
(B) Houston County               6-13                0-3

 Region 2’s sub-regions will finally meet in the region tournament. Last year it was Houston County, who finished 10-16 and 0-7 in region play, stealing away a playoff berth from Grovetown (17-7, 9-1), 63-60 in the tournament. It looks like Warner Robins, fresh off a Final Four appearance and a 63-57 win over Miller Grove in the Elite 8 stopping the Wolverines’ quest for seven straight championships, is the favorite to win the region. Marquez Callaway is a dual-sport star and can get to the basket at ease. He went 17-of-17 from the line in last year’s win over Miller Grove. 6-foot-8 senior power forward Donovan Brown provides size inside and game-changing length on defense. Nelson Phillips can fill it up from the outside as a 6-foot-4 wing. Richmond Academy has won nine straight games and is powered by Illinois State-commit Madison Williams, who transferred in over the offseason from a private school in Augusta. DT Stephens, Nick Roberts, Rashad Calloway, Chris Jones and Moses Williams make up a talented core. Jones County isn’t a team to sleep on. The Greyhounds got off to a slow start after an Elite 8 appearance a year ago, but are starting to find their groove. Senior Devin Wooten has taken his game to the next level. The explosive 6-foot guard averages 25.4 points per game and nearly four three-pointers.

Region 3

              Team                                     Overall            Region
No. 10 Effingham County    16-3                 8-0
Camden County                         15-3                 6-2
Brunswick                                      15-4                 6-2
Richmond Hill                              13-8                 6-2
Statesboro                                     13-6                 5-3
Coffee                                                9-8                   4-4
Ware County                                 8-10                 2-6
Glynn Academy                            9-9                   2-7
South Effingham                          6-12                 1-6
Bradwell Institute                       5-13                 1-8

 If there were ever a region to keep one eye on, it’s Region 3. South Georgia’s region doesn’t make too many trips up to the Metro area, making them a bit of an unknown, but after Brunswick marched to its first ever state championship last year, the rest of the state should be on alert. Camden County was the last undefeated team in the state to fall, making Region 5’s No. 2 Allatoona the only unbeaten left. The Wildcats had sneaked up to No. 7 at 12-0, but current No. 10 Effingham County crushed them 77-63 on Jan. 8. Four players average double figures for the Rebels led by Deshaun Wilkenson’s 16.2 points. Both Jaden Rodriguez and PJ Brown pitch in 13.1 points a night while Rashad Griffin adds 11.1. On Jan. 23, the Rebels will host defending champ Brunswick in their lone meeting. The Pirates started a modest 2-2 overall before righting the ship and are now winners of eight in a row. 6-foot-8 junior center Kymani Dunham is a load inside. Zach Moore and Skyler Baggs are important pieces as well.

Region 4

         Team                         Overall           Region
(A) No. 3 McIntosh     17-2                 12-0
(A) Drew                       10-2                 8-1
(A) Morrow                 14-5                 9-3
(A) Mundy’s Mill      13-7                 9-4
(B) Woodland            10-8                 8-4
(B) Stockbridge         10-7                 6-3
(A) Starr’s Mill          7-9                   6-6
(B) Dutchtown           7-12                 4-6
(B) Union Grove        7-12                 4-8
(A) Forest Park             7-13                 2-11
(B) Luella                       6-10                 1-8
(A) Northgate             2-16                 2-9
    (B) Ola                            3-14                 1-10

No. 3 McIntosh is the class of the region and will go undefeated baring a major upset. Furman signee Jordan Lyons is averaging 18.9 points, Wofford signee Dishon Lowery is posting 11.9 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks while Will Washington is notching 13.8 points and 8.5 assists per game and may be the most important of the trio. Interesting officiating at Morrow on Tuesday led to a 68-63 squeeker. A dark horse in the region to make the state tournament and score an upset is Stockbridge. The firepower between seniors Virgil Fields and Jadon Davis is nearly unmatched. Fields hit a floater in the lane with three seconds left to knock off Dutchtown 81-80 on Tuesday. His final stat line read: 27 points, 19 rebounds, 7 assists. Davis’? 37 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists. Another lethal scorer lies at Drew. Senior James Ruiz may only be 5-foot-9, but the pure scorer is pouring in 26.4 points per game.

Region 5

          Team                         Overall            Region
No. 2 Allatoona            19-0                 12-0
No. 7 South Paulding 16-3                10-2
New Manchester         14-4                 10-2
Alexander                       10-8                   7-5
  Villa Rica                        13-5                   7-5
Hiram                                 8-11                 5-7
Lithia Springs                6-13                 4-8
Paulding County            4-15                 2-10
Chapel Hill                         3-16                 2-10
East Paulding                   4-15                 1-11

 Region 5’s calling card (outside of East Paulding) is defense. Nobody does it better than No. 2 Allatoona, winners of now 68-straight region games. The Buccaneers aren’t as sexy as some other teams around the state with big offensive numbers, but the experienced team finds ways to win. Sophomore Trey Doomes and Ephraim Tshimanga do it all for the Bucs with their stifling defense atop their matchup zone and their decision making on offense. The only team with the right mixture of discipline and fire power that could potentially end Allatoona’s reign of terror is No. 7 South Paulding. Coach Gil Davis’ team laid an egg in their first meeting back on Dec. 18, losing 65-46 on the road. Last Friday they played much better and lost by just nine at home, 53-44. In the region tournament championship last year, South Paulding pushed Allatoona to the brink, but couldn’t drive the dagger into the beast, losing to the Bucs 72-68 in triple overtime. Kane Williams is a constant triple-double threat at guard while 6-foot-7 Ja’Cori Wilson can carry the Spartans at time. New Manchester is much improved coming off a 13-14 season, but don’t quite have the juice to take down the two big boys just yet. Region 5 matches up against Region 8 come state tournament time, which could provide some of the most interesting pairings across the state.

Region 6 

                 Team                                           Overall          Region
(A) No. 1 Miller Grove                      19-2                 9-0
(A) No. 9 Southwest DeKalb        18-3                 8-1
(B) Tri-Cities                                           6-9                   4-1
(B) Mays                                                    8-10                 4-2
(A) Druid Hills                                       9-10                 5-4
(A) Stephenson                                     8-9                   4-4
(B) Creekside                                       11-10               3-3
(B) Carver                                                7-9                   1-3
(A) Dunwoody                                      5-15                 2-7
(A) Clarkston                                        4-15                 2-7
(B) Banneker                                        4-17                 1-4
(A) ML King                                           3-16                 1-7

 No. 1 Miller Grove hasn’t lost a region game since Jan. 20, 2012 at Chamblee 56-54. If No. 9 Southwest DeKalb doesn’t nip them next Tuesday at SWD, then the Wolverines will go perfect again. The Panthers put up a great fight on Dec. 15 before bowing out 76-69. Miller Grove is of course led by McDonalds All-American and UConn signee Alterique Gilbert. Coach Sharman White has an embarrassment of riches with new additions Colin Young (Laney), Aaron Augustin (Peachtree Ridge) and Tae Hardy (Southwest DeKalb). Homegrown horses are also in the stable. 6-foot-7 forward Raylon Richardson, Aidan Saunders and Joshua Jackmon are all important contributors while freshmen Tworn Seals and Maurice Harvey are names to remember in the upcoming years. Even though they lost Hardy to a cross-town rival, the Panthers have enjoyed their best season since 2012’s 22-10 campaign and have now matched last year’s 18-win total with four regular season games remaining on the schedule.

Region 7

               Team                      Overall           Region
(B) No. 6 Riverwood    20-1                 8-0
(A) Sequoyah                   13-7                 7-1
(A) Dalton                          15-5                 6-2
(B) Sprayberry                14-6                 6-2
(A) Creekview                 13-7                 5-2
(A) Rome                            11-8                 5-3
(B) Kell                                11-9                 5-3
(B) Forsyth Central      8-13                 3-5
(A) River Ridge               8-11                 3-6
(B) North Atlanta         6-13                 2-5
(A) Cass                              8-11                 2-7
(B) North Springs         2-13                 1-5
(B) Cambridge               5-15                 1-6
(A) Woodland                3-14                 0-8

Region 7 has been controlled by No. 6 Riverwood. After a 20-9 overall record with an 11-3 region mark in 2014-15, the Raiders have taken the next step and are a loss to Carrollton at the Lake City Classic away from being undefeated. Kohl Roberts is a tank inside and came up big against Sprayberry on Tuesday in a 58-52 win on the road. Roberts, the 6-foot-8 senior center, posted 27 points, 17 rebounds, four blocks and four steals. He is averaging over 16 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and four blocks a game. Coach Buck Jenkins’ son Elijah has had a big junior year, improving his shooting and pitching in over 12 points a night. Charnchai Chantha provides a spark on the perimeter with his passing and three-point shooting while Isaiah Gaddy is an athletic forward with bounce.

Region 8 

                 Team                                   Overall            Region
No. 4 Gainesville                       13-4                 10-0
No. 5 Cedar Shoals                  19-2                 9-1
Heritage-Conyers                  15-5                 7-3
Apalachee                                   14-4                 6-3
Salem                                             12-7                 6-3
Discovery                                   11-9                 4-6
Clarke Central                          7-13                 4-6
Flowery Branch                      12-7                 3-6
Lanier                                             7-13                 3-7
Winder-Barrow                      1-17                 1-9
Loganville                                    0-16                 0-9

Region 8 has emerged as a powerhouse and has put three teams in the top 10 for the entire season until this week’s rankings came out. Following a 15-1 start, Heritage-Conyers has now lost four straight games. The Patriots have more than enough fire power to get back into the rankings and make the state playoffs however. Three juniors are among the team’s top four leading scorers. No. 5 Cedar Shoals has put together an impressive resume and has used its balanced attack to do so. The region has both star power in No. 4 Gainesville’s D’Marcus Simonds (GSU) and Apalachee’s Kamar Baldwin (Butler) and balance with each of the top four teams having multiple players averaging in double figures. Gainesville has survived every region test thus far, beating Heritage 85-79 and Cedar Shoals in double overtime 80-77, both games they trailed at the half. Last Friday the Red Elephants escaped Apalachee 59-55. If there is any region tournament to go check out, it would be Region 8. Anyone in the top four realistically has a shot at winning the tournament.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Player Feature

St. Pius looks golden behind Kerney Lane and brothers

“A workhorse. He’s an absolute gym-rat. I’ve never quite been around somebody who loves the game as much as him. He loves it, he lives it, sleeps it, breathes it and he’s somebody that when the lights turn on and when the crowd’s big, his game rises.”

That is what St. Pius X Head Coach Aaron Parr said at DeKalb County Media Day of senior forward Kerney Lane. The Golden Lions, coming off of a school-record 25-win season and a Sweet 16 appearance, have relied heavily on the southpaw since he moved to town for his junior season.

Born in San Luis Obispo, California, his mother elected to move the family to the East coast to be closer to relatives. It turned out to be a good decision and a blessing for the Golden Lions as Lane earned First Team All-Region honors last year and now has St. Pius at 17-2 and ranked No. 3 in Class AAAA.

Windermere Prep Rock Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team
Windermere Prep Rock Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team

Going from California to possibly the toughest region in the state, Lane explained that the competition in Georgia is a bit fiercer.

“In California I went to a small catholic school with like 400 kids and we played other catholic schools that were around the same size,” said Kerney. “So I’d say that the competition here is a little more competitive just because of people being taller and more athletic. Just the skill of play is probably a lot higher because Atlanta is obviously a big city.”

King of the Jungle

Playing in Region 6 means there are no days off. Entering the season, four teams were ranked among the top ten. Fast forward to Week 9 and the Region boasts No. 2 Lithonia, No. 3 St. Pius and No. 4 Grady, with Lithonia and Grady both holding the No. 1 spot in the state for multiple weeks.

The Golden Lions have never been known as a high-flying act or a power plant for Division-I talent, so how have they been able to compete with the likes of Lithonia and Grady with Bucknell-commit Avi Toomer and even a prestigious program such as Columbia?

“Focusing on details has put us in a great position,” said Lane of the Golden Lions’ current 42-7 two-year span. “I think we’re a very respectful team because of our defense and how we shoot the ball and how we play well in big moments. Last year we had the most wins Pius has ever had because we did the small things.”

Simply put, with all the success St. Pius has had, it all boils down to one thing.

“It has a lot to do with our coaches and our players all wanting the same thing, which is to win. I think that Coach Parr has set us up for each of us to succeed in the right moment.”

The smooth lefty has averaged 18.5 points and 7 rebounds per game this season, meaning he is St. Pius’ go-to guy on offense; a role Kerney embraces.

“I’m a really big competitor. I just think that when my team needs me, I’ll step up for them. I’ll do whatever it takes to win. So if that means me scoring a lot, I’ll do that. If it means me passing or making big plays for someone else or finding someone else then I’ll do that. I think it’s just whatever my team needs me to do, I’ll do.”

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Overcoming Adversity

A player with the right size and versatile skillset to score either inside or outside is something college programs crave. So why is one of the Peach state’s best unsigned seniors still available? During the travel season with the Atlanta All-Stars Lane tore his meniscus in June which caused him to miss some time during the hotly recruited summer months. The adversity of the slight setback did not hinder Lane’s ability to stay positive and work his knee back into shape. With the numbers he is producing his senior year, no one can question that Kerney is back to 100 percent.

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Programs such as Elon, Holy Cross and UNC-Asheville have remained in touch with Lane and have shown interest while Georgia College and North Georgia have put forth offers for the 6-foot-6 forward’s services.

“It’s been difficult at times but I think that by working hard and playing well, coaches will remain in contact,” said Kerney of his recruitment process which has slowly began to heat up.

Parr’s Purpose

One person Lane has leaned heavily on during the recruitment process and who has helped guide Kerney into becoming a better player is Coach Aaron Parr. A Class of ‘06 graduate from St. Pius and the school’s all-time leading scorer, Parr is a young head coach who already is in year five at his Alma Mater after finishing his playing career at Birmingham-Southern.

Coach Parr on stage with Kerney and Christian Merrill
Coach Parr on stage with Kerney and Christian Merrill

His youth and relatability has helped form a close bond between him and his players.

“He has helped me a lot,” said Kerney. “He’s taught me a lot because he’s a younger coach and he’s went through the same thing I have. He’s familiar with AAU and that whole situation, so he’s kind of helped me with getting coaches in the gym and how to react to coaches and respond to them.”

Lane and the entire St. Pius team has a chance to make a statement and gain some exposure as they travel to Norcross High School this Saturday to take part in the Peachtree Corners Invitational (formerly Hilton Invitational). The Golden Lions meet Mountain Brook High School out of Birmingham, Alabama.  The Spartans boast 6-foot-7 freshman Trendon Watford, a five-star prospect and younger brother of former Indiana University standout, Christian Watford. The younger Watford averages 24.5 points and 11.1 rebounds and will likely be locked up with Lane all game long.

With countless college coaches on hand for the day long tournament, Kerney and the rest of the Golden Lions remain focused on getting better each day and not letting the potential pressure of hundreds of eyes watching get to them.

“It’s a non-region game so we kind of look at it more as an opportunity to get better. At every game there could be a lot of coaches, but I think we have to just treat every game like the last one and play hard and try to win every game. I don’t focus on the other stuff.”

Family Ties

Kerney is not the only Lane on the St. Pius roster. Young brother Everett is a 6-foot-2 sophomore who has seen his role and playing time grow each week. At first the idea of playing with his brother was a little different, but now the elder Lane has come to embrace it.

Everett pictured in middle
Everett pictured in middle

“It’s actually been a lot of fun. I was kind of expecting it to be a little annoying at first just because he’s a brother and I’ve been playing with him since I was a little kid, but it’s always been not fun and games, it’s been extremely competitive,” explained Kerney.  “It’s actually been a really big help because we both know each other’s strengths and weaknesses to a point. I think we are both really good when we are on the floor together and he’s having a great year so far. He’s a really good teammate so it’s been a fun experience having us both out there.”

Kerney actually isn’t the oldest brother, the eldest being 22-year-old Arthur who resides in Charleston, South Carolina. Arthur is as proud an older brother as they come, always watching St. Pius games on his computer and supporting his two siblings from over 300 miles away.

“It’s been great,” said Kerney. “He watches all the games online. He’s been an incredible supporter and extremely helpful with things that he sees on film. He is very good with making sure my image is right. He’s very committed to it and I really appreciate that.”

Kerney, with the support of his family along with his teammates and Coach Parr, has put St. Pius into the limelight as a state title contender.  Battling past his minor summer setback, Lane looks to be a lock to follow in his coach’s footsteps and become a gem for any college program that offers him a scholarship.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Class AAAAAA Region Run Down

1 Comment

Class AAAAAA

Region 1

         Team                            Overall      Region
   No. 4 Tift County          17-2            3-0     
Lee County                       8-11             2-2
Colquitt County            3-12             2-2
Valdosta                             8-11            1-2 
Lowndes                             12-9             1-3  

No. 4 Tift County will likely go undefeated in South Georgia and wrap up the No. 1 seed out of Region 1. Bad news came down earlier this week as leading scorer, 6-foot-6 junior forward Preston Horne went down with an ACL injury and is having surgery. The big man averaged 16.9 points and 8.1 rebounds. Senior point guard Tyrie “Pig” Jackson is still in the fold and will be enough to keep the Blue Devils undefeated in region play. He’s posting 15.7 points a night. 6-foot-4 junior Fred Lloyd has filled in for Horne and will be an important piece moving forward.

Region 2

    Team                         Overall             Region
Tucker                         16-4                 6-0
No. 6 Newton             17-2                 5-1
Rockdale County   10-10               3-3
Lakeside                      13-6                 4-4
Lovejoy                       6-12                 2-4
Alcovy                          3-16                 0-6

Region 2 will come down to No. 6 Newton and perennial power Tucker. Newton hosts the Tigers this Friday in a critical rematch. The Rams shot 7-of-18 from the line in a 57-56 loss at Tucker earlier in the season. Coach Rick Rasmussen’s three-headed backcourt consisting of leading scorer junior JD Notate, senior Jaquan Simms and freshman Ashton Hagans has the Rams off to one of their best starts in school history, while 6-foot-5 sophomore DeAndrae Butler has given the perimeter oriented Rams legitimacy inside. Tucker has survived a potentially down-year thanks to junior Kenton Eskridge. The bowling ball guard has been the heart and soul of the team, getting every big bucket the Tigers need. Norcross transfer Amir Butcher and power forward Adonis Green have helped carry the load. Rockdale County likely won’t win the region, but they can play spoiler. They lost 61-58 at home vs Tucker and last week 64-63 at Tucker. Newton survived the Bulldogs in overtime, 99-94.

Region 3

          Team                          Overall             Region
No. 1 Westlake             13-2                 8-0
No. 7 Pebblebrook      13-7                 8-1
Douglas County            10-9                 5-4
Campbell                          13-5                 4-4
South Cobb                     12-7                 3-5
Langston Hughes        10-8                 3-5
Newnan                             9-10                 2-6
East Coweta                    4-15                 0-8

Thought to be the state’s most talented region, Region 2 hasn’t disappointed. No. 1 Westlake has fended off all challengers and hasn’t suffered an in-state loss yet. The transfer of Chuma Okeke to Westlake from Langston Hughes has successfully shifted the balance of power along with Ronald Bell jumping aboard from North Atlanta. No. 7 Pebblebrook started off the season shaky with defensive issues, but Coach George Washington has tightened the screws and the Falcons have begun getting stops when needed. Hillgrove transfer junior Collin Sexton and Auburn signee Jared Harper have formed one of the most explosive backcourts in years with both players averaging over 27 points per game. UNC signee Brandon Robinson has had a monstrous year pouring in over 25 points a night, but aside from an upset of 5A power McIntosh at Holiday Hoopsgiving in November, the Tigers have struggled against top tier competition. South Cobb and Campbell are both extremely dangerous with their abilities to score while Langston Hughes looks to control tempo and work for good shots as Khalil Cuffee and Derrick Cook power a talented backcourt.

Region 4

               Team                                Overall             Region
No. 8 McEachern                     16-3                 9-0
North Cobb                                 11-9                 7-2
Kennesaw Mountain                10-8               4-4
Osborne                                               4-9              4-4
Marietta                                          10-9                 4-5
Harrison                                          10-10               3-6
Hillgrove                                           9-10                 3-6
North Paulding                              7-13                 1-8

With Hillgrove’s downfall after the departure of Collin Sexton, Region 4 has become watered down and statistically the worst region in the state with no team looking like they can challenge No. 8 McEachern for the No. 1 seed. Length, athleticism and youth have propelled the Indians. Bryce Smith is quick inside and physical on the glass. Isaac Okoro, a 6-foot-5 freshman, has designs on going D1 and has displayed a diverse skillset that helps McEachern all over the floor. Isaac Martin is another freshman that has cut his teeth this year, sinking huge three-pointers late in the fourth quarter to help the Indians snag a signature win over McIntosh at the Lake City Classic. Seniors AJ Jones and Darius Jones give opposing guards fits with their speed and decision making. North Cobb is McEachern’s biggest threat with Kenny Ume and DJ Render, but the Warriors already suffered a 61-43 loss at McEachern on Dec. 14.

Region 5

           Team                        Overall           Region
No. 3 Wheeler             14-5                 10-0
Milton                         12-6                 9-1
Etowah                        10-9                 6-5
Pope                            9-9                   5-5
Woodstock                  10-9                 6-6
Cherokee                     9-11                 5-6
Roswell                       9-12                 5-7
Walton                         7-12                 3-9
Lassiter                         2-16                 0-10

The once proud Region 5 has drooped this season. Milton, with its slew of transfers, has been among the state’s biggest disappointments. The talent is there for Milton to be a top 10 team, but for some reason it just hasn’t come together. If the Eagles can’t get it together, No. 3 Wheeler will waltz into the state tournament with a No. 1 seed, looking to repeat as state champs. One storyline to keep an eye on is Woodstock’s vast improvement. Head Coach Kingston Clark is in his first season at the helm after stops at Pierce County, Lowndes and Cross Keys. Since the program began in 1996, the Wolverines have never made the state playoffs and their last winning record came in 2010, a 16-10 mark. A big part of Woodstock’s improvement has been the play of 6-foot-4 junior guard Tyreke Johnson, who gives the Wolverines their first true go-to player since 2012-13 when 6-foot-7 power forward Matt Scott roamed the paint.

Region 6

       Team                      Overall            Region
Lambert                       18-2                 13-0
Johns Creek               18-2                 12-1
Centennial                  11-10               9-4    
Alpharetta                   7-12                 7-5
Chattahoochee          11-8                 6-7
North Forsyth             6-11                 5-7
South Forsyth             9-11                 5-8
West Forsyth               5-15                 3-10
Northview                     6-14                 3-10
Habersham Central     3-17                 1-12     

In years past, Region 6 has come into question whether its top teams are legitimate title contenders or not. When Lambert fell from the top ten after a 73-37 spanking at the hands of No. 8 McEachern at the Lake City Classic, I thought I had my answer. But a 93-67 bounce back win over a struggling, yet talented Milton team, made me change my mind again. The Longhorns might not win the state championship, but Head Coach Scott Bracco has a deep team with a ton of options that can compete with anyone in the state. 6-foot-7 twin towers Connor Mannion (Navy) and Ross Morkem (North Georgia) are tough to handle inside and can manhandle opposing teams on the glass. Shooting guard Tanner Hall and point guard Andrew Melms are both threats to go off any night and the improvement of sophomore Austin Deckard from deep gives Bracco five sturdy options. It is no doubt a two horse race in this region with Johns Creek emerging as one of the state’s best turnarounds, improving from 14-15 last year to 18-2 this season, the school’s most wins in a season by far. The Gladiators’ only losses have come to Brookwood 65-62 in overtime in the Deep South Classic and at Lambert 64-53. Coach Pete Goggin’s roster is heavy on upperclassmen. Seniors Mark Lancaster (15.1), Mason Henkel (13.3) and Ian Joseph (9.6) lead the way for Johns Creek. Another senior, Miles Clay, also averages over nine a night.

Region 7

          Team                     Overall           Region
No. 2 Norcross            17-2                 9-0
Duluth                              13-6                 7-1
No. 10 Collins Hill      16-3                 6-3
Peachtree Ridge          11-8                 5-3
Mountain View           12-8                 3-6
Mill Creek                       10-9                 3-6
Meadowcreek              6-13                 1-8
North Gwinnett          4-14                 1-8

No. 2 Norcross edged No. 10 Collins Hill 50-48 last night at home to all but eliminate the Eagles from taking the top seed in the region unless both Norcross and Duluth falter. Speaking of Duluth, Coach Eddie Hood preached “addition by subtraction” after losing Anthony Showell (St. Francis) and AJ Cheeseman (Collins Hill) to transfers in the offseason. Only three seniors are now on the roster. Javis Diaz leads the team in scoring with over 15 points per game while Obinna Ofodile has continued to control the paint both on the boards and with his shot blocking ability. Sophomores Will Huzzie, Adam Flagler and mid-season addition Lamont Smith have provided fire power. 6-foot-10 freshman Alex Powell has continued to improve and gives Hood possibly the best inside length in the state. The Wildcats lost to Norcross 69-53 on Jan. 8 and get their next crack on Feb. 2 at Norcross. Mountain View, coming off a 6-20 year, has been a pleasant surprise with 12 wins and a nucleus of young players that will only improve. Peachtree Ridge has been sneaky good behind Markel McCollum, Jeremiah Starks and Milz Tatum.

Region 8

      Team                          Overall          Region
No. 5 Shiloh                 14-4                 8-2
No. 9 Dacula                14-4                 7-2
Berkmar                         12-7                 7-3
Grayson                         16-3                 7-3
Brookwood                 14-5                 6-4
Central Gwinnett     8-8                   5-5
Parkview                       8-10                 2-7
Archer                           6-13                1-9
South Gwinnett        5-13                 1-9

Last night’s 61-58 Central Gwinnett upset of No. 2 Shiloh has shaken the region and even the state picture to its core as the balance of power in Gwinnett County has shifted from Region 7 last year to Region 8 this year. Shiloh has now lost two straight region games, the first coming on Jan. 16 at No. 9 Dacula, 66-57. Before the Dacula loss Shiloh’s last in-state regular season defeat was on Feb. 7, 2014 at Archer. The last time the Generals lost back-to-back region games? It’s been over five years. There is now a log jam atop the standings with all four teams in the mix, with Brookwood waiting in the weeds as one of the most dangerous teams in the region. Shiloh (Josh Okogie – GT), Dacula (Kevon Tucker – Wofford) and Berkmar (Al Durham – Indiana) all have D1 star power. Grayson relies on Alphonso Willis and Austin Dukes, two tough as nails guards, while Brookwood has a mixture of youth and upperclassmen making contributions. Bubba Parham, a junior, leads the Broncos in scoring at 16 per. Senior point guard Micah Kinsey is the engine for Coach Daniel Bowles, posting 11.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 4.3 steals per contest. Sean Agnant, Trae Higginbotham and 6-foot-7 sophomore Amari Kelly round out the Brookwood balance.

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Double-tech does in No. 4 Gainesville at No. 3 Wheeler

No. 3 Wheeler 82, No. 4 Gainesville 69

D'Marcus Simonds was TwoSpicee at times for Wheeler
D’Marcus Simonds was TwoSpicee at times for Wheeler

A controversial double-technical spoiled what was an outstanding game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as No. 3 Wheeler held off No. 4 Gainesville 82-69.

Gainesville (11-4) entered with just one actual loss and two via forfeit at Lanierland while Wheeler (14-5) strolled in with five straight wins. The litmus test that followed was as stiff as any in the state could face; the feisty Red Elephants at the six-time state champs, highlighted by last season’s 6A title team.

Wheeler entered the game without Cam Jordan at forward, leaving much work to do for the supporting cast. The Wildcats got everything and more from Makhai Eastmond and Kenny Aninye. Eastmond scored 13 points – nine in the first half – while Aninye netted 14 and grabbed six rebounds in his new found starting role. The 13-point final score was not a reflection of how the game unfolded however.

Georgia State signee D’Marcus Simonds started the three-point barrage by hitting Messiah Dorsey to open the game. The Red Elephants sank five threes in the opening period, two apiece via Michael White and Dorsey. Gainesville would finish with seven triples in the first half, but only added one more to the tally in the second half.

While the Elephants were bombing from deep, Darius Perry and unsung hero Makhai Eastmond kept the Wildcats afloat. Perry scored seven of his game-high 21 in the opening period while Eastmond hit two threes to help the ‘Cats head into the second quarter down 19-18.

Darius Perry made all the big plays when Wheeler needed them
Darius Perry made all the big plays when Wheeler needed them

Wheeler opened the second quarter on a quick 7-0 spurt and at the 6:12 mark now up 25-19 after taking their first lead of the game with 7:11 to play, Simonds picked up his third foul. The Wildcats extended their run to 16-to-4 before Simonds checked back in, the Elephants now trailing 34-23 with 3:50 remaining in the first half. Everything seemed to click whenever Simonds was on the floor and while Georgia Tech signee Romello White took a breather on the bench, Gainesville began to attack the basket. Tae Turner, who scored all 10 of his points in the first half, drove for an And-1 and cut the Wildcat lead to 36-30 with 2:06 left.

Momentum swung back into Wheeler’s favor when Perry drilled a straight away three at the buzzer to give the host Wildcats a 43-36 edge heading into the half.

With Simonds back on the floor, Gainesville made another push. He threw down a dunk in transition then added another bucket in the open floor to make it 47-44 before picking up his fourth foul 30 seconds later at the 4:31 mark.

The pesky Eastmond hit a jumper to stabilize things for Wheeler and would spark an 11-5 run to open up a 58-49 lead with 1:29 to play in the third. Then Simonds checked in. The 6-foot-4 guard willed his team back into the game. Within seconds of re-entering, Simonds picked up an assist, hitting Dorsey for a three and then picked Eastmond’s pocket for a layup to bring the score to 60-54. With seconds remaining and Wheeler holding for a last shot, Simonds played the passing lane, picked off a pass and exploded for a thunderous two-handed jam right before the horn to close the gap to 60-58 entering the fourth. His return to the floor ignited an 11-0 run and gave the Red Elephants all the momentum early in the final period as Gainesville had finally caught up to the Wildcats after Simonds came away with another theft up front and boomed home another slam.

On the next possession, Wheeler was sent to the line. The crowd and Simonds still amped up about the dunk, during the free throw attempts on the other side of the court Eastmond and Simonds were jawing. Simonds, known for his fiery play and emotions, finished the back-and-forth with Eastmond and began walking up to the other side of the floor to get ready for the second free throw. While Simonds approached the play, Eastmond followed close behind… a little too close for the referees as they blew a double-technical. With the game tied at 60 with 7:30 remaining and in the midst of an 11-0 run, Simonds was fouled out on the tech.

Simonds’ final line in limited action read: 14 points, four rebounds, six assists and five steals. With the playmaker fouling out, Gainesville had to turn to Dorsey and Michael White. The two combined for nine points in the quarter, but Gainesville would be outscored 22-to-9 with Simonds fouled out.

Anyine scored five consecutive points to push Wheeler’s lead to 71-67 with 2:54 remaining before Romello White finally began to wear down the smaller Elephant frontline. He scored back-to-back And-1s and sparked a 14-2 run to end the game.

My Take: Gainesville looked as if it were going to live and die by the three-pointer early on in the game but the Red Elephants kept coming even with D’Marcus Simonds saddled with foul trouble. A lack of elite size inside hurt Gainesville, who used a frontline of 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-6 to try and counter Romello White’s legit 6-foot-8. Sophomore KJ Buffen, who is more of a three, battled valiantly alongside fellow sophomore Bailey Minor against White. Buffen showed flashes offensively with his 12 points, but struggled from the line going 4-of-11 including 0-for-4 in the fourth quarter. Michael White and Messiah Dorsey stretched the defense with their shooting and are great pieces around Simonds. Tae Turner played well with 10 points in the first half, but went scoreless in the second half. Minor blocked four shots, but was never able to establish himself offensively on the low block. Simonds was the best player on the floor today with his explosiveness and quick hands. His plus/minus numbers were through the roof. You take the good with the bad with the caliber of player he is. Some people might classify him as a hot-head with his demeanor on the court, but I liked his emotion and didn’t think any of it was over the top. To be blunt, the referees really botched the double-technical. It didn’t look as if any stern warnings were given and they blew the whistle on a costly interaction which took place in the heat of the moment. Gainesville deserves its top five ranking and will be a scary team to deal with in the AAAAA state tournament.

Wheeler found a way to win without Cam Jordan. As good as Simonds was, Perry was just as good but without the flash. He consistently got big buckets for the Wildcats and went 8-of-8 from the line. Game-ball might have to go to Makhai Eastmond. He is the weakest link for Wheeler but he stepped up big time and played one of his best games, hitting two big threes in the first quarter while Gainesville was on fire and later on baiting Simonds into his fifth foul. Kenny Aninye also played a great game and picked his spots when to attack. His 5-point spurt in the fourth helped give the Wildcats the lead for good. Romello White slammed the door shut with his size as Wheeler began to pound it down low. White posted back-to-back And-1s in the fourth, with the first coming the hard way, cleaning up a miss and powering up strong. He scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and finished 5-of-8 from the line for the game. Al-Wajid Aminu didn’t have a ton of jaw dropping plays, but boy does the North Florida signee have a motor that doesn’t quit. He is always around the ball when it comes off the rim and is a glue guy that does the little things on defense. He finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Top Performers

Wheeler
Darius Perry – 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Romello White – 15 points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Kenny Aninye – 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Makhai Eastmond – 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Al-Wajid Aminu – 11 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Gainesville
D’Marcus Simonds – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals
Michael White – 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block
Messiah Dorsey – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
KJ Buffen – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Tae Turner – 10 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal
Bailey Minor – 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 4 blocks