GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Class A bracket snubs

Class A-Public

No. 5 Quitman County (21-7) *#9 seed*
No. 8 Wilcox County (19-9) *#11 seed*

The yucky Power Ratings system takes a bite out of Quitman County and Wilcox County. No. 7 Lincoln County could have a beef for drawing the #16 seed, but the Red Devils didn’t see much competition in Region 7 until the region tournament where they squandered a lead against Class A-Private No. 9 Tattnall Square Academy and lost in overtime. Lincoln County does however get their first home playoff game in school history and faces #17 Portal. Quitman County gets the #9 seed after going 14-4 in Region 1. They fell to No. 1 Calhoun County three times, 75-52, 66-61 and in the championship 66-63, proving they can play with the big boys. Instead they see #24 Dooly County in the opening round and No. 10 Macon County who is the #8 seed in the second round.

#6 Montgomery County and #7 Turner County are fortunate. Turner County has more of an argument than Montgomery County, but both teams did not do enough to earn a first round Bye. The Rebels were blown out in the Region 2 semifinals by Wilcox County 88-67. Wilcox went on to lose 65-55 to #3 Clinch County but somehow the Patriots get the #11 seed instead and will have to host a dangerous #22 Twiggs County which boasts aggressive guards. Montgomery County comes out of the weak Region 3. They spent time in the Top 10 early in the season but fell out for the second half of the year. They played #1 Treutlen close once (76-69 OT) but then were drilled twice, losing 90-65 and then 73-47 in the region title game.

Class A-Private

No. 6 Whitefield Academy (19-8) *#11 seed*

Class A-Private doesn’t have too many glaring seeding snubs but Whitefield Academy has a right to complain. #7 Athens Christian should not have a Bye. At 21-6 out of the week Region 8, they have no significant wins other than beating #12 Tallulah Falls in the region semifinals 52-49. The Eagles lost twice to #2 seed No. 7 Lakeview Academy, 58-42 in the regular season and 43-41 in the region championship, a better result but still not enough to warrant a top seed. Lakeview has dominated the region for the past two seasons and if you can’t beat the best in your own region, you shouldn’t be rewarded with a Bye. Whitefield’s wins over Sacred Heart, AL, Velma Jackson, MS, Lincoln, NY, #19 King’s Ridge and #5 No. 5 St. Francis trumps Athens Christian’s resume.