GHSA, Girls Basketball, Girls Rankings

Week 8 Girls Rankings

Class AAAAAAA

  1. Norcross (16-1)
  2. McEachern (9-5)
  3. Collins Hill (13-1)
  4. Mill Creek (14-1)
  5. Archer (11-3)
  6. Newton (10-2)
  7. Brookwood (11-4)
  8. Westlake (10-5)
  9. Lambert (13-2)
  10. Marietta (13-3) 

Class AAAAAA

  1. Harrison (13-2)
  2. Winder-Barrow (9-4)
  3. Douglas County (13-2)
  4. Lovejoy (12-2)
  5. Grovetown (10-5)
  6. Stephenson (11-5)
  7. Northview (13-3)
  8. Forest Park (11-4)
  9. Sequoyah (12-3)
  10. Gainesville (8-3) 

Class AAAAA

  1. Buford (13-0)
  2. Flowery Branch (12-3)
  3. Southwest DeKalb (12-4)
  4. Griffin (14-0)
  5. Warner Robins (14-0)
  6. Maynard Jackson (12-1)
  7. Carrollton (13-1)
  8. Villa Rica (12-1)
  9. Harris County (11-2)
  10. McIntosh (11-2) 

Class AAAA

  1. North Oconee (12-2)
  2. Carver-Columbus (13-1)
  3. West Hall (12-4)
  4. Cross Creek (13-4)
  5. Columbus (9-3)
  6. Northwest Whitfield (11-4)
  7. Americus-Sumter (12-2)
  8. Heritage-Catoosa (14-2)
  9. Sandy Creek (8-4)
  10. Henry County (11-5) 

Class AAA

  1. Beach (13-1)
  2. Johnson-Savannah (14-1)
  3. Greater Atlanta Christian (10-4)
  4. Hart County (14-2)
  5. Redan (9-3)
  6. Ringgold (11-4)
  7. Calhoun (13-3)
  8. Haralson County (13-3)
  9. Monroe (11-3)
  10. Central-Macon (10-3) 

Class AA

  1. Laney (14-1)
  2. Rabun County (14-1)
  3. Dodge County (12-2)
  4. Fitzgerald (9-0)
  5. Model (10-4)
  6. Vidalia (11-3)
  7. Dade County (11-4)
  8. Bryan County (9-2)
  9. Hapeville Charter (9-4)
  10. Washington County (6-3) 

Class A-Private

  1. Holy Innocents’ (14-1)
  2. St. Francis (9-4)
  3. Wesleyan (11-3)
  4. Pinecrest Academy (9-2)
  5. Lakeview Academy (12-4)
  6. Calvary Day (11-3)
  7. Landmark Christian (10-3)
  8. Christian Heritage (7-4)
  9. First Presbyterian Day (9-3)
  10. Darlington (8-5) 

Class A-Public

  1. Pelham (12-0)
  2. Telfair County (12-1)
  3. Woodville-Tompkins (14-3)
  4. Greenville (12-2)
  5. Wheeler County (12-2)
  6. Wilcox County (10-4)
  7. Taylor County (9-3)
  8. Treutlen (9-4)
  9. Mitchell County (10-3)
  10. Hancock Central (9-3)

 

Due to the lack of games played because of the snow and ice, and a dearth of upsets this week, three classifications see no changes at all. There was no movement in Class AAAAAAA and hardly any action on the court. No. 1 Norcross managed to build its resume with a 55-38 win over Parkview. No. 9 Lambert is dangerous at the bottom of the poll, defeating West Forsyth 63-38. No. 10 Marietta edged Mountain View 68-56.

Region 6-AAAAAA’s Top 10 showdown didn’t disappoint as No. 1 Harrison was able to hold off a pesky No. 9 Sequoyah team. The Hoyas survived not having Sydne Wiggins (Rice) and 10 Sequoyah threes – six from Peyton Satterfield (20 points) – to win 73-60. The Lady Chiefs lost star point guard Alyssa Cagle to a broken nose in the second quarter, but still were in striking distance heading into the fourth quarter on the road down 58-51. The third time was a charm for No. 2 Winder-Barrow as the Lady Doggs finally found a way to solve Class AAAAA No. 2 Flowery Branch, 53-45. Olivia Nelson-Ododa carried the load with 17 points and 11 rebounds. No. 7 Northview evaded a late Alpharetta rally to win 42-41 and take a commanding two-game lead in Region 7. Shannon Titus scored 24 points.

Even with their loss to Winder-Barrow, Flowery Branch holds onto No. 2 in Class AAAAA, meaning there is no change in the polls this week. The Falcons stay ahead of No. 3 Southwest DeKalb due to strength of schedule and a whopping six wins over ranked opponents. Junior forward Taniyah Worth continued to cement herself as one of the best junior forwards in the state, posting 30 points, eight rebounds and three steals against Winder-Barrow’s frontline anchored by the No. 1 ranked junior in the nation. No. 4 Griffin had a nice 60-36 win over Spalding while No. 7 Carrollton handed Rome just their second loss of the season, 74-51. No. 10 McIntosh took care of business in their rivalry game with Class AAAA No. 9 Sandy Creek, 49-44 led by Rylee Calhoun’s 17 points.

No. 4 Cross Creek is getting hot in Class AAAA, drilling Burke County 59-37 and Hephzibah 71-46, both games on the road.  No. 6 Northwest Whitfield dumped Dalton and Gilmer while No. 7 Americus-Sumter drilled Cairo. Sandy Creek slips a spot to No. 9 after losing to McIntosh.

Everything remained status quo in Class AAA with no shuffling. No. 1 Beach went on the road and defeated Brunswick 60-51 and Jenkins 67-33. No. 2 Johnson-Savannah crushed Islands and pounded away at Brunswick 55-39 on the road. No. 4 Hart County dispatched of East Jackson 79-48 and Morgan County 56-53, who is now 4-11 overall.

Class AA sees Dublin tumbled out of the Top 10 after taking a 75-45 loss to new No. 10 Washington County. Region 3 has been very competitive this season and the Golden Hawks will put their new ranking to the test right away as they host No. 3 Dodge County on Tuesday. Elsewhere, No. 4 Fitzgerald remains unblemished behind their balanced scoring attack. In their 70-59 road win over Brooks County, T’kayshza King finished with 20 points, five rebounds, six assists and six steals. Shalynn Thornton added 18 points and 10 rebounds while Kirstin Crook (14) and Briana Richardson (11) both cracked double figures.

No. 1 Holy Innocents’ received 16 points apiece from Khayla Pointer (LSU) and Kaila Hubbard to knocked off No. 3 Wesleyan 61-54 in a crucial Region 5 A-Private tilt. No. 2 St. Francis drilled Fellowship Christian 70-17 and will now host No. 4 Pinecrest Academy on Tuesday. Calvary Day moves up a spot to No. 6 after shaking off a loss to Class A-Public’s No. 3 Woodville-Tompkins and beating No. 5 Wheeler County (70-55) and No. 8 Treutlen (54-38). Tattnall Square Academy and Stratford Academy both exit after underwhelming performances. The Trojans lost to Wilkinson County 43-38 while the Eagles were held scoreless in the first quarter and to just three points at the half in an ugly 24-13 loss at new No. 9 First Presbyterian Day. Darlington rejoins the party at No. 10 and remains dangerous with Wofford-signee Anna Claire Atha able to take over a game at the blink of an eye.

Class A-Public sees Telfair County take over No. 2 after Wheeler County slips three spots to No. 5 after a loss to Calvary Day. No. 3 Woodville-Tompkins is surging, enjoying their best season in school history. The Wolverines swept Calvary Day with a 62-58 win this week. Macon County and Marion County don’t survive the week after the Bulldogs lost to the Eagles 60-57 and to No. 4 Greenville 60-52. The Eagles dropped to Central, AL 67-54 and barely lose out on a Top 10 spot. Replacing the two are No. 9 Mitchell County and No. 10 Hancock Central. Mitchell County hung a 52-41 loss on Terrell County on the road. The Bulldogs are 7-0 in Region 7 with their only losses coming to ranked opponents. Class AAAA’s Baldwin beat them twice while Class AA Washington County edged them once.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Rankings

Week 8 Boys Rankings

Class AAAAAAA

  1. Newton (13-0)
  2. McEachern (12-0)
  3. Pebblebrook (8-5)
  4. Norcross (14-3)
  5. Wheeler (11-4)
  6. Tift County (16-1)
  7. Westlake (8-7)
  8. Berkmar (12-5)
  9. Collins Hill (13-3)
  10. Peachtree Ridge (11-5)

Class AAAAAA

  1. Gainesville (13-0)
  2. South Paulding (13-1)
  3. Jonesboro (10-4)
  4. Langston Hughes (9-4)
  5. Heritage-Conyers (10-3)
  6. South Cobb (12-2)
  7. Alpharetta (16-1)
  8. Alexander (10-4)
  9. Richmond Hill (14-3)
  10. Brunswick (13-3) 

Class AAAAA

  1. Buford (12-2)
  2. Eagle’s Landing (10-2)
  3. Cedar Shoals (14-2)
  4. Warner Robins (12-3)
  5. Fayette County (11-5)
  6. Miller Grove (9-6)
  7. New Hampstead (10-4)
  8. Columbia (9-5)
  9. Southwest DeKalb (10-6)
  10. Union Grove (11-4) 

Class AAAA

  1. Upson-Lee (15-0)
  2. Sandy Creek (8-4)
  3. Henry County (12-5)
  4. Richmond Academy (14-3)
  5. Eastside (10-4)
  6. LaGrange (13-2)
  7. Carver-Columbus (11-3)
  8. Perry (13-3)
  9. Stephens County (11-3)
  10. Burke County (9-4) 

Class AAA

  1. Westside-Macon (10-3)
  2. Greater Atlanta Christian (11-4)
  3. Liberty County (9-5)
  4. Morgan County (10-3)
  5. Pace Academy (5-7)
  6. Islands (11-4)
  7. Jenkins (11-6)
  8. Calhoun (11-2)
  9. Cedar Grove (5-4)
  10. Central-Macon (11-3) 

Class AA

  1. South Atlanta (12-1)
  2. Dublin (10-4)
  3. Laney (11-3)
  4. Monticello (9-5)
  5. Early County (12-2)
  6. Josey (12-4)
  7. Thomasville (8-6)
  8. Chattooga (11-1)
  9. Banks County (10-4)
  10. Therrell (9-5)

Class A-Private

  1. Greenforest (11-3)
  2. North Cobb Christian (11-3)
  3. Southwest Atlanta Christian (8-5)
  4. St. Francis (12-3)
  5. Aquinas (11-1)
  6. Holy Innocents’ (8-4)
  7. Lakeview Academy (9-4)
  8. Whitefield Academy (8-5)
  9. Tallulah Falls (14-0)
  10. Darlington (9-3)

Class A-Public

  1. Calhoun County (10-1)
  2. Quitman County (11-1)
  3. Taylor County (9-2)
  4. Treutlen (12-0)
  5. Clinch County (12-1)
  6. Wilkinson County (8-4)
  7. Randolph-Clay (8-3)
  8. Turner County (10-4)
  9. Macon County (9-4)
  10. Central-Talbotton (8-4)

 

The snow and ice slowed down the state of Georgia but games across the state were still able to be played prior to the winter weather and also down south. Pebblebrook’s is still No. 3 after an error on MaxPreps said they lost to Southwind, TN when in actuality, they were unable to play the game due to the snow.  No. 7 Westlake is in dire need of Jamie Lewis if they want to compete at the national level and repeat as state champs. The Lions are now 3-6 against out-of-state competition with their latest losses coming to IMG Academy 65-58 and to Gonzaga, DC 76-73, not bad considering their top point guard has missed nearly the entire season. Auburn-signee Chuma Okeke is making his case for Mr. Basketball in the absence of Lewis, posting a heroic 35 points and 17 rebounds in their loss to Gonzaga with a last second three-pointer rimming out. Discovery exits the poll after losing 64-54 to No. 10 Peachtree Ridge, who reenters to the picture.

Class AAAAAA No. 2 South Paulding avoided a trap game against New Manchester 70-68. Georgia State-signee Kane Williams had 25 points and seven rebounds while Ja’Cori Wilson added 20 and 12 to fend off the Jaguars led by Clint Bentley’s 19 points. The Spartans travel to No. 4 Langston Hughes this Tuesday with Region 5 first-place up for grabs. Region 5’s Alexander moves up two spots to No. 8 after No. 10 Brunswick fell at Johnson-Savannah 59-49 and Dacula was bounced from the poll after a 54-53 loss at Peachtree Ridge. Resurfacing is No. 9 Richmond Hill, who hosts Brunswick on Tuesday in a critical Region 2 showdown.

No. 1 Buford had to outscore Clarke Central 30-16 in the fourth quarter to rally for a 67-62 win on the road to remain the top-ranked team in Class AAAAA. On Friday they welcome No. 3 Cedar Shoals for a highly anticipated rematch of the Wolves’ earlier 72-66 victory. The Jags are the hottest team in the state right now, winning 10-straight since their loss at home to Buford. Not much else has gone on across the state with the weather causing havoc. Union Grove slips this week, but not because of the ice. They were upended by Stockbridge 74-67, dropping the Wolverines three spots to No. 10. They visit No. 2 Eagle’s Landing on Tuesday, fighting to stay ranked in the Top 10.

After Sandy Creek’s stunning 73-66 upset loss to rival McIntosh, Class AAAA sees a new No. 1 in Upson-Lee. On paper, the Knights have a strong chance at running the table, but No. 8 Perry looms on the schedule twice along with a rematch against Mary Persons and star guard Cameron Holden who is averaging 26 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.2 steals and 1.8 blocks as a 6-foot-5 junior. No. 4 Richmond Academy is solidifying itself as a top program in Class AAAA. The Musketeers are on top of Region 3 after earning two hard-fought victories against ranked opponents Baldwin (64-57 OT) and No. 10 Burke County (73-71). Their victory over Baldwin knocks the Braves out of the Top 10. Replacing them is No. 9 Stephens County who is 11-3 and winners of six straight. Read more about the Indians HERE.

In Class AAA, Central-Macon slides to No. 10 following a 55-43 loss to Southwest-Macon. The Patriots who are now in Class AA, also gave a scare to No. 1 Westside-Macon before bowing out 71-63. Dougherty suffered a 73-69 loss at Monroe, dropping them from the poll after one week. Monroe looked ready to take their place, but Westover clipped them the very next day, meaning Calhoun is back in the Top 10 at No. 8.  Islands sinks a spot to No. 6 after a nice 78-67 win at Johnson-Savannah and a loss to Ribault, FL 72-51. No. 9 Cedar Grove is finally back in action on Tuesday at Redan after a massive 21-day layoff according to MaxPreps.

Class AA is getting fuzzier and fuzzier outside of No. 1 South Atlanta. Josey plummets four spots to No. 6 after losing at Westside-Augusta 62-56 and at Glenn Hills 44-42. Region 4 has upwards of five teams that all could see time in the Top 10, with four that have already spent at least a week in the poll. Westside, at 4-0 in the region, is the one front runner who hasn’t cracked the rankings yet. Laney is up to No. 3 in the state thanks to Josey’s rough road week. Outside of the jumbled up Augusta-laden Region 4, Early County skyrockets to No. 5 as they make their debut. The Bobcats have won 12-straight and have now successfully avenged their only two losses by beating Class A-Public No. 1 Calhoun County 72-69 and beating Northview, AL on the road 83-74. They visit No. 7 Thomasville on Friday, a huge game for both teams as a major litmus test. The Bulldogs were drilled by Class AAAAAAA No. 6 Tift County 60-28 in their rematch this past week. Putnam County falls out after a 57-40 loss at Elbert County.

Greenforest defeated Roselle Catholic, NJ 56-51 but was crushed by IMG Academy 76-43 at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia. With the split, the Eagles still hold onto No. 1 in Class A-Private and will do so until a Class A-Private school can prove they can beat them. With Greenforest retaining their top spot, there was no movement in the Top 10, but that will change next week as No. 4 St. Francis visits No. 8 Whitefield Academy and scoring maven Isaiah Hart.

Class A-Public is getting wild as Calhoun County suffers their first loss of the season at Early County and three other schools drop out of the Top 10. The Cougars are still ranked No. 1 this week even with their loss, due to a tougher strength of schedule than No. 2 Quitman County as of now. Wilkinson County is down to No. 6 following a 62-52 loss at Tattnall Square Academy. Wilcox County had a rough week, losing three straight, all in blowout fashion dropping them from the poll. Also gone is Trion after a 71-51 loss to Bowdon and Crawford County, who was knocked off in overtime 89-88 by new No. 9 Macon County. Randolph-Clay makes an appearance in the poll at No. 7 and Turner County is in at No. 8 following an 86-56 beat down of Wilcox County.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Mid-Season Teams to Watch

3 Comments

On the Bubble – Teams on the verge of entering the Top 10
Bullish – Teams surging towards the postseason
Spoiler – Teams that aren’t locks to make the playoffs but could play spoiler down the stretch

Class AAAAAAA

On the Bubble

Mountain View (13-5): The Bears have already matched their school-record in wins. Junior guards Spencer Rodgers and Miles Long have elevated their play and have been leaders for Coach BJ Roy. Outside of a 67-49 loss to Class A-Private No. 1 Greenforest, the Bears’ four losses have come by a combined 21 points. Mountain View is in the thick of things in Region 6 with an opportunity to clinch their first postseason berth.

Bullish

No. 7 Tift County (14-1): The sex appeal might not be there in South Georgia, but the heart, toughness and overall winning culture is. The Blue Devils’ only loss came by 32 points to nationally ranked Montverde Academy, Fl. Senior 6-foot-6 forward PJ Horne is fully healthy from an ACL tear that ended his season a year ago and is playing at a high level down in Tifton, averaging 23.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, already hanging 25 and 21 points in blowout wins of Class AA No. 6 Thomasville, who boasts 6-foot-8 Arkansas-commit Reggie Perry and 6-foot-9 sophomore Titus Wright. 

Spoiler

Milton (4-8): Injuries and players not yet eligible have mucked up Milton’s record, but don’t count the Eagles out of storming back and winning Region 5. Each team has played just one game in the region and if things go according to plan, Milton should quickly turn their sub-.500 record around. Duke-signee Alex O’Connell has been among the state’s leading scorers. Once Milton is at full strength, O’Connell’s scoring burden won’t be as heavy, making the Eagles a dangerous team come February.

Class AAAAAA

On the Bubble

Effingham County (11-4): Effingham County spent time in the poll last year, but hasn’t broken through just yet. The Rebels’ resume is highlighted by two narrow victories over Class AAAAA No. 8 New Hampstead. Senior Jaden Rodriguez is averaging 20.7 points while junior Kha’leed Stapleton is adding 15.7 points. Region 2 looks to have stiff competition with No. 8 Brunswick as the frontrunner with Richmond Hill also playing good ball.

Bullish

No. 6 South Cobb (12-2): South Cobb has opened some eyes this year but in all reality, it probably shouldn’t be unexpected. The Eagles clawed their way to a 15-11 (6-8 Region) record last season in Region 3, the strongest region in the state with state championship participants Pebblebrook and Westlake. Junior guard Trevin Wade has taken over the role of go-to guy left by his older brother Trey. Wade is averaging 18.4 points per game while 6-foot-8 senior Ralueke Orizu is posting 12 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks a night. South Cobb is in the driver’s seat in Region 6 at 6-0 with a crucial 54-45 victory at Allatoona under their belt.

Spoiler

Mays (6-6): The Raiders have been all over the map, looking very good and very bad at times this season in Region 5, making them the perfect dark horse to get hot and play party crasher come region tournament time. The athletes and raw talent are there in seniors Reo Wright and Clayvon Croom along with 6-foot-6 junior guard Horace Wyatt. Mays entered the playoffs last year as a No. 3 seed with an under .500 record but managed to dance their way to the Elite Eight.

Class AAAAA

On the Bubble

Flowery Branch (13-3): The veteran Falcons and their stable of steady guards have Flowery Branch off to their best start since 2007-08. Flowery Branch’s only three losses have come against Top 3 teams. They played No. 1 Buford (66-54) and No. 3 Cedar Shoals (63-50) tight up until the fourth quarter before running out of steam. Their only bad loss came against Class AAAAAA No. 1 Gainesville 80-55. The one thing that escapes the Falcons is a true resume building win. They have two more cracks to earn one, but they won’t come easy as they are on the road against Cedar Shoals and Buford. Seniors Brannon Clark and John Mills along with juniors Justin Quick and Blake Coxworth must find a way to slay the dragons in Class AAAAA.

Bullish

No. 8 New Hampstead (10-4): The Phoenix have bounced in and out of the Top 10 but now entering the five-team Region 2, expect New Hampstead to take off. Senior guard Oronte Anderson is a dynamic scorer that averages over 20 per game. New Hampstead is loaded with experience as fellow seniors 6-foot-6 Xavier Jones and guard Calvin Turner provide second and third scoring options. Last year the fourth-seeded Phoenix stunned Upson-Lee, winners of 17-straight, in the first round 82-66 behind Anderson’s 32 points.

Spoiler

Lithonia (6-10): It’s been a rebuilding year for Coach Wallace Corker’s Bulldogs who went to the Final Four last year. Lithonia has played a difficult schedule but has already played the role of spoiler and has pushed some of the state’s best to the limit. The ‘Dogs have already beaten 12-3 Roswell (59-55), 8-5 Johnson-Savannah (70-64) and No. 9 Columbia (67-53) while coming up short against Class AAAAAA No. 5 Heritage-Conyers (70-66), No. 10 Southwest-DeKalb (47-44), Class AAAAAAA No. 2 McEachern (56-45), No. 2 Eagle’s Landing (47-38) and No. 5 Fayette County (61-59).

Class AAAA

On the Bubble

Stephens County (11-3): Stephens County has spent time in the Top 10 already this season and are on the verge of breaking through for good after winning six straight. The Indians’ only losses have come to 10-4 Seneca, SC 55-39 (who they beat seven days later 60-30), Class AAAAAA No. 9 Dacula 72-59 and St. Pius 70-68 who has been ranked as high as No. 4 this season. Pius and Stephens County will battle for the Region 8 title and don’t be shocked to see both of them in the Top 10 in a few weeks. The Indians have good pieces highlighted by 6-foot-7 post Deundra Singleton and guard Nunu Walker.

Bullish

No. 3 Henry County (12-5): Preseason No. 1 Henry County is starting to get hot, winning six in a row. If the Warhawks can navigate through the potential pitfalls of a very deep Region 4 and come away with the region title, they will be very scary in the state tournament, but currently they sit behind No. 5 Eastside (4-0) and Woodward Academy (3-1). D-I signees Javon Greene and Damion Rosser have averaged 22.1 and 20.3 points per game respectively. The only question is; will the Warhawks get enough stops on a nightly basis to go far in the state tournament?

Spoiler

North Clayton (5-8): It has been a rollercoaster season for North Clayton, who has spent a bulk of the year bouncing around the Top 10. A brutal schedule has led to the Eagles dropping three straight. Right now it looks like there are five teams fighting for four spots in Region 4. The Eagles are 2-2 in region play and host No. 5 Eastside in a crucial showdown this week. North Clayton will always cause problems with 6-foot-8 Lipscomb-signee Ahsan Asadullah anchoring the Eagles inside, averaging 14.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

Class AAA

On the Bubble

Calhoun (10-2): Calhoun’s reign of regular season dominance came to an end when King’s Ridge snapped their 48-game winning streak, but the Yellow Jackets are still the bully on the block for now in Region 6. Their main challenger is 12-2 Sonoraville who is also 5-0 in region play. Calhoun has spent time in the poll and has a good chance to win out, even though their region games haven’t been blowouts like years past. The well-coached bunch led by Vince Layson relies on seniors Chapin Rierson (15.2 ppg, 8 rpg, 2.3 bpg), Malik Lawrence (13.5 ppg) and Rhett Abernathy (10 ppg) to carry the load with juniors Kaylan Aker (8.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Porter Law (4.3 rpg, 6 apg, 2.9 spg) playing expanded roles.

Bullish

No. 5 Islands (10-3): Now in Year 7, Islands has staked claim to being the best team in Savannah outside of Class AAAAA No. 8 New Hampstead who has stiffed them twice in overtime, 83-76 and 79-77. Wins over Effingham County (78-72), No. 8 Jenkins (75-72), Richmond Hill (65-45) and most recently 11-2 Pope to win the Westminster Holiday Classic 70-54, are most impressive. The Sharks have a potent backcourt led by sophomore Trae Broadnax (20.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg), all-time leading scorer and three-point marksman Justin Cave (20.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.8 apg) and fellow senior Hugh Durham (10.6 ppg). Islands’ biggest weakness is a lack of impactful height.

Spoiler

Crisp County (6-7): The Cougars opened up in the Top 10 and quickly departed and haven’t sniffed the poll since. Over in Region 1, they still remain a threat in the small five-team region. Senior guard Quentavious Dean has been on a scoring binge, averaging 23.3 points per game. Ijon Owens adds 15.6 points. If the roster composed of 10 seniors and five juniors hits their stride, they could be a tough first round opponent for a higher seed come tournament time if the Cougars earn a spot.

Class AA

On the Bubble

Early County (10-2): I flirted with putting Early County in the Top 10 this week but now after their 72-69 win over Class A-Public No. 1 Calhoun County, the Bobcats are a near lock to debut. Early County has won 10 straight now, avenging an 80-75 Game 2 loss at Calhoun County. They are scheduled to play Northview, AL on Saturday, who beat them 87-73 to open the year. In their other nine wins this season, the Bobcats have crushed opponents by an average of 29.6 points. It will be interesting to see what they do against Region 1 foes No. 6 Thomasville and 5-0 Fitzgerald.

Bullish

No. 1 South Atlanta (12-1): It’s probably taking the easy way out, but there’s no one I’m higher on in Class AA than South Atlanta. The Hornets have beaten big time competition across the state picking up five wins against teams that have been ranked. Their only loss came against Crestwood, SC 79-68. Devonta Pullins’ sharp shooting along with 6-foot-8 lefty Tyler Thornton inside make the Hornets the clear cut favorite to win in all in Class AA.

Spoiler

Northeast-Macon (4-11): The Raiders look a year away from cracking the postseason, but a trio of young guards may hold the key to success over the next few years. Sophomores Darius Dunn and Ty’ree Gilbert have picked up where they left off as freshmen. Dunn is pouring in 19.8 points per game while Gilbert is adding 19.5. Freshman Cameron Cherry is third on the team at 7.7 points.

Class A-Private

On the Bubble

Tattnall Square Academy (7-3): After opening in the Top 10 to begin the season, it looks like the Trojans have designs on resurfacing in the rankings. A 62-52 win over Class A-Public No. 5 Wilkinson County is not only a resume builder, but a very important region victory. Senior Calvin Slaughter dropped in nine of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to edge the Warriors while big men Jimmy Marshall added 10 points and 12 rebounds and Sean Brown chipped in 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Bullish

No. 2 North Cobb Christian (11-3): I’m officially a believer in North Cobb Christian. No one has been able to stop Demiere Brown, a 6-foot-6 bull-in-a china shop with the ball in his hands. Brown is averaging around 25 points per game and has dominated in every game I’ve seen. If Brown can get consistent help from 6-foot-9 shooter Will Crumly, 6-foot-8 post Mo Merritt and both Myles Hamilton and Hunter Norman, the Eagles could be in business.

Spoiler

Wesleyan (6-8): In Year 1 as head coach, Adam Griffin has the Wolves playing good basketball and currently 3-1 in Region 5. Senior Sean McDonough has had a breakthrough season as a 6-foot-4 stretch forward while junior guard Christian McLean is a lethal scorer. The Wolves don’t have any huge wins yet, but they have plenty of chances down the stretch to catch some good teams.

Class A-Public

On the Bubble

Randolph-Clay (8-3): The Red Devils have picked up their play and are riding a three-game winning streak. Their only losses have come against No. 1 Calhoun County (74-50), No. 2 Quitman County (65-59) and No. 7 Clinch County (73-68). A veteran core of seniors Trajan Evans, Kevin Brown and Rahemn Price along with juniors Marquavious Watson and James Mock have some tough-nosed basketball brewing in Cuthbert.

Bullish

No. 2 Quitman County (11-1): Quitman County has just 1-win against a team over .500 in Randolph-Clay. Their only loss came to 10-3 Eufaula, AL 55-54. Quitman enters the tougher part of their schedule moving forward and will visit Pelham this weekend, but even the 4-1 in region Hornets have lost four-straight games. Quitman County’s showdown with No. 1 Calhoun County looms later in the season. The Hornets average an exciting 78.2 points per game paced by their explosive guards, junior Shahee Billings (20 ppg, rpg, 8 apg, 4 spg) and senior JaDarian Gibbs (15 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg). Sophomore Laqueveus “Spud” Nelson is the best of the group, pouring in over 24 points a night.

Spoiler

Bowdon (5-8): The postseason is out of reach for the Red Devils but senior Octavius Meadows and junior Zach Ledbetter are making the most out of their seasons. Meadows, 6-foot-5, is averaging 18.9 points and 5.5 rebounds. Ledbetter is adding 15.3 points. In a deep and difficult region, the Red Devils have opportunities to surprise opponents.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Girls Recaps, Recaps

GHSA Statewide Recap 1-3

Class AAAAAAA

No. 3 Pebblebrook 86, Newnan 44: Fresh off a win over Norcross, Pebblebrook steamrolled Newnan. Collin Sexton had 25 points and 7 rebounds while Elias Harden finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals. Drue Drinnon posted a 10-point 10-assit double-double. Jared Jones had 6 points, 12 rebounds and 11 blocks.

No. 7 Tift County 60, 2ANo. 6 Thomasville 28: The Blue Devils crushed Thomasville for the second time this season. The Bulldogs have no answer for Fred Lloyd and PJ Horne. Lloyd scored 22 and Horne added 21.

Peachtree Ridge 55, 6ANo. 9 Dacula 54: The Lions weathered an early 17-2 deficit to rally back and stun Dacula at home. Caleb Holifield scored 13 and Kris Collins scored 11.

Mountain View 74, Marietta 64: The Bears tied the school-record in wins as they advanced to 13-5 overall. Spencer Rodgers dropped 22 points and Miles Long pitched in 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Class AAAAAA

No. 2 South Paulding 70, New Manchester 68: South Paulding escaped a trap game at home, surviving New Manchester. Kane Williams had 25 points and 7 rebounds. Ja’Cori Wilson dumped in 20 points and 12 rebounds. DJ Jackson scored 10 points and Tank Withers added 8 off the bench. Clint Bentley powered New Manchester with 19 points.

No. 5 Heritage-Conyers 92, Alcovy 49: Jordan Thomas scored 17 points and grabbed 3 rebounds to lead the Patriots. Isaiah Banks had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Byron Abrams added 5 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Ryan Clements went for 9 points and 3 rebounds. 13 out of 14 Patriots scored on the night.

No. 8 Brunswick 75, Beach 58: Kymani Dunham had 16 points and 6 blocks to anchor the Pirates inside. Dereck Lampkin scored 13 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Danijah Gammage added 12 points and Daquan Humphreys scored 14.

Harrison 74, Sprayberry 50: Tate Coston (18), Chris Brown (17) and Justin Matthews (15) led a balanced scoring attack. Braxton Peterson added 10 rebounds and 4 blocks.

River Ridge 69, Creekview 68: Destin Exinor’s breakout senior season continued as the hardworking post finished with 22 points. Christopher Williams had 14 points and Noah Fitzgerald scored 11.

Osborne 67, Sequoyah 54: LaTrell Tate pumped in 29 points and 8 rebounds to carry the Cardinals past the Chiefs.

Dalton 64, Northwest Whitfield 62: Luke Shiflett finished with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals in the loss. Caleb Curry had 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Tucker 74, Mt. Zion-Jonesboro 43: TreJohn Taylor scored 17 points in the loss.

Class AAAAA

Stockbridge 75, No. 7 Union Grove 67:  Quintus Evans scored 20 points, Kavonte Ivery had 19 and Rae Cox netted 14 to lead the Tigers to an upset.

Flowery Branch 56, Winder-Barrow 43: John Mills poured in 19 points while Blake Coxworth added 13 points and 6 rebounds to help the Falcons recover from a sluggish start. Justin Quick finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks while Brannon Clark tallied 7 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

Lanier 46, Walnut Grove 34: RJ Selman scored 11 points in the loss.

Kell 60, Rome 52: CJ Henderson netted 15 points to lead all Longhorns. Demetris Page had 10 points. Savvon Delgado added 9 and Jahwan Smith scored 8. Cameron Lockett rounded out the scoring with 7 as Kell advanced to 10-3 overall and 4-0 in Region 7 play.

Paulding County 102, East Paulding 95: The Patriots beat East Paulding at their own game behind junior Tyron Summerour’s 32 points and 11 rebounds. Tommy Robinson finished with 13 points and 18 rebounds while Michael Seymour added 10 points and 6 assists.

South Effingham 61, Groves 56: Derrick Newberry and Ryan McGee scored 15 apiece while Amari Gaines added 10 points to help the Mustangs past Groves.

Class AAAA

McIntosh 73, No. 1 Sandy Creek 66: In Peachtree City’s biggest rivalry, Cole Guenther shined, scoring 22 points to stun the Patriots. Joseph Cummings scored 15 points and Chaz Hardin had 13 points and 12 assists in the win while Bruce Carpenter had 8 points.

No. 4 Richmond Academy 64, No. 10 Baldwin 57 OT: Moses Williams (20), DT Stephens (21) and Jason Weaver (10) carried the Musketeers past Baldwin after receiving a Jacobi Wood layup to tie the game and force OT.  The Braves were led by Donte Justice (13) while both Torez Hicks and Brenden Robertson scored 11 apiece.

No. 6 LaGrange 79, Central-Carroll 64: Laperion Perry bounced back with 23 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. Bo Russell had 14 points and 5 rebounds.

No. 9 Perry 68, Crisp County 61: Damion Bagley scored 17 points while Jake Smith added 13. Jabari Rucker chipped in 12 in the win. Crisp County was powered by Quantavious Dean’s 22 points.

Blessed Trinity 55, Westminster 50: Blessed Trinity defended its home court and survived a 13-point night from Paris Howland of Westminster. Mikael Sampson had 10 in the loss. Ben Shappard scored a game-high 23 for the Titans. CJ Abrams added 13. Blessed Trinity went 18-of-23 from the line in the fourth quarter to ice the game.

Sonoraville 69, Pickens 62: Bryce Waters led the Phoenix with 22 points while Wil Walraven (17) and Brad Wilson (13) also contributed. Blake Gorth scored 23 points and 9 rebounds. Hunter Hermann had 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Cartersville 48, Cedartown 44: Jaylon Pugh netted 22 points to lead the Hurricanes past an upset-minded Cedartown group on the road.

Class AAA

No. 1 Westside-Macon 71, Southwest-Macon 63: Westside survived a plucky bunch from Southwest in a crosstown rivalry. Khavon Moore scored 27 points and had 11 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks to lead the Seminoles, helping Westside outscore Southwest 26-16 in the fourth quarter to pull away. Trey Foster scored 14 and had 4 assists and 9 steals and Terric Allen had 12. Samone Reed chipped in 10 points. Southwest was led by Aaron Ridley’s 27 points and Jordan Slocum’s 11.

No. 7 Central-Macon 71, Pike County 51: Antarius McCoy had 17 points to lead the Chargers. Tyrice Paul added 16 points and 9 assists, building off his All-Tournament selection at the Lake City Classic. Kylan Hill had 13 points and 9 rebounds. Wanya Thomas (11) and Dewan Owens (8) both chipped in.

Jackson County 68, Commerce 58: Christian Smith scored 14 points in the win for the Panthers. Tristan Boyer netted 18 in the loss for the Tigers.

North Hall 60, Dawson County 55 OT: The Trojans moved to 10-7 overall on the season after edging the Tigers. Alden Lewallen scored 14 points and Evan Easton had 11 to lead the way.

Hart County 67, East Jackson 64: Zay Clark scored 23 points to lift Hart County. Kobe Haley scored 18 and Jace Bonds netted 17 to lead the Eagles.

Class AA

No. 4 Monticello 67, Oglethorpe County 53: Malik Crawford scored 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for the Hurricanes. Matthew Lawson netted a team-high 18 points and Ashton Bonner scored 11.

Elbert County 57, No. 9 Putnam county 40: The Blue Devils upset Putnam County behind AJ James’ 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. Five other players finished with 6 points for Elbert County.

Dodge County 69, Northeast-Macon 62: Nick Cummings (20), Demarcus Caines (19) and Demonte Ivey (14) led the way.

Class A-Private

No. 4 St. Francis 63, Fellowship Christian 29: Dwon Odom had 16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals to lead the Knights. CJ Riley scored 11. Wallace Tucker had 8 points. Sean Paradise posted 8 points and 6 rebounds while Chase Ellis notched 4 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists.

No. 5 Aquinas 74, Taliferro County 33: Tre Gomillion went for 31 points, 18 rebounds and 2 blocks in the rout. Trent Bowdre had 11 points and 6 assists. Jelani Shakir added 10 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. Dajuan Hill finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds.

No. 6 Holy Innocents’ 84, Lovett 83 OT: Richard Surdykowski made a putback with 20 seconds left to give the Golden Bears the lead for good.

No. 7 Lakeview Academy 74, Hebron Christian 69: Josh Randolph went for 25 points and 11 rebounds to hold off Hebron Christian. Evan Pitts added 13 points while KJ Millwood and Tre Gober scored 10 apiece.

Class A-Public

Lincoln County 78, Lake Oconee Academy 23: Maciah Gunby fueled the Red Devils with 26 points and 8 assists. Javon Reid posted 16 points and 8 rebounds.            


GIRLS

Class AAAAAAA

Lassiter 35, North Paulding 31 OT: Taylor Smith and Grace Karas scored 9 apiece to lift the Trojans. Jordan Isaacs had 15 for North Paulding.

Class AAAAAA

No. 2 Winder-Barrow 53, 5ANo. 2 Flowery Branch 45: Winder-Barrow finally got its long awaited revenge against Flowery Branch after dropping to them twice earlier in the year. Taniyah Worth did everything she could to carry the Falcons, posting 30 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Lexie Sengkhammee added 10 points. Olivia Nelson-Ododa led the Bulldoggs with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

No. 7 Sequoyah 70, Osborne 39: Alyssa Cagle dropped 19 points to lead all scorers followed by Colby Carden’s 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Dacula 45, Peachtree Ridge 27: Alyssa Criscolo scored a team-high 16 for the Falcons. Kandy Brown added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks. Helena Lee scored 10 points and Chelsey Able finished with 7.

Creekview 41, River Ridge 28: Kennedy Cater led the Grizzlies with 16 points while Allison Luly added 12.

Class AAAAA

No. 4 Griffin 60, Spalding 36: Andeija Puckett hung 22 points and 14 rebounds to power the Bears. TyLeslie Johnson added 9 points and 7 rebounds.

No. 10 McIntosh 49, 4ANo. 8 Sandy Creek 44: Rylee Calhoun paced McIntosh with 17 points. DeLayne Rotolo added 15 and Savannah Soles chipped in 9.

Dutchtown 60, Jones County 39: Asia White scored 18 points in the win.

Cass 57, Woodland-Cartersville 23: Kyla Michienzi scored 17 points and Jana Morning finished with 9 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. Sharia Wade scored 8 and Ayleah Curtis had 7.

Class AAAA

No. 6 Northwest Whitfield 55, Dalton 41: Holly Heath scored a team-high 11 points to lead the Bruins. Nicole Bates, Bria Clemmons and Rylee Maret all scored 8 points. Hallie Brooker tossed in 7.

Pickens 62, Sonoraville 58: Torie Wilson had 15 points while Mykenzie Weaver posted 13 points, 4 assists and 2 steals to lead the Nettes. Mackenzie Hampton netted 8.

Class AAA

No. 1 Beach 60, Brunswick 51: Judasia Hill scored 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Madison Evans scored 14 points and Tatiannya Morris had 13 points and 4 steals. Maryanna Page contributed 9 points and 11 rebounds. Ja’Brekia Bass collected 4 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

No. 10 Central-Macon 57, Pike County 47: Jada Clowers finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks to anchor the Chargers. Tyleia Williams went for 16 points and 6 rebounds. JeNya Wilder scored 10 points and collected 4 steals. Jada Jackson hit three three-pointers for 9 points.

Franklin County 63, Morgan County 45: Mya Jones finished with a game-high 26 points while Asia Jones added 25. Ivey Ginn posted a 10-point 10-rebound double-double for the Tigers.

Jackson County 54, Commerce 31: Logan Cook scored a game-high 14 points for the Panthers. Marae Carruth scored 8 for the Tigers.

North Hall 55, Dawson County 44: Abi Chatham and Calli Watson both scored 8 points in the loss.

Class AA

No. 2 Rabun County 71, Stephens County 37: Tessa Matheson finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Hallie Reeves pitched in 12 points and 7 steals. Brooke Henricks added 11 points and 8 rebounds.

No. 3 Dodge County 60, Northeast-Macon 21: Tierra Hamilton outscored NE-Macon with her 25-point outburst.

No. 4 Fitzgerald 62, Coffee 43: Shalynn Thornton finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds while Kirstin Crook had 14 points and 5 assists. T’Kayshza King 11 points. Keyara Boone went for 7 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks inside.

No. 7 Dublin 72, Johnson County 39: Alexus Carr and Kesijah Wilcher scored 18 apiece to pace the Irish. Terrionna Rozier netted 14 and Jessica Hollis tossed in 12.

Class A-Private

No. 4 Greenville 68, Schley County 31: Brittany Davis poured in 36 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Class A-Public

No. 5 Woodville-Tompkins 62, PrivateNo. 7 Calvary Day 58: Antalazia Baker had 17 points and 6 steals for the Wolverines. Jazmin Grayson added 12 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals.

GHSA, Girls Basketball, Girls Rankings

Week 7 Girls Rankings

5 Comments

Class AAAAAAA

  1. Norcross (15-1)
  2. McEachern (9-5)
  3. Collins Hill (13-1)
  4. Mill Creek (14-1)
  5. Archer (11-3)
  6. Newton (10-2)
  7. Brookwood (11-4)
  8. Westlake (10-5)
  9. Lambert (12-2)
  10. Marietta (12-3) 

Class AAAAAA

  1. Harrison (11-2)
  2. Winder-Barrow (8-4)
  3. Douglas County (13-2)
  4. Lovejoy (12-2)
  5. Grovetown (10-5)
  6. Stephenson (10-5)
  7. Sequoyah (11-2)
  8. Northview (12-3)
  9. Forest Park (11-4)
  10. Gainesville (8-3) 

Class AAAAA

  1. Buford (11-0)
  2. Flowery Branch (12-2)
  3. Southwest DeKalb (12-4)
  4. Griffin (13-0)
  5. Warner Robins (13-0)
  6. Maynard Jackson (11-1)
  7. Carrollton (11-1)
  8. Villa Rica (12-1)
  9. Harris County (10-2)
  10. McIntosh (10-2) 

Class AAAA

  1. North Oconee (12-2)
  2. Carver-Columbus (13-1)
  3. West Hall (11-4)
  4. Cross Creek (11-4)
  5. Columbus (9-3)
  6. Northwest Whitfield (9-4)
  7. Americus-Sumter (11-2)
  8. Sandy Creek (8-3)
  9. Heritage-Catoosa (14-2)
  10. Henry County (11-5) 

Class AAA

  1. Beach (11-1)
  2. Johnson-Savannah (12-1)
  3. Greater Atlanta Christian (10-4)
  4. Hart County (12-2)
  5. Redan (9-2)
  6. Ringgold (11-4)
  7. Calhoun (12-3)
  8. Haralson County (10-3)
  9. Monroe (9-3)
  10. Central-Macon (8-3) 

Class AA

  1. Laney (12-1)
  2. Rabun County (13-1)
  3. Dodge County (10-2)
  4. Fitzgerald (7-0)
  5. Model (9-4)
  6. Vidalia (9-3)
  7. Dublin (7-3)
  8. Dade County (10-4)
  9. Bryan County (9-2)
  10. Hapeville Charter (9-4) 

Class A-Private

  1. Holy Innocents’ (12-1)
  2. St. Francis (8-4)
  3. Wesleyan (10-2)
  4. Pinecrest Academy (8-2)
  5. Lakeview Academy (11-4)
  6. Landmark Christian (9-3)
  7. Calvary Day (9-2)
  8. Tattnall Square Academy (8-4)
  9. Stratford Academy (8-3)
  10. Christian Heritage (6-4) 

Class A-Public

  1. Pelham (10-0)
  2. Wheeler County (12-1)
  3. Telfair County (10-1)
  4. Greenville (10-2)
  5. Woodville-Tompkins (11-3)
  6. Treutlen (8-3)
  7. Wilcox County (8-4)
  8. Taylor County (8-3)
  9. Macon County (6-3)
  10. Marion County (8-3) 

 

As they did on the boys side, holiday tournaments have tested some of the state’s best girls programs and in the process have both helped and hurt teams’ momentum heading into the heart of region play as the calendar year flips over to January 2017. In Class AAAAAAA, No. 2 McEachern overtakes No. 3 Collins Hill after the Indians went 4-1 in the Sandra Meadows Classic while the Eagles were blown out by national powerhouse Riverdale, TN 73-35 at the State Farm Classic. Mill Creek holds strong at No. 4 and looks like the best non-national team in the state behind the top three who travel all over the country. The Hawks continued to dominate in Georgia, winning the Sweet South Classic with victories over Hapeville Charter 61-49 and Spalding 56-43. Brookwood closed 2016 with authority, winning the Deep South Classic beating three teams that have been ranked over the course of the year in North Forsyth (47-44), Franklin County (66-49) and No. 9 Lambert (55-42). Hillgrove and Colquitt County fall out and are replaced by the Longhorns and first time entry into the Top 10, Marietta. Hillgrove lost to Lambert 53-50 at the Deep South Classic while Colquitt County lost to both Valdosta and Monroe. Marietta scored a 49-39 win over Creekview at the Campbell Holiday Classic before falling to Douglas County 77-58.

Mays has lost five straight games and now sits at 5-7 an unranked in Class AAAAAA. The Raiders have played a difficult schedule, going 0-3 at the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic and will need to regain their footing once they return to Georgia which is more than doable. Lovejoy rises to No. 4 as No. 5 Grovetown slipped against Cross Creek 57-51 at the Monterrey Christmas Classic. No. 3 Douglas County defeated No. 7 Sequoyah at the Campbell Holliday Classic 56-45. The Lady Chiefs also dropped to Creekview 36-33. Joining Mays on the unranked circuit is Jonesboro. The Cardinals finished 1-2 at the Grayson Ram Classic, losing 64-44 to Buford and 37-36 to Rockdale County. No. 9 Forest Park and No. 10 Gainesville crack the poll. Forest Park debuts after a 2-1 showing at the Balln Prep Invitational. The Red Elephants opened the year ranked but quickly fell out. They are back in after a 2-1 Lanierland, beating Chestatee 56-44, losing to West Hall 59-50 and defeating Lakeview Academy 65-55.

Region 8-AAAAA cruised in their respective tournaments with No. 1 Buford going 3-0 at the Grayson Ram Classic and No. 2 Flowery Branch winning Lanierland for the second straight season, beating West Hall 59-50 in the title game. Arabia Mountain stumbled against Spalding 47-37 and beat Hapeville Charter 41-35 but it wasn’t enough to hold off No. 10 McIntosh who makes a Top 10 appearance after winning the Mary Persons Tournament Championship and beating Perry 47-37.

Carver-Columbus is up to No. 2 in Class AAAA after a strong showing at the Balln Prep Invitational, but North Oconee still clings onto No. 1 with a 2-1 trip at the Carolina Invitational. No. 4 Cross Creek knocked off Grovetown 57-51, but West Hall still has the slight advantage over the Razorbacks for the No. 3 spot after beating East Hall (51-39) and Gainesville at Lanierland. Perry and Jefferson don’t survive the final week of 2016. Perry lost to McIntosh while Jefferson went 1-2 at the Carolina Invitational. No. 9 Heritage-Catoosa and No. 10 Henry County climb back into the poll. The Warhawks finished 2-1 at the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational. Keep an eye on unranked Burke County (7-4). The Bears picked up wins over ranked Class A-Private programs Tattnall Square Academy and Stratford Academy at the Tattnall Christmas Tournament. Burke County hosts Cross Creek tomorrow in both teams’ first Region 3 contest of the season.

In AAA, No. 6 Ringgold went 1-2 at the Beech Christmas Tournament while No. 4 Hart County earned two wins at the 9th annual McDonald’s Shootout before falling to Greenville, SC 75-44. Monroe slips three spots following losses to Rickards, FL (51-39) and Colquitt County (67-45). Central-Macon debuts at No. 10. The Lady Chargers are 8-3 coming off a Greenville Classic Championship, beating Class A-Public No. 4 Greenville 48-42.

Class AA has seen No. 5 Model not fully hit their stride yet. They went 1-2 at the Disney KSA event, losing to Pope 49-43 in the process. Dodge County hangs tight at No. 3 after a strong showing at the Volume Hyundai Classic at GSCU, losing in the championship to Class AAAAA No. 6 Maynard Jackson 54-50. No. 4 Fitzgerald moves up two spots and No. 7 Dublin moves up three spots while Heard County drops out after losses to LaGrange 43-37 and Troup County 44-24. No. 9 Bryan County sneaks back in the Top 10 at 9-2.

Holy Innocents’ claims No. 1 in Class A-Private as No. 2 St. Francis hasn’t been as dominant on the national circuit as they were last year, this time losing to Mercer County, KY 77-72. No. 5 Lakeview Academy disappointed at Lanierland going 1-2. They beat North Hall in the opening round 68-54, but were beat by Flowery Branch 70-48 and Gainesville 65-55. Fellowship Christian departs from the rankings after losing to Pickens and Gilmer at the Fannin County Christmas Tournament. No. 9 Stratford Academy jumps into the picture following a 50-34 win over Macon County.

Speaking of Macon County, after skyrocketing up to No. 6 last week in Class A-Public, their first week in the poll, the Bulldogs have dropped three straight and now find themselves at No. 9. They went 0-3 at the Tattnall Square tournament losing to Stratford, Fairview Christian Academy, TN and Carver-Atlanta. No. 2 Wheeler County went to Vidalia and won their tournament, beating the Class AA No. 6 in the process 68-56. Terrell County falls out after a 54-51 loss to Westover. Marion County takes a hold of No. 10.

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