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)

Final 2016-17 Boys Rankings

Class AAAAAAA

  1. Tift County (29-2)
  2. Norcross (26-6)
  3. McEachern (29-1)
  4. Newton (28-2)
  5. Pebblebrook (20-8)
  6. Grayson (21-10)
  7. Westlake (18-11)
  8. Wheeler (21-9)
  9. Berkmar (21-8)
  10. Brookwood (16-14)

Class AAAAAA

  1. Langston Hughes (25-8)
  2. Brunswick (23-9)
  3. South Cobb (23-8)
  4. South Paulding (28-2)
  5. Allatoona (21-9)
  6. Gainesville (28-2)
  7. Tri-Cities (18-14)
  8. Jonesboro (23-6)
  9. Dacula (20-9)
  10. Northside-Warner Robins (15-15)

Class AAAAA

  1. Buford (29-2)
  2. Cedar Shoals (27-5)
  3. Fayette County (23-8)
  4. Miller Grove (21-9)
  5. Warner Robins (26-4)
  6. Riverwood (23-6)
  7. New Hampstead (18-9)
  8. Carver-Atlanta (17-14)
  9. Eagle’s Landing (21-7)
  10. Columbia (21-8)

Class AAAA

  1. Upson-Lee (32-0)
  2. St. Pius X (24-8)
  3. Henry County (24-6)
  4. Sandy Creek (23-8)
  5. LaGrange (26-4)
  6. Carver-Columbus (21-7)
  7. Perry (22-9)
  8. Thomson (16-12)
  9. Richmond Academy (23-6)
  10. Westover (18-11)

Class AAA

  1. Pace Academy (26-8)
  2. Morgan County (25-6)
  3. Liberty County (22-6)
  4. Westside-Macon (25-4)
  5. Calhoun (23-5)
  6. Jenkins (22-8)
  7. Islands (19-10)
  8. Lovett (20-11)
  9. Johnson-Savannah (19-10) 
  10. Central-Macon (20-8)

Class AA

  1. South Atlanta (29-1)
  2. Swainsboro (21-11)
  3. Dublin (26-6) 
  4. Josey (23-9)
  5. Chattooga (26-2)
  6. Laney (25-6)
  7. Washington County (15-10)
  8. Early County (23-8)
  9. Banks County (23-5)
  10. Butler (19-9)

Class A-Private

  1. Greenforest (27-5)
  2. Southwest Atlanta Christian (23-9)
  3. Lakeview Academy (25-6)
  4. St. Francis (25-6)
  5. North Cobb Christian (26-4)
  6. Aquinas (26-2)
  7. Whitefield Academy (20-9)
  8. Holy Innocents’ (19-9)
  9. Wesleyan (17-12)
  10. Tattnall Square Academy (17-9)

Class A-Public

  1. Wilkinson County (25-7)
  2. Calhoun County (28-2)
  3. Clinch County (26-4)
  4. Macon County (20-9)
  5. Treutlen (27-1)
  6. Taylor County (19-6)
  7. Turner County (19-9)
  8. Montgomery County (20-10)
  9. Central-Talbotton (17-8)
  10. Lincoln County (18-7)

Tift County puts capper on unpredictable GHSA season, closing out Norcross for Class AAAAAAA state championship

No. 6 Tift County 55, No. 4 Norcross 52

In a year where “super teams” were en vogue, little old No. 6 Tift County (29-2) decided to spoil the party and not only shock the landscape of Georgia high school basketball, but the entire nation as the Blue Devils emerged out of the “Group of Death” to escape a frantic rally from No. 4 Norcross, 55-52.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Tift County was not supposed to be a factor in the state of Georgia this year. They were not supposed to defeat three nationally ranked teams and they were not supposed to beat No. 1 McEachern, No. 2 Newton, No. 4 Norcross (26-6) or No. 7 Berkmar on their quest to a third state title.

Tift County bucked the odds and quietly loomed in South Georgia as the 2014 state champions patiently waited for their shot at the big boys while smashing its way through Region 1. When they arrived at McCamish Pavilion, it was only fitting that the 3-hour trip would end in the Blue Devils completing the state’s greatest and most improbable state championship run in GHSA history.

Tift opened the game like they did against so many other victims, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead but Norcross quickly eased ahead and gained a 13-9 lead after one. Norcross grabbed its largest lead of the game at the 7:21 mark up 18-9 after Dalvin White netted his second three of the game. The Blue Devils looked to be in control as Tift County’s 6-foot-6 Virginia Tech-signee PJ Horne found it difficult to bully his way around the basket like he did against Newton (25 points) and McEachern (17 points) in the Elite Eight and Final Four. After a first possession offensive rebound and putback, Horne saw his halftime line read: 1-7 FG, 0-3 3PT, 3 rebounds, 3 turnover and 2 points.

With Tift County’s workhorse neutralized by 6-foot-9 Louisville-signee Lance Thomas and 6-foot-8 Georgia-signee Rayshaun Hammonds, the Blue Devil guards lifted Coach Eric Holland’s team. Football standout junior Rashod Bateman scored 10 points in the first half, hitting two threes to bring Tift County to within 21-19 at the half, Tift mucking the game up exactly how they needed to to beat a high-octane team like Norcross. Tift wore their workman blue collar warm-ups and stripped them off to shirts with the phrase “no buckets” across their backs pregame, and were able to back up their tough-nosed defense once the ball tipped.

Both teams shot 33% at the half, not what the casual fan was expecting. But nobody expected Tift to be here in the first place. In the third quarter, Horne slammed home a dunk – the final points of his high school career as he finished 2-of-12 from the field with only 4 points and 5 rebounds. At the 1:37 mark Norcross’ Hammonds picked up his fourth foul on a charge and was sent to the bench. With Hammonds out, Bateman quickly drained another three, finishing with four on the night, taking a 32-24 lead in the process.  Norcross closed however and entered the fourth quarter trailing 32-29.

While Hammonds sat on the bench, Thomas started to come to life. He knocked down a turnaround jumper off a post catch and then added a baseline shot to give Norcross a short-lived 33-32 lead with 5:47 to play.  The Blue Devils quickly ran off eight straight points to go ahead 40-33 and then fouled Hammonds out of the game with the score the same with 3:22 remaining; Hammonds finishing his career with 8 points on 2-of-11 shooting and 8 rebounds.

Possessions got shorter and shorter as Tift continued to grind away at Norcross to go ahead 42-33 before Thomas hit a three. Micah Johnson, going to Alabama State, would not let his Tift County Blue Devils squander a lead, even though it got hectic.

Norcross slowly inched closer and closer as Tift tried to pile on the dirt on the Blue Devils’ grave, but White and Jordan Goldwire along with Thomas gave Norcross a pulse. From down 49-40 with 1:18 left to play, the Blue Devils trimmed the lead to 49-44 with 51.9 left, then to 51-47 with 42.7 remaining and down to 53-52 with just 10 seconds remaining as JoJo Toppin completed an And-1 dunk to send the crowd into a frenzy.

Just when it looked like Cinderella’s glass slipper cracked or the carriage was on the verge of turning into a pumpkin, Johnson continued to supply the dagger as Norcross would foul. Tift County shot 24-of-26 from the foul line – 21-of-22 in the fourth quarter – with Johnson scoring a game-high 24 points going 16-of-18 at the stripe and scoring 17 points in the frame. At just 6-foot, Johnson also collected 9 rebounds and 4 assists, with just one turnover. Bateman ended his night with 18 points as Tift’s guards got the better of Norcross’.

Dalvin White led Norcross with 15 points while Lance Thomas had 13 points but only 4 rebounds as the smaller Tift County Blue Devils outrebounded Norcross 31-28 and held the bigger Devils to 16 points in the paint.

 

PJ Horne spoke with me after the game:

 

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%.

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