Category Archives: Girls Basketball

Spielin’ & Dealin’ Ep. 12: State Championship Recap

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Stegeman Coliseum & McCamish Pavilion were the perfect hosts to an incredible season ending week of GHSA basketball as 16 state champions were crowned. Kyle Sandy finished 13-3 on his state championship picks, losing his three games by a combined 7 points. Recaps of each championship game are included with special soundbytes from state champs: Clarence Jackson (Wilco), Alex Jones (Buford), Greg Blythe (Pace Academy), Rory Welsh (Langston Hughes), Larry Thompson (Greenforest), Tye Fagan (Upson-Lee), state runner-up Aaron Parr (St. Pius), Devonta Pullins (South Atlanta) and PJ Horne (Tift County).

State Championship Top Performers

Girls

Tatyana Wyatt – Columbus
27 points (7-18 FG; 3-7 3PT; 10-10 FT) 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 5 blocks

De’sha Benjamin – Laney
25 points (10-21 FG; 0-2 3PT; 5-10 FT) 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 5 blocks

Jaiden Hamilton – Laney
22 points (8-16 FG; 0-3 3PT; 6-8 FT) 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Ja’Nya Love-Hill – Carver-Columbus
25 points (8-21 FG; 1-4 3PT; 8-13 FT) 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals

Tory Ozment – Buford
18 points (7-17 FG; 4-7 3PT), 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals

Kamiyah Street – Mays
26 points (9-21 FG; 0-4 3PT; 8-11 FT) 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Que Morrison – McEachern
24 points (7-16 FG; 2-6 3PT; 8-12 FT) 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Vanessa Blagmon – Norcross
23 points (10-23 FG; 1-5 3PT; 1-5 FT) 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

Mikayla Coombs – Wesleyan
17 points (6-13 FG; 2-6 3PT; 3-4 FT) 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Ogheneruona Uwusiaba – Southwest DeKalb
16 points (8-12 FG; 0-1 FT) 16 rebounds, 1 block

Judasia Hills – Beach
19 points (6-11 FG; 1-1 3PT; 6-7 FT) 12 rebounds

Boys

Phlan Fleming – Cedar Shoals
30 points (11-24 FG; 1-7 3PT; 7-8 FT) 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks

Wendell Carter – Pace Academy
20 points (6-11 FG; 1-2 3PT; 7-13 FT) 17 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Marcus Watson – Buford
27 points (8-16 FG; 2-5 3PT; 9-13 FT) 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks

Rashun Williams – Calhoun County
25 points (8-21 FG; 2-8 3PT; 7-11 FT) 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 block

Landers Nolley – Langston Hughes
26 points (7-12 FG; 1-1 3PT; 11-12 FT) 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 block

Justin Forrest – Greenforest
36 points (9-15 FG; 5-10 3PT; 13-15 FT) 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Everett Lane – St. Pius X
29 points (9-20 FG; 7-15 3PT; 4-7 FT) 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Tye Fagan – Upson-Lee
20 points (8-18 FG; 1-6 3PT; 3-4 FT) 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks

Tyler Thornton – South Atlanta
11 points (4-8 FG; 3-7 FT) 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 4 blocks

Micah Johnson – Tift County
24 points (4-11 FG; 0-2 3PT; 16-18 FT) 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal

Derrick Cook – Langston Hughes
19 points (8-15 FG; 1-2 3PT; 2-3 FT) 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

2016-17 GHSA All-State Girls Basketball Honors

Class AAAAAAA

Player of the Year: Que Morrison, McEachern, Sr.

FIRST TEAM
G – Que Morrison, McEachern, Sr.
G – Vanessa Blagmon, Norcross, Sr.
G – Endia Banks, Duluth, Sr.
G – Za’nautica Downs, Colquitt County, Jr.
C – N’dea Jones, Brookwood, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Lyndsey Whilby, McEachern, Sr.
G – Taylor Mason, Norcross, Sr.
F – Autumn Newby, Archer, Sr.
F – Diamond Hall, Colquitt County, Jr.
F – Simone Lett, Pebblebrook, Jr.

Honorable Mention
G – Chanel Wilson, McEachern, Jr.
G – Lexii Chatman, Newton, Jr.
F – Linsey Marchese, Archer, Sr.
F – Taylor Hosendove, Westlake, Jr.
G – Morgan Simmons, Mill Creek, Sr.
C – Jada Rice, Collins Hill, Jr.

Class AAAAAA

Player of the Year: Kamiyah Street, Mays, Sr.

FIRST TEAM
G – Destiny Marshall, Grovetown, Sr.
G – Kamiyah Street, Mays, Sr.
G – Arsula Clark, Douglas County, Sr.
F – Shannon Titus, Northview, Sr.
C – Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Winder-Barrow, Jr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Saadia Munford, Jonesboro, Sr.
G – Taylor Hawks, Gainesville, Sr.
F – Amari Robinson, Douglas County, So.
F – Ashlee Austin, Northview, So.
C – Destiny Thomas, Tri-Cities, So.

Honorable Mention
F – Bria Bass, Tucker, Sr.
F – Audrey Jordan, Harrison, Jr.
G – Genesis Bryant, Lovejoy, Fr.
G – Azhana Maxwell, ML King, Jr.
G – Sydney Tanguilig, Johns Creek, Sr.
G – Sienna Gore, Chattahoochee, Sr.

Class AAAAA

Player of the Year: Tory Ozment, Buford, Jr.

FIRST TEAM
G – Tory Ozment, Buford, Jr.
G – Kezia Holmes, Warner Robins, Sr.
F – Deasia Merrill, Villa Rica, So.
F – Taniyah Worth, Flowery Branch, Jr.
C – Jessika Carter, Harris County, Jr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Jada Walton, Southwest DeKalb, Sr.
G – Zamiya Passmore, Locust Grove, So.
C – Andeija Puckett, Griffin, Sr.
C – Taziha Fanning, Harris County, So.
C – Alexis Poole, Stockbridge, Sr.

Honorable Mention
G – Kiana Johnson, Lithia Springs, Sr.
G – Da’Ja Green, Morrow, Sr.
F – Nadia Marshall, Bainbridge, Jr.
C – Ogheneruona Uwusiaba, Southwest DeKalb, Sr.
C – Dominique Banks, Maynard Jackson, Sr.
G – Kiera Howard, Eagle’s Landing, Jr.

Class AAAA

Player of the Year: Tatyana Wyatt, Columbus, Sr.

FIRST TEAM
G – Jasmine Robinson, Richmond Academy, Sr.
G – Brooke Moore, Henry County, Jr.
F – Tatyana Wyatt, Columbus, Sr.
C – Ariyah Copeland, Columbus, Sr.
C – Alana Davis, Cross Creek, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Anna McKendree, West Hall, Jr.
G – Abbie Franklin, Jefferson, Sr.
G – Mariah Igus, Carver-Columbus, Jr.
F – Timia Swanson, Americus-Sumter, Sr.
C – Olivia Cochran, Hardaway, Fr.

Honorable Mention
F – Kiana Banks, Spalding, Jr.
G – Emma Weynand, North Oconee, Sr.
F – Dawniqua Snead, Shaw, Sr.
G – Zaria Bankston, Luella, Jr.
G – Sarah Meadows, Ridgeland, Sr.
G – Shan’Qaylia Stanton, Sandy Creek, Sr.

Class AAA

Player of the Year: Robyn Benton, GAC, Jr.

FIRST TEAM
G – Daishai Almond, Peach County, Jr.
G – Tatyana Davis, Morgan County, Sr.
G – Alexis Pierce, Johnson-Savannah, Sr.
G – Robyn Benton, GAC, Jr.
F – Jana Johns, Calhoun, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Maeisha Teasley, Hart County, Sr.
G – Sy’Marieona Williams, Johnson-Savannah, Jr.
G – Mya Jones, Franklin County, Jr.
G – Kylah Mize, East Hall, Sr.
C – Quinn Barry, Lovett, Sr.

Honorable Mention
F – Judasia Hills, Beach, Sr.
F – Jayda Jackson, Cedar Grove, Jr.
G – Jazzmyn Elston, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sr.
G – Tamiah Lewis, GAC, Sr.
G – NaTeari Chaney, Savannah, Jr.
C – Jada Clowers, Central-Macon, Jr.

Class AA

Player of the Year: De’sha Benjamin, Laney, Jr.

FIRST TEAM
G – Aubriana Bonner, Laney, Sr.
G – Julianne Brown, Bryan County, Sr.
F – De’sha Benjamin, Laney, Jr.
C – Victaria Saxton, Model, Jr.
C – Sabree Gallishaw, Washington, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Kirstin Crook, Fitzgerald, Jr.
G – Dynesha Brown, Swainsboro, So.
F – Rykia Pennamon, Putnam County, Jr.
F – Shekinah Howard, Hapeville Charter, Jr.
F – Jahnaria Brown, Bleckley County, Sr.

Honorable Mention
G – Savanna Scott, Rabun County, Sr.
F – Jaycie Bowen, Banks County, So.
G – Madison Abbott, Monticello, So.
G – Nijeria Jordan, Washington County, Jr.
C – Kimberly Harris, Heard County, Sr.
F – Destanee Wright, Dodge County, So.

Class A-Private

Player of the Year: Morgan Jones, Our Lady of Mercy, Jr.

FIRST TEAM
G – Morgan Jones, Our Lady of Mercy, Jr.
G – Mikayla Coombs, Wesleyan, Sr.
G – Khayla Pointer, Holy Innocents’, Sr.
F – Maya Dodson, St. Francis, Sr.
C – Kasiyahna Kushkituah, St. Francis, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Anna Claire Atha, Darlington, Sr.
G – Hanna Grogan, Lakeview Academy, Sr.
G – Margaret Metz, Pinecrest Academy, Sr.
G – Cameron Swartz, Fellowship Christian, Jr.
G – Nichel Tampa, St. Francis, Sr.

Honorable Mention
F – Kalia Hubbard, Holy Innocents’, Jr.
F – Elizabeth Gibbs, Landmark Christian, So.
C – Uloma Enyogasi, Greenforest, Sr.
F – Kennedy Suttle, Holy Innocents’, Jr.
G – Regina Metz, Pinecrest Academy, Jr.
G – Sydney Rosant, Mt. Paran, So.

Class A-Public

Player of the Year: Brittany Davis, Greenville, Jr.

FIRST TEAM
G – Jasmine Larry, Macon County, Jr.
G – Le’Andrea Gillis, Treutlen, Jr.
G – Destiny Thomas, Pelham, Sr.
F – Brittany Davis, Greenville, Jr.
F – Zakiyah Office, Turner County, Jr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Mahogany Randall, Pelham, Jr.
G – Savanna Walker, Woodville-Tompkins, Sr.
G – Jazmin Grayson, Woodville-Tompkins, So.
F – Jamiya McDaniel, Terrell County, Jr.
C – Lakaitlin Wright, Wheeler County, Sr.

Honorable Mention
G – Miya Byrd, Turner County, Fr.
G – India Wells, Telfair County, So.
G – Ny’Asia Howard, Telfair County, Jr.
C – Erykah Skinner, Macon County, Jr.
G – Ty’Shemia Ceaser, Quitman County, Jr.
G – Jamia Mobley, Mitchell County, Jr.

Final 2016-17 Girls Rankings

Class AAAAAAA

  1. McEachern (26-6)
  2. Norcross (29-3)
  3. Collins Hill (25-5)
  4. Archer (25-5)
  5. Lambert (26-3)
  6. Westlake (22-8)
  7. Colquitt County (23-5)
  8. Mill Creek (25-5)
  9. Brookwood (21-7)
  10. Duluth (17-13)

Class AAAAAA

  1. Mays (22-9)
  2. Harrison (26-6)
  3. Northview (28-4)
  4. Lovejoy (26-5)
  5. Douglas County (26-4)
  6. Winder-Barrow (24-6)
  7. Tucker (22-7)
  8. Chattahoochee (22-7)
  9. Grovetown (21-8)
  10. Stephenson (20-11)

Class AAAAA

  1. Buford (29-2)
  2. Southwest DeKalb (27-5)
  3. Flowery Branch (24-7)
  4. Griffin (28-2)
  5. Warner Robins (27-2)
  6. Carrollton (29-2)
  7. Eagle’s Landing (26-4)
  8. Maynard Jackson (24-3)
  9. Arabia Mountain (20-6)
  10. McIntosh (20-9) 

Class AAAA

  1. Columbus (25-5)
  2. Carver-Columbus (26-5)
  3. Cross Creek (26-5)
  4. Sandy Creek (24-7)
  5. West Hall (23-6)
  6. Jefferson (24-6)
  7. Spalding (22-7)
  8. Henry County (21-8)
  9. North Oconee (22-6)
  10. Madison County (15-15)

Class AAA

  1. Beach (29-2)
  2. Johnson-Savannah (27-3)
  3. Greater Atlanta Christian (23-8)
  4. Morgan County (18-13)
  5. Central-Macon (20-6)
  6. Peach County (23-4)
  7. Tattnall County (17-13)
  8. Dawson County (12-18)
  9. Haralson County (26-5)
  10. Hart County (23-6) 

Class AA

  1. Laney (31-1)
  2. Rabun County (29-3)
  3. Model (25-6)
  4. Bleckley County (20-12)
  5. Fitzgerald (22-3)
  6. Bryan County (24-5)
  7. Hapeville Charter (21-7)
  8. Heard County (22-7)
  9. Dodge County (25-4)
  10. Dade County (20-9) 

Class A-Private

  1. Wesleyan (28-4)
  2. Holy Innocents’ (29-3)
  3. St. Francis (26-5)
  4. Lakeview Academy (26-5)
  5. Pinecrest Academy (21-7)
  6. Darlington (23-7)
  7. Stratford Academy (20-6)
  8. Prince Avenue (21-8)
  9. Calvary Day (22-5)
  10. Landmark Christian (22-5)

Class A-Public

  1. Pelham (30-1)
  2. Telfair County (27-3)
  3. Wheeler County (25-4)
  4. Woodville-Tompkins (24-6)
  5. Marion County (23-6)
  6. Treutlen (19-8)
  7. Hancock Central (22-6)
  8. Greenville (23-5)
  9. Wilcox County (21-7)
  10. Macon County (18-8)

State Championships Day 4 Recap

Class AA

(G) Laney 85, Rabun County 76

In a war of Wildcats, No.1 Laney (31-1) hung on against a persistent No. 5 Rabun County (29-2) behind a defensive onslaught in a fast paced game, 85-76. Both teams known for their press, Laney donning “32 minutes of doom” t-shirts to warm up in, opened the game with a frantic pace trapping each other and using pressure defense the entire 94-feet of the floor. Rabun County trailed 24-18 after the first period but De’sha Benjamin and company quickly wore down the LadyCats to take a commanding lead. Benjamin, Aubriana Bonner and Jaiden Hamilton all poured in double figures in the first half, as the Wildcats built a 46-30 halftime lead. Getting out in transition, Laney did its damage on fastbreaks. In the third quarter, Rabun County turned the tables on Laney as their outside shots finally started to fall after going 0-of-8 from three in the first half. The LadyCats sparked a 17-5 run and cut the Laney lead to 51-47 after Savanna Scott, Hallie Reeves and Brooke Henricks got hot. Rabun buried their first threes of the game as Henricks and Reeves went back-to-back-to-back, Henricks nailing two threes in the span. After going 0-of-6 in the first half, Scott scored seven points in the frame and helped the LadyCats enter the fourth down 60-54, now in striking distance after going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Laney quickly extended the lead to 67-58 with 5:52 remaining but the LadyCats trimmed the lead to 68-63. Once again, Benjamin helped Laney grow its lead, this time to 76-63 with 2:44 remaining, but again, Rabun County wouldn’t go away going on a 7-0 run to make it 76-70 as Reeves continued to bomb from deep. Laney was able to put the game away from the line going 11-of-19 in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats outscored Rabun 58-32 in the paint and outrebounded the LadyCats 53-33 led by Benjamin’s monstrous 25 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocks. Bonner added 16 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists while Hamilton was the third Wildcat to double-double going for 22 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Rabun County used a balanced attack of their own to challenge Laney. Sophomores Brooke Henricks and Georgia Stockton scored 17 and 11 points apiece. Senior Hallie Reeves scored a team-high 20 points followed by Scott’s 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Freshman Laken Stiles netted 10.

(B) South Atlanta 68, Swainsboro 33

The No. 1 Hornets (29-1) used a dominant third quarter to crush an overmatched Swainsboro team that took a magical run to the state championship. South Atlanta outscored the Tigers (21-11) to the tune of 22-2 in the third to turn a 36-22 halftime lead into an insurmountable 58-24 advantage which resulted in a shortened 6-minute final quarter.  South Atlanta held Swainsboro, a group which uses only a six-man rotation, to just 12-of-65 (18.5%) shooting and outrebounded the smaller Tigers 64 to 44. Devonta Pullins, one of seven seniors which the majority of had been playing together since age 4, paced the Hornets with 20 points. Junior Jalen Stegall had 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Senior Tyler Thornton, 6-foot-7, posted 11 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks while Demontay Roberts, another senior, added 6 points, 14 rebounds and 2 rejections. Swainsboro’s leading scorer, 5-foot-7 junior Jaylan McKinney, was 6-of-21 from the field for 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. His supporting cast struggled as well with senior Justin Harris going 0-of-12 with zero points and sophomore Jamil Watkins shooting 2-of-15 for 6 points. Big man Eddie Roberts, 6-foot-5, battled valiantly on the glass totaling 14 rebounds to go with his 5 points.

Class AAAAAAA

(G) McEachern 75, Norcross 68

Victoria Agyin scored all 13 of her points in the fourth quarter to help No. 2 McEachern (26-6) four-peat as state champions, avenging a 57-53 season opening loss to No. 1 Norcross (29-3), 75-68. Georgia-signee Que Morrison poured in 22 of her game-high 24 points in the first half but Norcross still maintained a 38-37 lead. In the second half, Norcross honed in on Morrison as stingy defense and foul trouble hampered the standout. South Florida-signee Vanessa Blagmon scored 12 of her team-high 23 points in the second half, carrying the scoring burden for Norcross. Miami-signee added 17 points and 8 rebounds for Norcross on the night but McEachern captured a 58-55 lead at the end of three and was able to hang on late. Agyin scored 13 of McEachern’s 17 fourth quarter points. Lyndsey Whilby, heading to Texas Tech, had 13 points and 6 rebounds. Jewel Smalls had 13 points and 6 rebounds.  The Indians shot 62.5% in the fourth while holding Norcross to 28.6%.