Game Stories

Phoenix rise up to edge Warriors in The Furnace

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No. 10 Sonoraville 55, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 51

In a season that has felt anything but normal, Friday night harkened back to the age of COVID-free basketball as No. 10 Sonoraville (16-0, 10-0) hosted Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (9-4, 7-3) in an important Region 6-3A battle. The Furnace was packed as the heat of the crowd helped spur the Phoenix to a 55-51 win continuing Sonoraville’s best start in the school’s 15-year history as they approach their record 23 wins behind a senior-laden group.

Coming off a statement win over No. 6 LaFayette 65-40, the Phoenix took to the floor for their third game in five days against a talented young Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe team. Sonoraville, who starts five seniors that have seen the good, the bad and the ugly over the course of their career, has risen from the ashes of irrelevancy to be the best team in Northwest Georgia this season enjoying a magical run. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe on the other hand, is led by a trio of talented sophomores that turned the Warriors from a 12-14 team to a burgeoning 23-5 power a season ago.

Led by Kevin Morrison and Orry Darnell, Sonoraville got off to a good start. Darnell, a 5-foot-11 point guard, scored from the mid-range to knot the game at 5 early on before Morrison sank a long jumper to make it 8-8 at the 2:41 mark.

Morrison hit a pair of threes and scored eight of his 12 points in the quarter to give the Phoenix a boost, but the Warriors answered with three three-pointers and entered the second quarter trailing 15-11.

Super sophomore 6-foot-1 point guard Jamichael Davis got loose in the second quarter for LFO getting a slam dunk to spark him and then taking his man off the dribble to keep the Warriors within reach at 21-17 mid-way through the quarter.

While Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe looked to speed the game up and take advantage of their athleticism, Sonoraville was comfortable playing at their own pace and following the lead of Darnell, who would finish with a game-high 19 points and 5 assists. He would score on a lefty finish and then net a mid-range jumper to help keep the Phoenix in front 27-24 at the half.

The Warriors came out of halftime with purpose, turning to a 2-2-1 press to try and speed up Sonoraville and force some live ball turnovers. Davis thrived in transition and helped the Warriors gain momentum. He would finish with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals and 1 block and set up Amari Burnett for a layup on the break to edge ahead 32-31.

Up 36-33 with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter and things starting to go LFO’s way, the tide turned on a game-changing play. Sonoraville had a fast break opportunity and Burnett hustled down the floor to clean up a potential miss, but his right knee buckled before he could go up for the rebound and he tumbled into a heap. Burnett would be helped off the floor and have ice applied, ending his day prematurely after leading all scorers at the time with 14 points, scoring inside and out and giving Sonoraville fits with his versatility and physicality.

With Burnett injured, 6-foot-2 forward Murray Somers started to take over. He would net nine of his 16 points in the quarter and finish with 10 rebounds. Somers got busy on the glass and hit a three at the buzzer to push Sonoraville to a 42-38 lead after three, closing on a 9-2 run after the loss of Burnett.

Without one of their most important pieces, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe continued to fight and nip away at the Sonoraville lead. Davis broke free for a transition slam to ignite a 5-0 run that would put the Warriors ahead 43-42, but Darnell and Somers hooked up for an And-1 to regain control at 45-43 with 3:57 remaining following Somers’ bucket and free throw.

In crunch time, it was Darnell and Somers’ time to shine. Sonoraville took the lead for good with 2:07 left on a Darnell three before Morrison got a putback with 1:58 remaining to extend the lead to 50-45.

Without a bucket in almost two minutes and scrambling for points, instead of a much-needed hoop, the Warriors saw Darnell come away with a steal with just 37.2 seconds to play. Following a pair of free throws, Cameron Gregg drilled a three to cut into the lead with 23.7 seconds left at 52-48. From there, Somers helped ice the game going 3-4 from the line to secure the 55-51 win.

My Take

While they may not be a state title favorite, Sonoraville will still be a tough out in the state tournament. Region 6-3A traditionally hasn’t been a juggernaut come playoff time, but there are a handful of solid teams. Sonoraville and Murray County are senior-heavy teams while Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe has the best young backcourt in the pocket of the state and LaFayette has big-game experience in February and has a star in 6-foot-7 Aidan Hadaway. With that being said, Sonoraville hasn’t compiled the resume that LaFayette has, who has won every game by double digits, but the Phoenix’s 65-40 destruction of the Ramblers speaks volumes. Aside from that win, Sonoraville has won games close and sometimes ugly. Out of their 16 wins, seven have come by 7 points or less. Their experience in tight games and their ability to know how to win when the game is on the line bodes well for a veteran group on the verge of making history. Orry Darnell is the head of the snake. The point guard plays with poise and very little flash. He orchestrates the offense and doesn’t need the extra razzle-dazzle to be effective. He excelled at getting to his spots in the mid-range and finding the open man. His timely play makes him the go-to guy when the game hangs in the balance capable of either being a scorer or facilitator. I thought Murray Somers was crucial down the stretch and is a versatile X-Factor. Listed at 6-foot-2, with his strong college-ready body and nose for the ball, Somers plays bigger than his size and can hurt teams inside and out. He was instrumental in helping shutdown Hadaway in their rout of LaFayette and on Friday, it was his 15 second half points that carried the Phoenix during stretches. Kevin Morrison stands 6-foot-4 and provides a similar inside-out diversity. He hit two early threes and crashed the glass inside.  Sonoraville is a team that plays hard and understands where their strengths and weaknesses lie. There is a synergy between the players and the staff led by Coach Brent Mashburn that helps the Phoenix when facing adversity. On the hunt for their first ever win in the state playoffs, if Sonoraville can secure home court advantage the Phoenix will be tough to beat in The Furnace.

Even with the loss and sitting at 7-3 in region play, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe is a scary team that no one will want to play come region tournament time. 6-foot-1 sophomore Jamichael Davis is a budding star. His electric athleticism and all-around floor game make him a complete guard. He can get to the rim with the best of them and can outjump anyone in the region. He will have to improve his outside shot, but few are better than Davis in transition. He and Dee Calhoun caused problems with their bounce and length. Calhoun is a solid role player that can chip in on the glass and defend multiple spots. The loss of Amari Burnett changed the game. At 6-foot-3, the wide-chested sophomore is a problem for opponents. The lefty can help stretch the floor and has nice footwork inside. He drained two threes before injuring his knee. If he is out for an extended period of time, it will hurt LFO’s chances of locking down a favorable seed. It was an off night for shooters Cameron Gregg and Brent Bowman. Bowman could never get into a flow, as he sat on the bench for long periods of time presumably with foul trouble. He started the game with a three-pointer and had some nice moves with the ball in his hands, but he could never consistently find his offense finishing with 4 points and 3 assists. Bowman has a lot of skill and when he’s on, he’s a three-level scorer that can torch defenses. The 2023 trio of he, Davis and Burnett should win many games and has the potential to be a major threat come state tournament time. I think those three could go toe-to-toe with many in Class 3A by the time they are seniors. Gregg, a senior, will be key down the stretch for LFO. His ability to stretch the floor alongside Bowman will give Davis plenty of drive and kick opportunities. Give credit to the Sonoraville defense to holding Gregg and Bowman to a combined 7 points, well below their combined 25.2 point-per-game average. I foresee bounce back games for both of them in the very near future.

Top Performers

Sonoraville
Orry Darnell – 19 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Murray Somers – 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Kevin Morrison – 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
Jamichael Davis – 17 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals, 1 block
Amari Burnett – 14 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block
Dee Calhoun – 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

Girls Analysis

J-4 Sports MLK Classic Top Performers

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2022 5-9 CG Ta’Niya Latson – Westlake
One of the best athletes in the entire nation, Ta’Niya Latson and Raven Johnson form possibly the best backcourt in the country. The two toyed with Forest Park in their 70-34 destruction of the Panthers. Their activity and ability to turn live ball turnovers into points is incredible. Westlake sit in a 2-3 zone but Latson and Johnson make it feel like a full court press. The duo takes turns earning deflections and scoring on fast breaks. Latson has elite speed and lives in transition. She gets a vast majority of her points on layups. Latson has enough creativity with the ball to shake her defender and then elevate over rim protectors to finish. She’s one of the best scorers at the rim there is. Her outside shot and ability to score in the half court have been potential question marks, but on Monday she was able to knock down the mid-range shot and hit the open three. As those two areas of her game get better and better the more complete of an offensive player she will become. But when you’re as good as Latson is at getting to the rim, the vast majority of the time her outside shot isn’t even needed. She poured in 29 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals in three quarters.

2021 5-10 PG Raven Johnson – Westlake
The length, IQ and activity of Raven Johnson was the key factor in shutting down Forest Park. The South Carolina-signee was everywhere on defense. Known as a lockdown on-ball defender, Johnson used her instincts and quickness to deflect passes and pick up steals to ignite fast breaks from Westlake’s 2-3 zone. The Lions are dominant in transition. Teams have to sprint four players back on defense every time a shot goes up. No one can compete with Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson when it comes to fast break offense. Johnson earns a handful of assists on her steals atop the zone, pitching ahead for Latson to streak down the court and lay up. The Queen of the GHSA got busy on offense as well. She hit tough mid-range jumpers off the dribble with hands in her face. Johnson’s ability to score equally as effective at all three levels and her court vision make her impossible to stop at the high school level.  Raven finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals in three quarters. We are witnessing history; arguably the most impressive dynasty ever in the GHSA led by Johnson, who has never lost to a school from Georgia over the course of her career. Winners of 101-straight in the Peach State, I can’t foresee anyone challenging Westlake in their quest for a four-peat. In the state’s toughest classification in recent memory, only COVID-19 could pose a threat at slowing down the Lions.

2023 5-6 PG Crystal Henderson – Kell
Instead of pouring in her customary 20+ points, Crystal Henderson played the role of facilitator in Kell’s 58-44 win over ELCA. Henderson finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Pound-for-pound the best scorer in Georgia, Henderson’s electric play makes Kell one of the best teams in the state. She’s got limitless range and can catch fire quickly. She’s a shifty playmaker that can make the tough pass. Her size may scare off some programs, but Henderson is a no-brainer D-I guard and one of the best players in 2023.

2021 5-8 SG Sylvia Kahoro – Kell
The beneficiary of Crystal Henderson’s passing? Sylvia Kahoro. A rotational player a year ago, Kahoro’s role has increased tenfold, making her invaluable to Kell’s success. She’s a three-point specialist that spaces the floor and gives Henderson room to work. Kahoro is a solid ball handler, but she’s not known for her playmaking or slashing. Having an elite skill like shooting will put her on college radars. She netted 6 threes and finished with 20 points and 2 rebounds. Schools looking for a plug-and-play knockdown shooter will want to check in with Kahoro. She’s blossomed into one of the very best floor stretchers in Georgia.

2023 5-10 F Jada Green – Kell
Jada Green’s versatility really impressed me vs. ELCA. Standing around 5-foot-10, the energy of Green was apparent. She had a nose for the ball and found herself involved in almost every play. Not only did she score around the rim, but she got to the basket using a eurostep. She competed at a high level on the glass and flew around on defense, able to help defend multiple spots. Green finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 3 blocks.

2021 5-7 PG Cortney Gardner – Luella
Last Friday Cortney Gardner committed to Coppin State. On Monday, Gardner put on a show in Luella’s 59-39 win over Griffin. The southpaw is a shifty quick guard that makes plays off the bounce. She gets into the lane with ease and can pro-hop horizontally to avoid the defense. Gardner creates space on the perimeter with step backs and can score with either hand at the rim as a skilled finisher. She gets the Lions off and running and sets the tone with her pace of play. She’s dynamic in the backcourt.

2023 6-1 F Ariana Dyson – Luella
D-I schools don’t want to want too long on Ari Dyson. I targeted her as a breakout candidate back in July and she hasn’t let me down. At her size, her skillset is unique. She can be a bruising post when needed, able to clean the glass at a high level and score inside, but Dyson is also capable of going coast-to-coast and finishing like a guard. Dyson’s versatility helps her play a variety of positions. Her footspeed makes her a mismatch when pulling out opposing bigs to the perimeter or when facing up downlow. On Monday she impressed me with her passing. Dyson is patient and lets plays develop before delivering dimes over the defense to open cutters. If she is able to stretch her range out to the three-point line, she may be able to see more minutes on the perimeter in her future, but I like how effective she is inside the arc with her power around the rim. She finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks.

Girls Recaps, Recaps

Game Night Recap 1-19

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BOYS

Class AAAAAAA

Norcross 63, No. 5 Berkmar 57: Jaden Harris scored 15 points while DePaul-signee Kok Yat added 13 points and 5 rebounds. Jerry Deng pitched in 11 points and 4 rebounds. London Johnson had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Malique Ewin recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds and 1 block for Berkmar. Jermahri Hill had 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Dara Olonade posted 11 points and 8 rebounds. Jameel Rideout tallied 9 points, 4 assists and 2 steals.

No. 7 South Forsyth 63, Lambert 53: Brandon Stoudamire (19) and Ethan Underwood (16) led the War Eagles. Devin McGlockton finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Wes Kane scored 6 points. Kohl Harris had 5 points and 6 assists. Lambert was led by Paul Lunguana’s 24 points and 12 rebounds. Mason Barnes had 8 points and 10 rebounds while Niko Wilson netted 8 points.

Roswell 56, Alpharetta 46: Jase McCullough scored 17 points followed by Quinton Partee (12) and Jackson Kemp (8). Mason Kemp scored 7 points and Andrew Hopperton pitched in 6 points.

Mountain View 87, Alcovy 72: Amauri Muslim netted 22 points and Zay Wilson had 20. AJ Robertson (14), Javon Jordan (11) and Jayden Edison (8) balanced the Bears.

East Coweta 74, Lanett (AL) 70 OT: Sammy Moss posted 22 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Gilbert Croley provided 16 points, 10 rebounds and 2 steals. Austen Colton tacked on 13 points and 7 assists. Joshua Cameron scored 11 points.

Archer 68, Meadowcreek 39: Major Freeman (16), Damoni Harrison (15) and Christian Drummer (14) paced the Tigers.

Walton 51, Harrison 47: Luka Avaliani scored 16 points and Dylan Pumpian had 15.

Class AAAAAA

No. 3 Evans 65, Heritage-Conyers 53: Tyson Jones scored 21 points. Rashad King had 13 and Brasen James and Devin Story scored 9 apiece. Ole Miss-signee James White led the Patriots with 22 points. Jalen Boston scored 10 and Courtney McBride had 9.

No. 6 Lanier 66, Buford 60: Makai Vassell scored 19 points and James Madison-signee Andrew McConnell netted 13. Iajah Phillips (9) and CJ Hyland (8) balanced the offense.  Buford was powered by Jaylon Taylor’s 17 points. Caleb Blackwell scored 13 and London Williams scored 12 points.

No. 7 Shiloh 41, Winder-Barrow 37: Nazir Griffin had 14 points and 5 assists while Devon Barnes chipped in 10 points and 3 assists.

No. 8 North Atlanta 60, Lovejoy 46: Tyson Motton scored 18 points while Khamani Olivacce, Montavious Myrick and Kaleb Johnson all pitched in 12 points apiece.

Tucker 59, Westlake 58: Christian Yeates (18) and Tyler Pendergrass (15) led the Tigers.

Douglas County 79, Paulding County 60: Omari Fonteno had 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists while Jaylen Perry posted 22 points and 10 rebounds. Lander-commit Omarion Smith had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Jermicheal Mahorn collected 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

River Ridge 45, Johns Creek 30: Jared Russo finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks. Braden Pierce had 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 4 blocks. David Hansraj netted 7 points and Jackson Head scored 6.

Cambridge 59, Creekview 45: Daniel Mack and Tommy Swift scored 13 apiece while Gavin Gardells netted 10 points.

Class AAAAA

Calhoun 69, No. 7 Cass 62: Dylan Faulkner hung 28 points in the upset. Peyton Law scored 15 points while Chris Lewis (10) and Jaylan Harris (7) came up big. Cass was led by CJ Pipkin’s 22 points. Braxton Benham had 13 points and 5 steals while Zaylan Chaney posted 13 points and 8 rebounds.

McIntosh 67,  Mundy’s Mill 53: Mundy’s Mill was led by Marcos East (21) and Noricco Danner (15).

Jones County 65, Northside-Warner Robins 62: Chaydon Stone tacked on 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists while Daethan Harris added 13 points and 5 assists. Robert Worthy scored 10 points. Matthew Wold and Jaylen Sanford scored 9 apiece.

Walnut Grove 79, Johnson-Gainesville 41: JT Thomas had 21 points and 5 rebounds while Canaan Mull pitched in 13 points and 11 rebounds. Nick Tyre finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

Class AAAA

No. 3 Monroe 60, Dougherty 43: Domonik Henderson finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 blocks.

No. 6 Cedar Shoals 62, East Hall 54: Kashik Brown tallied 24 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. Jah Colbert pitched in 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Eli Curry finished with 7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

No. 10 Jefferson 54, Madison County 46: Spencer Darby (13) and Josh Howell (10) led the Dragons to their 10th win in 11 games.

Central-Carrollton 50, Southeast Whitfield 31: Joseph Bell scored 24 points.

New Hampstead 70, Benedictine 61 OT: Alaris Wall scored 24 points in the win while Trent Broadnax netted 24 in the loss.

Class AAA

No. 2 Hart County 72, Stephens County 40: JC Curry scored 22 points. Emmanuel-commit Shone Webb posted 17 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists while Tahj Johnson had 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks. Sean Teasley finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Ben Edwards tossed in 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

No. 6 LaFayette 74, Ringgold 41: Aidan Hadaway bounced back with 38 points while DeCameron Porter had 20.

GAC 57, Douglass 33: Josh Fulton posted 20 points and 9 rebounds while Saiku White scored 10 points.

Monroe Area 77, East Jackson 73: Derrick Brown finished with 25 points while Vonte Newell scored 18 points. Zay Williams (11) and Trayvon Thomas (10) balanced the Hurricanes.

Mary Persons 83, Central-Macon 54: Lamont Jones finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Jamal Brown added 18 points, 3 assists and 4 steals. Khamren Little tallied 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Jaboree Goodson posted 13 points, 5 rebounds, 13 assists and 4 steals. Johona Braswell had 8 points and 4 rebounds. Central-Macon was led by Christian Gray’s 28 points. Ty’Quavious Lewis netted 10 and Jaylen Releford had 8.

Dawson County 96, Lumpkin County 73: Jake Craft erupted with 7 threes to finish with 45 points as the Tigers drained 16 long balls. Joakeim Celestin had 22 points. Max Tierney double-doubled with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Jaden Gibson dished out 17 assists. Lumpkin County was led by Jones Harris (26), Chandler Pulley (23) and Gus Faulkner (15).

Rockmart 50, Coahulla Creek 47: Freshman Treylin Davis netted 13 points off the bench while Javin Whatley scored 11 points.

Class AA

No. 2 Swainsboro 79, No. 3 Woodville-Tompkins 67: Lukas Platauna led the Wolverines with 18 points in the loss. Larry Chapman scored 11 and Zion Powers pitched in 10 points.

No. 5 Columbia 77, Washington 47: Mason Lockhart went for 23 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Daquavious Harrison chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds. Leonard Rapley led Washington with 22 points.

No. 9 Banks County 67, Rabun County 47: Pierce Martin scored 20 points and Garrett Presley had 13 points. Clay Gosnell tallied 10 points and 10 assists while Dakota Orr recorded 9 points and 18 rebounds.

Class A-Private

No. 6 St. Anne-Pacelli 78, Hardaway 60: Travis Harper II poured in 32 points. Voorhees-commit Keyshaun Fleetion scored 16 points and Auburn football-signee Ian Mathews pitched in 15. Pierre Summers scored 9 points.

Stratford Academy 57, Tattnall Square 53: Jack Miscall (15), Mekhi Lyder (11), Isaiah Josey (8) and Ben Baxley (8) led the Eagles. Tyron Person led Tattnall Square with 15 points while Justin Walton netted 12.

Class A-Public

 No. 1 Drew Charter 69, No. 7 Bowdon 63: Bowdon led by five at the half before Drew Charter won their second straight single digit game. Jaquez Thornton scored 25 points to lead the Eagles followed by Cedric Taylor (18), Jalen McCurty (10) and JaKobe Strozier (8). The Red Devils received 25 points from Authur Johnson. Seth Farmer had 10 points and 10 rebounds while Tray Wyatt netted 9 points. Kirequs Vaughn and Kolton Drummond added 6 apiece.

Montgomery County 68, Telfair County 56: Telfair County was led by Jaylin Hamilton’s 15 points and 8 rebounds. Charlie Allen recorded 15 points and 6 rebounds. Antonio Scott netted 13 points.

Non-GHSA

Moravian Prep (NC) 93, New Creation Christian 91 OT: Alex Reives pumped in 35 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals in the loss. Avante Nichols had 21 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while Phillip Gaye posted 15 points and 10 rebounds.

GIRLS

Class AAAAAAA

No. 7 North Paulding 57, No. 5 Marietta 48: Alabama-signee Taylor Cullinan scored 20 points to lead the Wolfpack to a signature win.

Woodstock 72, A-PrivateNo. 6 Galloway 51: Bridget Utberg went for 33 points and Karson Martin added 16. Georgia College-signee Savannah Casey scored 8 points. Casey Miller had 6 and Sara Grace Bertolini added 4 points.

South Forsyth 60, Lambert 31: Clara Morris (13) and Sharon Tolliver (11) paced South Forsyth. Lauren Houston led Lambert with 11 points.

West Forsyth 63, Gainesville 25: Cayla Cowart scored 19 points and Calie Thrower had 11. Molly Quincy pitched in 8 points and Riley Pepin scored 6. Lillian Seitz netted 5 points while Katherine Bottoms, Lindsey Pirkle, Kalie Thrower and Emma Anderson all scored 4 points.

Class AAAAAA

No. 7 Kell 81, Allatoona 42: Crystal Henderson poured in 39 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Jada Green tallied 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 4 blocks. Sylvia Kahoro netted 12 points and Mackenzie Franklin scored 6.

No. 9 Sequoyah 62, Centennial 40: Elle Blatchford tallied 16 points, 2 assists and 5 steals. University of Charleston-signee Deja Rakestraw posted 10 points, 4 rebounds and 5 steals. Tafton Barber scored 8 points. Amy Singh and Sayler Davies scored 6 apiece.

No. 10 River Ridge 57, Johns Creek 35: Mataya Gayle (14), Caroline Cavallaro (11), Allie Sweet (10) and Chloe Bedora (9) blitzed Johns Creek in their rematch.

Heritage-Conyers 56, Evans 32: Jaliyah Weekes netted 23 points while Columbus State-commit Kristyn Goshay scored 17. Bethune-Cookman-signee Sade Harrell had 9 points. Morgan Snipes added 6 points.

Pope 63, Osborne 44: Cheyenne Holloman piled in 28 points. Katie Ward scored 14 points and Caroline Heintzelman added 11.

Cambridge 44, Creekview 41: In the loss, Mackenzi Salas (8), Delia Guy (7) and Abby Martin (6) led the Grizzlies.

Class AAAAA

No. 6 Cass 67, Calhoun 47: Londaisha Smith recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds while Claire Davis tallied 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 steals. Justice Bennett scored 8 points and Haley Johnson had 7 points.

No. 10 New Manchester 75, Milton 44: Kharyssa Richardson posted 21 points and 10 rebounds. Hanna Wright had 14 points and 3 assists. Taniya James chipped in 12 points and 4 rebounds. Kamryn Bates tallied 11 points and 5 assists while Azaria Robertson had 9 points and 10 rebounds.

ML King 81, Lithonia 7: Kaya Jarvis (16), Nazis Smith (12) and Victoria Nwanze (11) powered the Lions.

Class AAAA

No. 2 Jefferson 70, Madison County 35: Ellie Kinlaw (16), Allianne Clark (11), Deshona Gaither (11) and Hailey Triaga (10) led the Dragons.

No. 3 Troup County 71, Spencer 24: Samaria Weldon finished with 17 points.

No. 10 Cedar Shoals 35, East Hall 29: Autumn Jones scored 13 points while Skylar Lattimore had 8 and Ashley Lester netted 7. East Hall, who was without two starters, got 22 points from Callie Dale.

Central-Carrollton 45, Southeast Whitfield 23: Izzy Ripatti (15) and Zoey Haberland (11) led the Lions. West Virginia Tech-signee Rachel Wilson collected 6 points and 10 rebounds.

Class AAA

No. 4 Lumpkin County 68, Dawson County 33: Mary Mullinax scored 21 points while North Georgia-signee Isabel Davenport netted 20 and Averie Jones pitched in 14. Lexi Pierce added 9 points and Emmanuel-signee Makenzie Caldwell scored 4. Dawson County was led by Madison Anglin’s 15 points.

No. 5 Coahulla Creek 74, Rockmart 49: Jillian Poe (16), Kenley Woods (13), Brinkley Kate Reed (13) and Kiersten Hixson (13) led a deep attack.

White County 66, Gilmer 49: Naomi Roberts (13), Emmanuel-signee Maddie Futch (12), North Georgia-signee Dasha Cannon (11) and Madison Adams (10) led the Warriors.

Pike County 76, Jackson 73: Troy-signee Gabbi Cartagena poured in 36 points in the loss.

Central-Macon 51, Mary Persons 33: TaNiya Pryor had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals while Trazur Cooper netted 13 points. Tayelor Davis added 9 points and 9 rebounds. Taliah Grier finished with 9 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals. McKenzie Evans tacked on 6 points and 11 rebounds.

Class AA

No. 4 Rabun County 69, No. 7 Banks County 51: Freshmen Ellie Southards (17 points, 8 rebounds) and Lucy Hood (13 points, 7 assists, 2 steals) paced the LadyCats. Gracie Deetz finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Sophie Woodard and Carley Haban netted 10 points apiece. Banks County was led by Kamryn Grier’s 20 points. Jenna Reeves (12) and Addison Hoard (10) cracked double digits.

Class A-Private

No. 5 Mt. Paran 65, North Cobb Christian 40: Kara Dunn posted 26 points and 11 rebounds while Kaylynn Kirklen had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Katelyn Dunning tallied 8 points and 8 assists. Shamaria Jennings had 8 points and 5 rebounds.  North Cobb Christian was led by Brooke Moore’s 20 points, 4 steals and 4 blocks. Lauryn Towns had 8 points and 3 steals. Lea Brasington and Ava Garner scored 4 points apiece. Gabby LoPresti tacked on 2 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals.

Stratford Academy 34, Tattnall Square 32 OT: Harmony Nagle scored 9 points and Caroline Sutherland added 8 in the win.

Tallulah Falls 67, Athens Christian 24: Veronaye Charlton (15), Katy Corbett (12), Denika Lightbourne (12) and Kailyn Neal (10) balanced the Indians.

Heritage School 54, Starr’s Mill 45: Ianna Odulaja scored 20 points and Michaela Mikko netted 19 in the comeback. Haylah Spence chipped in 8 points.

Class A-Public

No. 4 Clinch County 71, No. 6 Turner County 42: Zyhia Johnson poured in 32 points with 4 three-pointers.

Non-GHSA

Girls Analysis

QwikCut Classic Top Performers

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Cayla Cowart2022 5-10 CG Cayla Cowart – West Forsyth
Cayla Cowart shined again, this time leading the Wolverines to a 49-43 victory over a shorthanded Archer team. Cowart’s blow-up season continued, pouring in 24 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 steals and 1 block. She has been one of the most consistent guards in the state and it’s her ability to impact games aside from scoring that makes her special. Cowart plays with tremendous energy and has an uncanny nose for the ball. Couple those traits with her athleticism and she’s able to crash the glass effectively and wreak havoc with her quick hands on defense.  Cowart is a premier slasher that finishes with both hands. Her outside shot still needs work. She tends to push the ball flat instead of getting under it and shooting the ball up, but it is fixable and she has been taking 500 shots a day to shore up her one perceived weakness. Off the dribble, Cowart is a playmaker. She sees the floor well and can fit in tough passes to open teammates. When she gets all the way to the basket, all defenders can do is foul her. She struggled from the line going 6-15, but her relentless attack keeps pressure on the defense and opens up clean looks for perimeter shooters. She is shaping up to be a D-I player. D-II schools should stop waiting and offer her as quickly as possible before the rest of the state takes notice of her high-level skill.

 

Chloe Sterling2022 5-7 PG Chloe Sterling – Marietta
The effortless ability of how Chloe Sterling can control games has taken Marietta to another level. Back in Georgia after living on a military base in Japan, Sterling is a dynamic playmaker with a smooth feel. The lefty is a nightmare in transition. Not only can she rush the ball down the floor and go coast-to-coast, but she can ignite fast breaks without a single dribble, using her elite outlet passing as she drills teammates in stride down the floor. Sterling snaps off accurate passes in the blink of an eye before defenders know what hit them. When the ball is in her hands, Chloe is shifty getting downhill. She can eurostep through the defense and finish in a variety of ways. Her three-point shot was locked-in against Dacula, casually draining 5 threes, hardly ever touching the rim. Her easy release off the dribble is pretty to watch. She tallied 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals in a 79-48 rout. Sterling should be on Mid-Major radars ASAP.

2021 6-1 F Janae Charles – Loganville
A blend of skill, size, IQ and mobility, Janae Charles is among the best post players left in the 2021 class. She doesn’t need to dominate scoring the ball to affect games. Charles is a smart passer and can handle the ball when needed. When teammates cut without the ball, Charles can see overtop the defense and deliver assists with pinpoint accuracy. Rockmart had no answer for her inside. Charles posted up hard and helped get Keyarah Berry in foul trouble. Janae converted every opportunity she had in the paint and used her length to rebound in traffic. She finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Gardner-Webb has shown interest.

2021 5-11 W Keyarah Berry – Rockmart
On the verge of being the all-time leading scorer in the state of Georgia, the Indiana-signee had her usual “wow” moments in a loss against Loganville. Keyarah Berry has overwhelmed opponents at the 2A and 3A level over the course of her career. She is unstoppable in transition, able to beat everyone down the floor and elevate for easy layups. Berry has developed her game into being more than just a freak athlete however. She has the deepest range in the state, able to pull up from 30-feet when needed. With her tremendous strength, she can fire away from well beyond the arc without losing much accuracy. Becoming a better playmaker will be an area of growth at the next level. Facing double and triple teams with a supporting cast that doesn’t have much firepower, Berry has had a heavy burden to carry her entire career. Playing with fellow D-I players will make life easier for her on the offensive side of the ball in college. She buried 4 threes and finished with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 1 block in a 62-39 loss to Loganville, Berry scoring the first 17 points of the second half for the Yellowjackets.

De'Mauri Flournoy
2021 5-8 PG De’Mauri Flournoy – Carrollton
It was a dazzling display for De’Mauri Flournoy in Carrollton’s convincing 62-41 win over Newton. The Vanderbilt-signee can do it all. She’s not the most physically imposing guard in the state but aside from Raven Johnson and Kayla McPherson, she may be the most well-rounded and maybe most skilled. Flournoy is an elite three-point shooter that uses her range to help open up driving lanes. She has the ball on a string as she manipulates defenders before getting exactly what she wants. Flournoy is a complete player on offense. She can get into the lane and finish with floaters or tough layups. Flournoy is a playmaker that breaks down defenses and sets up teammates. She moves well without the ball and teamed up with Kehinde Obasuyi for a handful of backdoor cuts. De’Mauri’s quickness to every ball stood out. She snatched every long pass that was tried against Carrollton’s defense, playing a gold glove centerfield. Flournoy tallied 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 steals.

2024 5-8 PG Sanaa Tripp – Newton
The future – and even the present – is Sanaa Tripp. She’s a blue-chip guard that has a chance to be the best player in Georgia and one of the best in the nation. Tripp blends terrific athleticism with eyepopping skill. She’s great in transition, bursting out of the pack and using in-and-out dribbles and more to leave defenders in the dust. Tripp is a dangerous shooter as well. She stops and pops on a dime and has three-point range off the bounce. She knocked down 4 threes as she finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals. Her lateral quickness makes her an above average defender that could cement herself as a lockdown guard. Tripp has the makings of becoming a High Major point guard.

2024 5-9 PG Danielle Carnegie – Rockdale County
An Essence Xtreme teammate of Sanaa Tripp, freshman Danielle Carnegie might not have the athleticism or flash of Tripp, but Carnegie’s skill and mature approach to the game has been invaluable for the Bulldogs. Carnegie always stays under control and is a true point guard that knows how to set the table for others while still finding the time to put up points. She does a nice job attacking the basket and keeping the defense off balance. She’s got a nice pull-up jumper and can float in buckets over shot blockers. Carnegie is active. Her well-rounded floor game led to 13 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in a 72-66 loss to Grayson. With Danielle on the floor, Rockdale will always have a chance to win any game.

Girls Rankings

Week 9 GHSA Girls Basketball State Rankings

Free Preview Week

Class AAAAAAA

1. Collins Hill (13-1)
2. McEachern (7-3)
3. Campbell (8-1)
4. Cherokee (16-3)
5. Marietta (10-4)
6. North Forsyth (13-2)
7. North Paulding (13-3)
8. Parkview (11-4)
9. Norcross (10-5)
10. Brookwood (8-5)

Class AAAAAA

1. Westlake (10-0)
2. Carrollton (15-1)
3. Buford (12-0)
4. Langston Hughes (13-3)
5. Lovejoy (12-5)
6. Sprayberry (12-2)
7. Kell (12-3)
8. Statesboro (12-0)
9. Sequoyah (11-3)
10. River Ridge (13-3)

Class AAAAA

1. Forest Park (11-2)
2. Woodward Academy (5-1)
3. Maynard Jackson (11-2)
4. Southwest DeKalb (9-2)
5. Loganville (15-2)
6. Cass (16-0)
7. St. Pius X (12-1)
8. Hiram (8-3)
9. Griffin (9-4)
10. New Manchester (10-3)

Class AAAA

1. Luella (15-2)
2. Jefferson (11-3)
3. Troup County (5-4)
4. Carver-Columbus (5-2)
5. Arabia Mountain (6-0)
6. Marist (11-2)
7. Baldwin (7-0)
8. McDonough (10-2)
9. Spalding (10-3)
10. Cedar Shoals (9-3)

Class AAA

1. Johnson-Savannah (8-1)
2. Upson-Lee (11-0)
3. Sonoraville (10-3)
4. Lumpkin County (12-4)
5. Coahulla Creek (14-2)
6. Cross Creek (6-2)
7. GAC (5-4)
8. Beach (7-3)
9. Westminster (5-1)
10. Redan (7-1)

Class AA

1. Early County (7-0)
2. Elbert County (12-2)
3. Washington County (7-0)
4. Rabun County (11-2)
5. Heard County (12-3)
6. Fannin County (9-4)
7. Banks County (12-7)
8. East Laurens (8-2)
9. Butler (6-3)
10. Northeast-Macon (6-2)

Class A-Private

1. Hebron Christian (14-2)
2. ELCA (11-0)
3. St. Francis (11-3)
4. Holy Innocents’ (3-4)
5. Mt. Paran (14-3)
6. Galloway (11-0)
7. Wesleyan (6-2)
8. Calvary Day (12-1)
9. Greenforest (4-3)
10. Athens Academy (11-3)

Class A-Public

1. Calhoun County (3-1)
2. Greenville (3-0)
3. Lake Oconee Academy (12-0)
4. Clinch County (8-1)
5. Dublin (13-2)
6. Turner County (11-2)
7. Trion (11-3)
8. GMC (4-1)
9. Wilcox County (3-0)
10. Emanuel County Institute (3-6)

The Top 3 in Class 7A remain unchanged but below there is plenty of movement. No. 8 Parkview falls four spots after injuries have put a damper on their upside. The Panthers lost 67-50 to Newton as starting point guard Joze Baker was out on crutches with a hamstring injury and Cassie Mesh had her arm in a cast, zapping the Panthers of two key rotational guards. No. 5 Marietta moves up a spot. They were dominant in a 79-48 win over a shorthanded Dacula at the QwikCut Classic. Michigan State-signee Lauren Walker finished with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 5 blocks while Chloe Sterling added 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals while hitting 5 threes. Makayah Harris was the third head of the attack, posting 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 10 steals. No. 6 North Forsyth bounced South Forsyth (15-3) from the rankings with a 45-24 win on the road. Ali Jones hit 5 threes and finished with 15 points while Maddie Erickson scored 12 points inside. No. 10 Brookwood barely hangs onto their position in the poll. Their 62-60 win at Grayson keeps them afloat after their 67-46 loss to Class 6A No. 7 Kell. No. 9 Norcross debuts in the Top 10. All five of their losses have come against ranked opponents. The Lady Blue picked up a 46-43 win over Archer to highlight their week. Mariah Baltierra netted 15 in the win.

No. 1 Westlake extended their Georgia winning streak to 100 games in Class 6A. They blasted No. 5 Lovejoy 68-44 and No. 4 Langston Hughes 58-39, both on the road. Ta’Niya Latson poured in 27 points in the win over Lovejoy while South Carolina-signee Raven Johnson collected 22 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 steals. Against Langston Hughes, Latson score 21 points and Virginia Tech-commit Brianna Turnage posted 4 points and 17 rebounds. The Lions play Class 5A No. 1 Forest Park on Monday at the J4 Sports MLK Holiday Classic as they look to push their winning streak to 101. Langston Hughes lost to Forest Park 38-25. Lovejoy bounced back with a 55-47 win over Class A-Private No. 4 Holy Innocents’. No. 2 Carrollton outpaced Newton at the QwikCut Classic 62-41. Vanderbilt-signee De’Mauri Flournoy posted 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 steals while Eghosa Obasuyi scored 12 points and Kehinde Obasuyi netted 10. JeNee Edwards had 9 points and Kanija Daniel finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks. No. 3 Buford is up a spot after handling last week’s Class 4A No. 1 Jefferson 68-45. No. 6 Sprayberry got 47 points and 7 assists from Flau’jae Johnson in an 86-60 win over Osborne. No. 7 Kell beat Class 7A No. 10 Brookwood on the road 67-46 as Crystal Henderson dumped in 25 points. No. 8 Statesboro dispatched of Brunswick 45-37 behind Madison Lee’s 16 points and Jamiah Jones’ 13. Rockdale County (12-3) slips out of the rankings following a 72-66 loss to Grayson at the QwikCut Classic. Alana Moore finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds in the defeat. The Bulldogs are replaced by No. 10 River Ridge. The Knights are back in the poll after wins over Creekview (70-36), Centennial (55-25) and Cambridge (55-44). Mataya Gayle dumped in 22 points while Allie Sweet scored 18 and Leigh Codiniera netted 13 points in the win over Cambridge.

Class 5A No. 1 Forest Park won a defensive struggle with Class 6A No. 4 Langston Hughes 38-25 and will now try to end Class 6A No. 1 Westlake’s reign of terror over the GHSA. No. 5 Loganville took care of Rockmart at the QwikCut Classic 62-39. Janae Charles was a handful inside with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Lenoir-Rhyne-signee Rose Bone and Sydney Bolden scored 13 apiece. No. 6 Cass rallied from down 29-17 at the half to beat No. 8 Hiram 55-48. Londaisha Smith scored 22 points to lead the way while Ariana Hames added 12.

A new number one surfaces in Class 4A as No. 1 Luella takes the mantle. Furman-signee Jada Session poured in 41 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks in an 85-26 rout of Riverdale while Coppin State-commit Cortney Gardner triple-doubled with 17 points, 12 assists and 12 steals. No. 2 Jefferson sinks a spot. The Dragons beat Class 2A No. 4 Rabun County 65-62 but lost 68-45 at Class 6A No. 3 Buford. No. 3 Troup County netted a 41-32 win over Hardaway while No. 4 Carver-Columbus destroyed Kendrick 100-23. No. 5 Arabia Mountain climbs a sport after taking down No. 6 Marist 57-51, dropping the War Eagles three places. No. 10 Cedar Shoals narrowly clings onto their position in the Top 10. They were upset by Chestatee 63-49 after beating Flowery Branch 35-29. In the loss, Skylar Lattimore scored 16 points and Ashley Lester had 10.

In Class 3A, North Georgia wasn’t long for the top of the poll. After just one week, No. 1 Johnson-Savannah reclaims the throne. No. 4 Lumpkin County slips three spots after a 58-57 loss to White County in overtime. No. 5 Coahulla Creek had an opportunity to ascend to the top, but they are down three places following a second heart-breaking loss to No. 3 Sonoraville 57-55. The Phoenix even had designs on number one, but their week started with a 64-60 loss at Rockmart as Megan Little hit 6 threes to finish with 26 points while Indiana-signee Keyarah Berry dropped 25. Screaming up to the top of the rankings as three teams ahead of them lose is No. 2 Upson-Lee. The Knights surge up five positions and need to be taken seriously as a title threat. At 11-0, Upson-Lee has played a respectable schedule that has accumulated a 51-34 record. The Knights beat Troy-signee Gabbi Cartagena and Jackson 74-65, Pike County 85-62 and finished off the week with a 77-23 blowout of Taylor County. In the win over Pike County, Jakera Ellerbee netted 27 points while Alonzea Montgomery posted 21.

The first domino fell in Region 8-2A as No. 2 Elbert County defeated No. 4 Rabun County 56-40 to swap spots. The Blue Devils received 18 points and 9 rebounds from Niya Moon followed by 16 points and 6 rebounds from Aaniyah Allen and 14 points from Terrace Hester. Rabun County also lost a hard-fought 65-62 battle at last week’s Class 4A No. 1 Jefferson. No. 3 Washington County had a nice 60-39 win against No. 10 Northeast-Macon as Miracle Parker poured in 25 points and 4 assists. Sinking from the Top 10 are Woodville-Tompkins (9-3) and Dade County (5-3). Woodville-Tompkins has now lost three-straight including losses to 5-10 Islands 44-39 and 7-9 Toombs County 55-43. Dade County, another pack of Wolverines, lost 53-48 to Model. No. 8 East Laurens debuts as well as No. 9 Butler. East Laurens handled Toombs County 50-29 and Swainsboro 52-39 this week. 5-foot-5 senior Kristen Hubbard is averaging 14.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.2 steals while 5-foot-9 Ikeria Hamilton chips in 13.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 1.9 blocks. Butler has proven to be the one of the best teams in Augusta, scoring wins over Josey (43-40) and Grovetown (54-46) already this year before adding a 62-50 win at Laney this past week. 6-foot-2 Jayla Thomas powers the Bulldogs with 13.3 points and 1.9 blocks. 5-foot-7 Brianna Sims makes them go with 13.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals.\

Just when you think Class A-Private has sorted itself out, No. 4 Holy Innocents’ throws a monkey wrench into things. The Golden Bears destroyed last week’s No. 1, No. 5 Mt. Paran dropping them four spots following a 64-34 loss. Holy Innocents’ rises three spots but were beat 55-47 by Class 6A No. 5 Lovejoy. No. 1 Hebron Christian retakes the top spot after a 3-0 week highlighted by a 69-58 win over Grayson. No. 2 ELCA is up two spots and has a 51-50 victory in hand over Hebron Christian. The Chargers added to their resume with a 52-41 win against No. 7 Wesleyan, Jacksonville-signee Jalisa Dunlap netting 20 points. No. 8 Calvary Day usurps inactive No. 9 Greenforest. Hannah Cail poured in 30 points while Mahkayla Premo pumped in 28 in the Cavaliers’ 78-51 win at Bulloch Academy. Tallulah Falls (9-4) drops out after a 43-35 loss at debutant No. 10 Athens Academy. The Spartans have played well in life after Rose Bone. Junior Jaila Salley-Barnett scored 16 points in the win over the Indians while Meredith Reynolds netted 10 points.

Class A-Public is still moving in slow motion. No. 3 Lake Oconee Academy got 30 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals from Chattanooga-signee Destiny McClendon in their 67-47 win at Towns County. No. 4 Clinch County had a busy week going 4-0. Angel McRae closed out the week with 27 points in a win over Lanier County. No. 6 Turner County slips a spot after losing 50-46 to Irwin County. No. 5 Dublin continues to roll. The Irish edged Montgomery County 45-43. No. 7 Trion jumps No. 8 GMC after wins over Bowdon (65-45) and Mt. Zion-Carrollton (56-42). The Bulldogs came back from down 14 to beat Mt. Zion. In the win over Bowdon, Chloe Murdock piled in 32 points. Pelham (2-0) is out due to inactivity. Into the poll is No. 10 ECI who last appeared in Week 2. The Bulldogs have now won three-straight with the return of Kennesaw State-signee Prencis Harden. They knocked off Jenkins County 66-55 this past week.

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