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Girls Game Stories

Ogden and Chartrand carry No. 10 Westminster past No. 7 GAC

No. 10 Westminster 58, No. 7 GAC 54

Housed in one of the most competitive classifications in the state, defending Class 3A state champion No. 7 GAC (7-5, 6-1) took to the floor looking to secure first-place in Region 5 as they hosted No. 10 Westminster (10-1, 9-0) a young team off to a hot start building upon last season’s 20-win campaign, a 14-win increase from the year before. Paced by underclassmen, the Wildcats were able to grab a statement win on the road and roll into the final two weeks of the regular season unblemished in region play and primed to climb in the rankings.

Aside from an early corner jumper from Memphis-signee Laurren Randolph, it was all Westminster to start the game, jumping out to a 10-2 lead behind blue-chip sophomore Courtney Ogden.

The 6-foot-1 guard scored eight quick points as she attacked the lane and put the Wildcats ahead 12-7 late in the quarter, wheeling and dealing her way to a bucket.

While Ogden set the tone for the Wildcats, Kaleigh Addie did the same for the Spartans scoring seven points to trim the lead to 12-9 after one.

In the second quarter Addie and freshman Stella Chartrand traded buckets.

Addie streaked past Chartrand to close the gap to 25-24 with 1:42 to play.

But Chartrand couldn’t be stopped in the period, carrying Westminster with 17 of her 22 points in the stanza, helping the Wildcats maintain a 32-28 advantage at the break. Chartrand poured in three three-pointers and methodically worked her way to the hoop using back downs and spins to get free.

Trailing by eight mid-way through the third quarter, Addie dialed up a three to draw within five and then got a steal and a layup to make it 36-33 at the 2:31 mark.

The Spartans continued their charge, closing on a 9-2 run as Randolph cleaned up a late miss and sent GAC into the fourth quarter down 38-37.

Following an Addie free throw to knot the game at 38, Westminster responded with a 7-0 spurt spanning 1:50 to power ahead 45-38 with 3:32 left. Ogden scored the first five points, converting an And-1 scoop layup and then a floater to her left before outletting to Chartrand for a breakaway layup. As Addie tried to keep pace from the line, going 6-7 in the quarter, Ogden continued her surge. She scored on another And-1 floater to make it 48-42 with 2:38 remaining before a Jaci Bolden hard drive and left-hand layup made it 50-48 with just over 90 seconds left.

Chartrand answered on a driving layup in transition to make it 52-48 with 1:28 to play in favor of the Wildcats but missed her free throw on the And-1 opportunity to keep the door slightly ajar for the Spartans but Ogden would slam it shut seconds later, converting her third And-1 of the quarter to make it 55-48 with 55.9 left. Ogden would net 15 of her game-high 31 points in the final quarter including 7-7 from the line and 11-11 for the game.

Addie sank three free throws after being fouled on a three with 19.1 seconds remaining to trim the lead to 56-52, but Ogden would seal the game with a pair of free throws to remain unbeaten in Region 5.

My Take

Westminster is an interesting team. Based on their results against like opponents, it comes as no surprise that the game went down to the wire. I may have favored Westminster slightly heading into Wednesday night, but I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect as it was my first viewing of 6-foot-1 sophomore Courtney Ogden in a varsity setting after watching her play 17U and a much smaller role with FBC United over the summer. The four-star guard lived up to the hype and delivered in a big way. She was unguardable at times. With her size and strength Ogden can get to where she wants on the floor and has the touch and length to finish over defenders that try to check her. She loved to attack the rim and finished with five floaters and three timely And-1s. Ogden has great balance when attacking the hoop and can spin to free herself for open looks. What I liked best about her game was how efficient she was. She didn’t take very many bad shots and hardly ever settled for long perimeter jumpers. She was too quick and too skilled when GAC’s bigs checked her and she was too tall and physical when smaller guards tried their hand. Ogden poured in 31 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 5 blocks. She’s the type of player that can carry a team to a state title if she has a little bit of help and boy did she have it on Wednesday in 5-foot-9 freshman Stella Chartrand. Google Chartrand, I guarantee you won’t find much about her or at least I sure didn’t. Expect that to change with the way she played tonight, especially in the second quarter when Ogden caught a big breather on the bench. Chartrand plays with confidence, can handle the ball and score from multiple levels. While she’s not necessarily the type of guard that can rip through and beat her man off the dribble straight up with a quick move just yet, Chartrand likes to play an old-school punishing style of basketball that can be frustrating and get defenders off balance. When Chartrand attacks, she loves to back her way down and spin multiple times before losing her man. She has a nice touch around the basket and can score on little five-footers. Her perimeter shot is really what opened things up. She drilled three threes in the second quarter hitting one off a jab step in the corner and another off the dribble in rhythm. Chartrand is an aggressive player that can create things off the bounce. Defensively she got a handful of steals, but she struggled at times keeping her man in front of her, especially when it was a shifty guard like Kaleigh Addie. Chartrand finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals in one of the biggest games of her young career. Outside of Chartrand and Ogden is where things get interesting. The duo combined for 53 of their 58 points. If one of the two have an off night, I wonder about who can help pick up the slack. Westminster doesn’t have any creators outside of Ogden and Chartrand but where the rest of the roster does excel is defensively. The Wildcats have a few interchangeable pieces and can pick up full court. 5-foot-10 sophomore Evelyn Shores drew the assignment of defending Kaleigh Addie and did a nice job making things a little more difficult than usual. Shores along with 5-foot-9 sophomore Kiera Staude are two athletic and fairly long wings. They can defend multiple spots and switch defensively. While neither got a ton of steals, their footspeed and active hands helped disrupt the offense at times. If Ogden and Chartrand can consistently produce at a high level, I think Westminster’s defense is good enough to beat a lot of teams even if the supporting cast doesn’t score many points.

Kaleigh Addie worked hard for her 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 steals. She’s a bona fide star that has proven she can lead a team to a state title and take over in the biggest spots. Her quick first step really got her going as she was able to get into the teeth of the defense and finish with floaters or draw fouls. She went 9-11 from the line. Her quick hands on defense helped ignite the Spartans. Aside from Addie, GAC got support from Memphis-signee 6-foot-3 Laurren Randolph and 5-foot-6 junior Jaci Bolden. Randolph stretched the floor with two baseline jumpers. She’s still not a finished product, but her outside shooting and length is something that is covetable at the next level. She had 9 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block. Bolden was quiet, serving more as a facilitator as she tallied 7 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists and 1 steal. With as much as Addie handles the ball, I would have liked to see Bolden be more aggressive on offense. When she’s attacking with the ball in her hands it helps take a load off of Addie’s shoulders as a scorer. Bolden finished the game with a nice strong left-handed drive. More assertiveness like that will serve her well. At the end of the day, GAC just didn’t have an answer defending Ogden. Their bigs had a hard time staying in front and their guards were too small. There aren’t many players like Ogden in Class 3A, so learning how to defend her can only benefit the Spartans as they head into the state playoffs and attempt to defend their crown.

Top Performers

Westminster
Courtney Ogden – 31 points (11-11 FT), 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 5 blocks
Stella Chartrand – 22 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals

GAC
Kaleigh Addie – 27 points, 7 rebounds, 7 steals
Laurren Randolph – 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block
Jaci Bolden – 7 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, 1 steal

GHSA Basketball, Girls Basketball

Sandy’s Spiel Showcase Preview

Sandy's Spiel Showcase

1:30:  No. 8 ELCA (11-2) vs. North Cobb (13-6)

After dealing with players being in and out of the line early in the season, No. 8 ELCA has hit a groove, winning 7-straight heading into the Sandy’s Spiel Showcase. Clemson-signee Weronika Hipp remains one of Georgia’s top guards averaging 17.2 points and 4.2 assists while Eagle’s Landing transfer Jalisa Dunlap has provided scoring at 18.9 points per game. The 5-foot-10 guard has received interest from MTSU and Mercer. 5-foot-8 junior Keslynn Oxendine is working her way back from an ACL injury and is a third scoring threat. Much like ELCA, North Cobb is finding its stride as well. All six of their losses have come against ranked opponents. Lacking size, the Warriors rely on an experienced backcourt led by Alabama A&M-signee Azonya Austin (14 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.6 spg). Sharpshooting 5-foot-7 senior Sydney Thomas leads the Warriors in scoring at 16 points per game to go with her 4 rebounds and 2.5 steals. 5-foot-7 senior Madison Edge averages 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds while 5-foot-8 sophomore Dayuna Colvin chips in 7.5 points a night.

3:00: ELCA (6-8) vs. No. 8 GAC (12-6)

After being state title contenders a year ago, ELCA losing in the Class A-Private title game while GAC was bounced by rival and eventual state champion Morgan County in the Class 3A Sweet 16, both programs were decimated by graduation but have found ways to still compete at a high level. ELCA has turned to 6-foot-7 Rider-signee Jordan Smalls and blossoming 6-foot-8 big man Izzy Momodu to carry the load from the frontcourt while the Spartans use guards 6-foot-2 senior Cliff Baskerville (18 ppg) and 6-foot-2 junior LaMarr Randolph (15 ppg) to pace the offense. 6-foot-5 sophomore Josh Fulton averages 20 points per game but has missed six weeks due to injury. Veteran 6-foot-5 wing Cole Perusek has offers from Oglethorpe and Sewanee.

4:30: Hart County (9-9) vs. No. 1 Douglass (12-5)

The recipe for success last season in Douglass’ march to a Class 2A state title was playing a brutal non-region schedule to prepare them for the rigors of the state tournament. Coach Alana Allen has followed the same blueprint this year and after a challenging start to the year, finds themselves atop the poll in Class 2A and undefeated in region play. 6-foot-3 senior Ikenya King anchors the Astros inside averaging 16 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks. She just earned offers from Tallahassee CC and South Georgia Tech. 5-foot-5 senior Kayla Sesberry has had a breakout year averaging 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals while shooting 40% from deep. 5-foot-10 junior Ashuntee Weems is a high-upside guard averaging 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Ashley McKee rounds out the offense, a 5-foot-9 senior that chips in 8 points per game. Like how Douglass lost star Nekiyah Thompson (Jacksonville State), Hart County graduated Class 3A Player of the Year Torrion Starks. It will be a must-see matchup in the low post as 6-foot junior Taniya Alexander, already part of the 1,000-point & 1,000-rebound club, will battle with King inside. Alexander averages 17 points and 15 rebounds per game and has had D-I interest. 5-foot-7 senior Shakendra Grove will be important for Coach Mike Edwards. The long-range sniper is averaging 14 points per game, hitting 33% from deep.

6:00: No. 6 Hart County (17-1) vs. No. 8 Evans (13-3)

Both programs come off their best seasons in years as Hart County fell in the Class 3A title game following a 24-8 campaign while Evans ripped off a 24-5 record in Class 6A, their best in over a decade before losing to state runner-up Tucker in double overtime in the Sweet 16. All eyes will be on the matchup between 6-foot-4 junior Shone “Spud” Webb of Hart County and 6-foot-2 senior Christian Chambers. Webb has blossomed into the go-to guy for Hart County, posting 18.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists while doubling as a defensive stopper. Chambers is one of the CSRA’s best players and a top unsigned senior in Georgia, averaging 22.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals with offers from Fort Valley State, Columbus State, Maryville and Chattahoochee Valley CC. Evans will have to slow down burgeoning star 6-foot-7 freshman Tahj Johnson who pitches in 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. 6-foot-1 senior Demetrius Glenn is a deep-threat that averages 9.5 points to space out the Hart County offense. Evans has blue-collar guards in 5-foot-10 junior Joshton Mincey (12.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.8 spg), 6-foot-1 sophomore Brasen James (9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Alaska move-in 6-foot-3 junior Rashad King (8.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 apg).

7:30: Elbert County (12-6) vs. Lanier (10-9)

The defending Class 6A state champion Lanier Longhorns were derailed by graduation and injuries this offseason but are starting to click at the right time and are a legitimate threat to win Region 8 again after losing to No. 4 Dacula twice in heartbreaking fashion, 51-47 and 45-42. One of the hottest prospects in the southeast before her injury, 6-foot-3 high-academic senior center Christabel Ezumah, is back averaging 5.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks with a host of D-I/II offers. Twin tower 6-foot-1 Lizzie Campbell, who also dealt with injuries in the offseason, holds offers from Shorter, Truett McConnell, Johnson and Lincoln Memorial. She averages 5.5 points, 9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. 5-foot-8 senior Morgan Manley (8.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) has stepped up in a big way while 5-foot-6 senior Zuriyah Davis has shouldered the load offensively, posting 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Elbert County’s lone college-signee Maggie Campbell is headed to Anderson but re-tore her ACL. A young group of freshmen have had Elbert County playing exceptional basketball, making the future in Elberton extremely bright for Coach Josh Jones. Freshman Aaniyah Allen leads the way with 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 steals. Freshman Niya Moon averages 11.1 points and 4.4 rebounds while third-leading scorer, also a freshman, Terrace Hester scores 9.1 points on average.

9:00:  Elbert County (6-12) vs. St. Anne-Pacelli (10-7)

The graduation of eight seniors off last year’s Class 2A 28-4 semifinalist has Coach Don Hurlburt playing a young and inexperienced team that will rely on energy and toughness to win games. Senior DJ Ardister, junior Jaelin Webb and sophomore Jamil Burton are three players to watch for. St. Anne-Pacelli, much like Elbert County has since Hurlburt took over, has improved every season under Coach Corry Black. After a humbling 0-22 season in 2016-17, the Vikings have clawed their way back to relevancy with a 5-21 mark in 2017-18 before finishing 13-14 a year ago. Sitting at 6-5 in Region 4-A, the next step isn’t just finishing above .500 but making the state playoffs. A large 2021 class has the Vikings set up for the future led by bouncy 6-foot-5 wing Travis Harper (19.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and skilled 6-foot-5 forward Ian Mathews (17.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg). The addition of equally explosive highlight-maker 6-foot-3 junior Keyshawn Fleetion makes St. Anne-Pacelli must-see tv.

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Ten second half threes ignite No. 2 GAC in romp of No. 2 St. Pius X

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3ANo. 2 GAC 85, 4ANo. 2 St. Pius X 64

Two of Georgia’s best private school programs clashed at the X-Dome for No. 2 St. Pius X’s home opener. It was a game of runs, but ultimately the No. 2 ranked Spartans (1-3) unleashed a barrage of threes to notch their first win of the season, drilling 14 to race past the Golden Lions (2-2) in convincing fashion 85-64.

GAC got on the board first and led 4-0 as Ben Sheppard swooped in for a layup. The Golden Lions answered quickly with a 7-0 run using backdoor cuts. The three-headed backcourt of Hunter McIntosh, Belmont-signee Ben Sheppard and Roy Dixon quickly turned the tables using a frantic defense pressuring the passing lanes to turnover a usually efficient St. Pius.

A 13-0 run rapidly ballooned the Spartan lead to 17-7 with 1:30 remaining in the first period. Sheppard found McIntosh for a three-pointer at the buzzer to give GAC a 20-12 lead after one, a foreboding sign for how the rest of the night would play out.

At the 4:24 mark of the second quarter, GAC held a 27-15 lead and looked to land the knock out punch but St. Pius’ experienced seniors, Brian Gonzalo in particular, would have none of it. Freshman Chase Cormier nailed a corner three to help spark the Golden Lions before Gonzalo picked up a steal and completed an And-1 to cut the lead to 29-23 with 3:32 remaining.

St. Pius’ trademark full court press began to swarm the Spartans as Gonzalo fueled the comeback, scoring all 12 of his points in the frame and trimming the GAC lead to 31-29 with 1:52 left following a pair of Matt Gonzalo free throws.

The Spartans landed a counter punch as McIntosh and Baskerville combined for 12 points in the quarter to extend the lead to 38-31 before Matt Gonzalo hit a pullup jumper at the horn to head into the half down 38-33.

Over the next 16 minutes, the Spartans left no doubt that last year’s state title run wasn’t a fluke and that their 0-3 start to this season was. McIntosh and Sheppard traded three balls to quickly spark a 6-0 run that left the score at 44-33 at the 6:44 mark.

Sheppard, who played set-up man in the first half with six assists, began to hunt his shot in the third quarter and drilled a deep straight away three to push the lead back to eight after the Golden Lions dug in. Cormier answered from deep minutes later, once again cutting the Spartan lead to five, but again Sheppard dialed up a triple to make it a 55-47 game at the 2:25 mark.

Cole Perusek got in on the action and knocked down a three off a McIntosh assist to make it an 11-point game, the junior stepping up big with 13 points on the night off the bench.

In the quarter the Spartans buried six three-pointers led by Sheppard’s three and McIntosh’s pair, putting the game nearly out of reach with a 63-49 advantage heading into the fourth.

In a game of counter punches between heavyweights, Sheppard and the Spartans finally landed the knockout blow in the fourth quarter, hitting four more threes to finish with 10 over the final 16 minutes of the game. Sheppard’s fourth trifecta ran the score up to 68-49 with 6:28 remaining, another quick start to open a quarter with a 5-0 spurt.

Sheppard recorded a double-double in fitting fashion with 5:06 left to play, flipping to McIntosh for another three, Sheppard finishing the night with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals while McIntosh poured in a game-high 25 points to go with his team-best 7 rebounds.

 

My Take

It’s not often that St. Pius X gets ran out of their own gym, in fact it was the Golden Lions’ largest home loss since losing to Lithonia 55-44 in 2015. St. Pius showed flashes of their championship contending pedigree but 14 threes were just too much to overcome. With the question looming of who will replace Everett Lane’s scoring, the Gonzalo brothers answered the bell early on. Matt looked more aggressive over the first three quarters scoring 14 points, but was shutout in the fourth. Brian provided a massive lift in the second quarter and carried the Golden Lions with 12 points and outstanding defensive effort but was unable to sustain his production in the second half. The Golden Lions were a bit sloppy with the ball to open the game, GAC a half step quicker and playing the passing lanes which led to run outs. The Golden Lions eventually settled in but their early missteps helped the Spartans grow a 17-7 lead. St. Pius had few open looks but cashed in when available, freshman Chase Cormier logging important minutes with a pair of threes.

GAC will tell anyone that listens that they have the best three-guard backcourt in the state. They are definitely in the discussion especially when they are knocking down shots. The Spartans won’t lose too many games when they drill 14 threes. The season debut of Chris Hinton was a major lift. The All-American defensive lineman heading to Michigan has sweet feet, pouncing around the court like a nimble cat but with the frame of a bulldozer. He is still working his way into basketball shape but his presence immediately demands attention and his low post passing is a crucial element to brings another dynamic to Coach David Eaton’s offense. With all the attention on Hunter McIntosh, Ben Sheppard and Roy Dixon – rightfully so – it was the Spartan role players that really provided a lift. Production wise, GAC is about seven deep right now but that’s all they’ll need if Cole Perusek and Clifton Baskersville continue to play well. Perusek, a 6-foot-4 junior, provides energy on the glass and a versatile piece that can stretch the floor. He finished with 13 points off the bench while Baskerville, a junior guard, sank three threes en route to 13 points. Dixon had a quiet game offensively but played solid defense and helped the offense flow. McIntosh has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, credit his elite IQ for that. The recent Tulane-offeree is a jump shooting guard with size and a nose for rebounding. He plays well off of Sheppard who stole the show. After tallying six assists in the first quarter alone, the Belmont-signee decided to lead the charge from deep with his five second half triples. His 6-foot-5 size and length allows him to glide to the basket when attack the rim and shoot over smaller defenders on the perimeter. Now nearing full strength, GAC has the pieces in place to defend their state title and will continue to play one of the toughest schedules in the state to prepare themselves for March.

Top Performers

GAC
Hunter McIntosh – 25 points (5 threes), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Ben Sheppard – 21 points (5 threes), 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals
Clifton Baskerville – 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Cole Perusek – 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Roy Dixon – 6 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Chris Hinton – 4 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

St. Pius X
Matt Gonzalo – 14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
Brian Gonzalo – 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Riley Costas – 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block
Niko Broadway – 7 points, 3 assists
Patrick Snipes – 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Zach Ranson – 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks (Ejected 4Q)

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Girls Basketball, Girls Game Stories, Girls Recaps, Recaps

GHSA State Championship Recaps

March 7 – Macon Centreplex

Class AA

Laney Wildcats basketball

(G) R4 #1 Laney 63, R4 #2 Josey 40 The Wildcats ripped off a 12-0 run after trailing 16-15 to find the cushion they needed to blow past Josey for a fifth time this season and win their second-straight state title and 62nd game in-a-row. Alabama-signee De’sha Benjamin was unstoppable with 19 of her game-high 26 points in the first half when it mattered most. She finished with 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Laney led 29-20 at the half, holding the Eagles to 22.7% shooting. Jhessyka Williams tacked on 19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Jaiden Hamilton tallied 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists as the third head of the Wildcat attack. Josey finished just 29.5% from the field and 3-of-14 from deep. Tykedra Rolland (10) and Rhykeria Rolland (7) were held to 17 points total. Ebony Clark led the Eagles with 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Thomasville Bulldogs basketball

(B) R1 #1 Thomasville 66, R2 #3 Vidalia 31 It was a blood bath from the opening tip as the bigger and more athletic Bulldogs ran wild with a 13-0 start. Sloppy Indian ball-handling led to turnovers while lazy transition defense accounted for six Bulldog first half dunks. The Indians shot 4-of-24 from the field (16.7%) and 1-of-14 from deep in the opening half as the Bulldogs led 41-10 at the break. McDonald’s All-American and Mississippi State-bound forward Reggie Perry finished with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks. Vonterius Woolbright added 17 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds. Titus Wright had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Vidalia was led by Tahj Jones’ 10 points. The Indians finished 2-of-25 from three. Thomasville outscored Vidalia 40-20 in the paint and had 22 points off turnovers.

Class A-Public

Greenville Lady Patriots basketball

(G) #4 Greenville 73, #3 Marion County 52:  While Marion County came out double-teaming reigning Class A-Public Player of the Year and Mississippi State-signee Brittany Davis, the rest of the Lady Patriots picked up the slack, helping Greenville grab a 21-10 first quarter lead and building it to 43-26 at the break. Davis finished with 30 points (5-20 FG; 19-20 FT) 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 block in her final game. Freshmen Shabrica Leslie and Jabrika Leslie came up big, Shabrica posting 14 points and 5 rebounds while Jabrika had 12 points. Nuriyah Slaton finished with 8 points, 16 rebounds and 5 steals. The Lady Patriots grabbed 24 offensive rebounds and put up 26 second-chance points. Greenville out-rebounded the bigger Eagles 54-46. Marion County was led by Torriunna Myers’ 15 points. Jameisha Williams chipped in 8 points. Ansley Whitley battled for 7 points, 18 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks.

Wilkinson County Warriors basketball

(B) #3 Wilkinson County 71, #5 Montgomery County 68: The Blue Storm took over the Macon Centreplex again, as the Warriors completed the three-peat, captured their 10th state title in school history and their sixth in the last eight years. Wilkinson County survived a gutsy performance from senior wing Jahleel Wilson who nearly willed the Eagles past the Warriors who are now 10-0 in state title games. Wilson had 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 blocks as he carried the Eagles. Daveaun Coglin finished with 19 points but shot 7-of-24 from the field while Shaw Robinson, who scored 22 in the Final 4, finished 2-of-11 from the field with 5 points. Wilkinson County showed they could play a fast pace game, running up and down with the Eagles in the first quarter, taking a 21-18 lead after one. The two teams entered the half tied at 38. 6-foot-6 senior center Tylan Grable came off the bench to give Wilkinson County 11 points and 14 rebounds. Montgomery County fell behind 62-54 at the 2:44 mark of the fourth quarter but Wilson powered the team back into it, getting help from Daquan Jackson who netted two late hoops. Robinson came away with a steal and a layup to cut the lead to 67-66 with 29.2 seconds left. Having to foul, the Eagles sent Raequan Smith and Brandon Mayes to the line, who went 4-for-4. With 10.7 seconds left, Coach Christopher Owens drew up a three-point look for Robinson, who struggled all night. The guard that averaged 19 points per game on the season, shot an air-ball, sealing the Eagles’ fate. Wilkinson County was paced by Jaylen Lamar’s efficient night, shooting 9-of-14 from the field for 22 points. Devin Jones chipped in 12 points and 4 assists in the win. Montgomery County out-shot the Warriors 72-to-50, but Wilkinson County sank 50% of their shots while Montgomery connected at a 36.1% clip and just 3-of-18 from three.

March 8 – Macon Centreplex

Class AAA

Johnson Atomsmashers girls basketball

(G) R3 #2 Johnson-Savannah 62, R7 #1 GAC 50: The Atomsmashers atoned for last year’s state title game flop by locking down the paint and shutting down a potent GAC offense with three D-I commits. 6-foot-5 senior Giana Copeland swatted 7 shots in the first 6-plus minutes of the game and finished with 3 points, 12 rebounds and 12 blocks total.  GAC shot 1-of-15 in the first quarter and just 22.1% for the entire game.  Down 52-39 in the fourth quarter with 2:27 left, the Spartans finally made their move, sparking a 9-1 run to close to within 53-48 with 1:27 left. But from that point on, Bubbles Williams, J’Mya Cutter and Jasmine Thompson combined to go 9-of-10 from the line to ice it. Cutter finished with 19 points and 6 rebounds while Thompson added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Williams finished her career with 12 points and 4 assists. Caria Reynolds (Hofstra) led GAC with 13 points and 11 rebounds on 3-of-15 shooting. Taylor Sutton (MTSU) scored 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting and Wofford-bound forward Mary Martha Turner had 6 points and 18 rebounds. Kennedi Williams gave the Spartans a spark at guard with 10 points and 7 assists.

Greater Atlanta Christian basketball

(B) R7 #1 GAC 67, R3 #2 Jenkins 53: The Spartans turned a 25-20 halftime deficit into a state title under alumnus David Eaton. Ben Sheppard keyed a 24-point third quarter by sinking two of the Spartans’ four trifectas in the frame. Sheppard scored 8 of his 15 points in the quarter as the Spartans edged ahead with a 44-38 lead and would never trail again, bouncing back from a 15-1 run that gave Jenkins the lead at the half. Hunter McIntosh iced the game from the line in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his game-high 19 points in the final eight minutes including finishing 14-of-19 from the stripe. Michigan football-commit Chris Hinton piled in 12 of his 16 points in the second half and collected 4 rebounds and 4 assists in the process. Roy Dixon scored 13 points to help the cause. Jenkins was led by Sai Fisher’s 12 points and Mye’on Williams’ 11 points and 6 rebounds. Matthew Sams netted 10.

Class AAAAA

Buford Lady Wolves basketball

(G) R8 #1 Buford 60, R8 #2 Flowery Branch 49: Buford defeated Flowery Branch for the fourth time this season and seventh in the past two years as the Lady Wolves repeated as state champs and won their sixth title in school-history. Buford held Flowery Branch under the magic number of 50 — all three of the Wolves’ losses this season coming when they allowed over the half century mark. Michigan State-signee Tory Ozment poured in 15 of her game-high 28 points in the first half to go along with her 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Ebony Grant added 12 points. Flowery Branch was paced Alabama-signee Taniyah Worth who finished her career with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists before fouling out with 1:11 remaining down 60-48.  Caroline Wysocki struggled from the field going 1-of-7 to finish with 10 points.

Warner Robins Demons basketball

(B) R1 #1 Warner Robins 67, R5 #3 Miller Grove 64: In a tug-of-war game to finish a less than competitive week back at the Macon Centreplex, Jacolbey Owens drilled a three with 1.3 seconds left to give Warner Robins their first-ever state championship. Miller Grove got off to a hot start, up 15-6 in the first quarter behind eight quick Lorenzo Anderson points. At the end of one, the Wolverines held a 15-10 lead and kept Georgia State-commit Nelson Phillips scoreless. Phillips scored his first basket at the 5:31 mark with the Demons down 19-14 in the second quarter. At the half, Miller Grove maintained a slim 31-29 lead. While Phillips was 3-of-8 from the field, Jacolbey Owens led the charge with nine points but shot just 3-of-7 from the line. In the third quarter, Phillips flew in from the left baseline corner to throw down a one-handed put-back jam to push the Demon lead to 39-35. A Jaydon Norman layup capped a 12-2 run for Warner Robins, giving them a 43-35 lead at the 2:44 mark. The Demons carried a 51-44 advantage into the final frame, but Miller Grove would not go away. After a quiet third quarter, Anderson scored 8 of his team-high 19 points in the fourth. With 2:33 left on the clock, the Wolverines caught up to the Demons at 60-60. Owens was sent to the line where he was 3-of-10 at the time and as a team, Warner Robins was 18-of-32 at that point. Owens sank both free throws and did the same at the 1:54 mark to make it 64-60. The Demons finished 22-of-36 from the line (61.1%) while the Wolverines didn’t fare much better at 66.7% (16-of-24). Down four, Anderson got to the line and converted both attempts. Less than a minute late, Maurice Harvey, who finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, did the same, knotting the game up at 64 with 51 seconds remaining. The Demons held for one shot. Instead of getting the ball in the hands of star Nelson Phillips, who finished 6-of-15 for 16 points and 10 rebounds, Coach Jamaal Garman saw Owens control their destiny. Owens went to his left, pump faked, and sailed a three over the outstretched arm of TJ Stargell, drilling it — Warner Robins’ only made three of the game (1-for-11) — sending the crowd into a frenzy. Warner Robins went out to celebrate, but the Wolverines got a second chance at life, as the referees added 1.3 seconds back on the clock. Miller Grove’s final inbound heave was fumbled away, giving the Demons a state championship just 21 miles away from home. Owens finished with 24 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Jaydon Norman added 13 points and 5 rebounds. The Demons collected 18 points off turnovers and out-rebounded the larger Wolverines 43-to-36, grabbing 22 offensive rebounds. Miller Grove received 11 points from Terrence Edwards and 7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists from TJ Stargell.

March 9 – McCamish Pavilion

Class A-Private

Wesleyan Lady Wolves basketball

(G) #6 Wesleyan 61, #1 Holy Innocents’ 44  After beating the Wolves three times in the regular season, Holy Innocents’ kryptonite rared its ugly head again on the biggest stage. After blowing a 17-point lead last year in the title game, this time the Golden Bears trailed through out and lost to Wesleyan for the third time in the past four state championships. The Wolves’ repeat was led by Furman-signee Sutton West’s 17 points and 8 rebounds. AC Carter had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Old Dominion-signee Amaya Register scored 12 points and freshman Paige Lyons added 10 points and 6 rebounds. UGA-signee Kaila Hubbard finished her Holy Innocents’ career with 18 points and 4 rebounds.  Jada Farrell  had 13 points and 9 rebounds while freshman Jillian Hollingshead tallied 5 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks. Kennedy Suttle, a Penn-signee that had 16 points and 13 rebounds in last year’s final, was held to 4 points and 7 rebounds. As a team, the Golden Bears shot a woeful 27.1% from the field.

(B) #6 Aquinas 65, #4 St. Francis 60: St. Francis missed three three-pointers in the final 33 seconds as Aquinas won their first-ever state title. The Knights led 33-26 at the half, weathering a 12-to-4 foul count and a 13-of-15 free throw shooting effort, but in the third quarter, the game came to a screeching halt. The Irish outscored St. Francis 25-to-9 in the third as both Tre Gomillion and Trent Bowdre scored 8 apiece in the quarter. As a team, the Irish connected on 10-of-12 field goals in the third after shooting 6-of-19 in the first half. Aquinas controlled a 51-42 lead heading into the fourth. Dwon Odom scored nine of his game-high 22 points in the quarter. At the 6:47 mark of the fourth quarter, the Irish held a 55-48 lead. The Knights fought back and cut the deficit to 61-60 after Odom collected a steal and drained a three-pointer in transition with 48.7 remaining. The Knights had Daniel Parrish trapped in the corner on the press, but were called for a foul that sent the South Carolina move-in to the line. Parrish missed the front-end of the one-and-one, giving the Knights one last look with 8.9 seconds showing on the clock. Coach Drew Catlett designed a misdirection play that found CJ Riley open in the corner for a good look, but his three-pointer was off and Parrish secured the rebound, knocked down both free throws and clinched the title. As a team, the Irish went 24-of-27 from the line. St. Francis opened up 15-7 in the first quarter going 4-of-9 from deep, but finished just 6-of-26 for the game. Gomillion led Aquinas with 16 points and 14 rebounds after having just four points at the half. Dajuan Hill added 15 points and 5 rebounds while Parrish (14) and Bowdre (10) each hit double figures. Riley finished with 18 points and 4 assists for the Knights. Chase Ellis was quiet with 10 points.

Class AAAAAA

Lovejoy Lady Wildcats basketball

(G) R4 #1 Lovejoy 57, R6 #1 Harrison 41: Lovejoy used a 12-0 run to start the fourth quarter, outscoring the Lady Hoyas 23-to-5 to gain control and win their first-ever state title. After being held to 1-point in the first half, Genesis Bryant scored nine in the third quarter to spark the Wildcats, but Lovejoy still trailed 36-34. In the fourth quarter, it was fellow sophomore Anaya Boyd’s turn to carry the load. Boyd finished with 20 points and 5 rebounds, scoring nine in the fourth quarter. Bryant finished with 14 points. Avanna Preston scored 8 points while Kayla Brown collected 8 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Wildcats cut down on their turnovers after committing 12 in the first half and finished with 16 on the night. Harrison turned it over 17 times, seven times in the second half. The Lady Hoyas were led by GCSU-signee Harper Vick’s 10 points and 4 assists. Sarah Woghiren had 8 points and 7 rebounds. Eastyn King and Amara Newsom each had 6 points. UAB-signee Audrey Jordan fouled out and was held to just three shot attempts, finishing with 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Langston Hughes Panthers Basketball

(B) R5 #1 Langston Hughes 85, R8 #1 Gainesville 78: In front of alumnus Deshaun Watson, Gainesville led by as many as 14 points at 42-28 at the 2:05 mark of the second quarter and carried a 45-38 lead into the half, but the Panthers of Langston Hughes would not be denied, as Coach Rory Welsh and company repeated as state champs. Saddled with foul trouble the entire game, the Red Elephants were able to control the tempo and slice up the Panthers defense in the first half. Kajuan Hale scored 13 of his 15 points in the half while Gainesville made Virginia Tech-signee Landers Nolley work for everything he got, scoring 16 points but also facilitating with five assists. Down seven points, Langston Hughes needed players other than Nolley to step up. Tyrel Morgan scored eight of his 14 points in the first half to provide support, but Tyler Smith was quiet with just three points and two rebounds.  Following a dormant opening 16 minutes, Smith brought a spark, scoring eight points in the third as the Panthers surged past Gainesville to take a 65-59 lead into the fourth. Gainesville’s final lead of the game came at the 2:16 mark of the third quarter up 57-56.  Middle Tennessee State-signee KJ Buffen scored all 13 of his points in the first half but sat in the second with foul trouble, only managing to take two shots in the second half. Not tested since their 83-81 comeback win at Buford on January 20, the Red Elephants faced adversity for the first time in a long time.  At the 1:47 mark of the fourth, Langston Hughes captured their largest lead of the game at 78-67 after a Tyler Smith And-1 and a technical foul on Brent Kelly that gave Nolley a pair of freebies. Instead of rolling over, the Red Elephants fought back in Coach Benjie Wood’s final game on the Gainesville sidelines. Bailey Minor completed a 4-point play, Hale split a pair of free throws and Rafael Rubel finished a layup to make it 78-74 with 1:13 remaining in the blink of an eye. Rubel would then add a three to make it 80-77 with 48 seconds to play, but that would be as close as the Red Elephants would get as Langston Hughes went 8-of-9 from the foul line in the fourth quarter. Nolley finished his illustrious career with three state titles — two in Georgia and three in a row including a sophomore championship campaign at Curie, IL. The future Hokie poured in 34 points (17-of-20 FT), 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Smith added 17 points. Gainesville was led by Minor’s 17 points. Rubel chipped in 12 points.

March 10 – McCamish Pavilion

Class AAAA

Spalding Lady Jaguars basketball

(G) R2 #1 Spalding 58, R4 #1 Henry County 46: Sophomore forward Corriana Evans exploded for 19 points and 17 rebounds as the Jaguars raced past Henry County. Kirah Milner scored 9 points and Kiana Banks added 8 points and 9 rebounds. In the loss, Auburn-signee Brooke Moore had 21 points. Amaiya Jackson tallied 10 points and 8 rebounds. As a team, the War Hawks shot 6-of-29 from deep and 26.8% overall.

Upson-Lee basketball

B) R2 #1 Upson-Lee 70, R8 #1 St. Pius X 54: 63-straight. The Knights repeated as state champions, racing past the Golden Lions in the second half after trailing 33-32 at the break. With JaCorey Smith suspended, junior guard Jarrett Adderton stepped up. In his first showdown with the Golden Lions after transferring in from Florida in the off-season, the 6-foot-2 sparkplug provided the Knights with 16 points (7-11 FG) — 10 in the first half — 5 rebounds and 5 assists. St. Pius held their largest lead of the night at 33-25 after back-to-back Everett Lane threes with 1:04 left in the second quarter, but the Knights closed on a 7-0 run, capped by an Adderton block which led to a Tye Fagan layup with two seconds left. The Golden Lions drilled 5-of-14 threes in the first half and got eight points from Troy Stephens. But in the second half, the Knights slammed the door shut, St. Pius going 1-of-9. With the deep ball not dropping, the Golden Lions still harassed the Knights and trailed 44-40 with 1:19 left in the third before a Fagan layup and an Adderton jumper pushed the lead to 48-42 heading into the final quarter. In the fourth, the Knights ran wild as the Golden Lions’ tank was on E. A 14-2 run saw contributions from everyone, growing the lead to 64-47 with 2:49 showing on the clock. Fagan, a MTSU-commit, finished his high school career with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. Travon Walker helped the Knights dominate the paint for a second-consecutive time against the Lions, collecting 11 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks as the Knights out-rebounded St. Pius 43-to-28, blocked 11 shots and outscored St. Pius 40-28 in the paint. Zyrice Scott netted 14 points to go with his 4 rebounds and 5 assists. The X-factor in last year’s game, Everett Lane, finished with 11 points to pace the Golden Lions. Cameron Traylor drew the defensive duties and helped keep Lane in check as he took his first shot attempt at the 6:46 mark of the second quarter. Matt Gonzalo had 8 points and 4 assists while Zach Ranson added 9 points. The Golden Lions scored 19 points off 18 Upson-Lee turnovers. The Knights now await a call from the GEICO Nationals.

Class AAAAAAA

Westlake Lady Lions basketball

(G) R2 #1 Westlake 60, R8 #1 Newton 45: Westlake led 39-32 at the end of three and pulled away late to claim their first state title. Anastasia Warren poured in 22 points while freshman Raven Johnson had 15 points and 11 rebounds including grabbing her own missed free throw and finishing a bucket inside to put the game out of reach at 50-41 with 1:13 remaining. Taylor Hosendove added 10 points and 6 rebounds. Newton was powered by Jurnee Smith’s 25 points and 6 rebounds. Lexii Chatman added 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Meadowcreek Mustangs basketball

(B) R7 #2 Meadowcreek 56, R7 #1 Norcross 43: For a second straight season, Norcross entered the state title game with momentum and labeled a slight favorite, but again it wasn’t in the cards. After beating Meadowcreek  three times this season, twice on buzzer-beaters, the Blue Devil magic ran out as the Mustangs used a 13-1 run to open the fourth quarter and squeeze Norcross into submission, capturing their first-ever state championship. Dequarius Nicholas scored 10 of his game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, going 5-of-6 from the foul line. Brandon Boston fouled out at the 6:10 mark with Meadowcreek up 38-37. With Boston’s 13 points on the bench, the Mustangs outscored Norcross 18-6 the rest of the way. Kyle Sturdivant finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds, but his late-game heroics never came into play. Meadowcreek pounded the interior all night, outscoring the Blue Devils in the paint 30-to-16. Duquesne-signee Amari Kelly posted 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks while Detroit-signee Cory Hightower put up 6 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Meadowcreek closed out the game with a bang at the 1:55 mark as freshman Kedrick Green delivered a behind-the-back pass to Jamir Chaplin for a big slam to make it 46-37.

Chaplin finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds while Green added 5 points. Meadowcreek tallied 12 assists on the night compared to just two for the Blue Devils. As a team, Norcross was held to 31% shooting. UGA-signee JoJo Toppin had 8 points and 7 rebounds while Issa Muhammad managed 4 points and 4 rebounds. Norcross shot 1-of-14 from three.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball

12-8 Top Games Preview

Norcross-CHillNo. 4 Norcross (4-1) at No. 6 Collins Hill (4-0)
The power struggle atop Region 7-AAAAAA officially begins as two early favorites to win the crown do battle. The Eagles nipped Norcross in their first meeting early last year 70-68 before the Blue Devils went on a rampage and finished 13-1 in the region. Size has always been a crucial advantage for Norcross with 6-foot-8 towers Rayshaun Hammonds and Lance Thomas, who can score inside and out. But this year, the Eagles have added some imposing size of their own down low. AJ Cheeseman is a 6-foot-6 power forward that has signed to play at New Orleans. Chris Parks is only a sophomore, but he is a big active body at 6-foot-5 and can mix it up with the longer Blue Devils. Kai Lambert, JD Ozoh and TeShaun Hightower must be X-factors and hit open shots for Collins Hill if they want to slow down Norcross, who features strong guard play of their own in Kyle Sturdivant, Jordan Goldwire and Chris Curlett.

Gaines-CedarNo. 2 Gainesville (3-0) at No. 5 Cedar Shoals (7-0)
Region 8-AAAAA has quietly blossomed into one of the best regions in the entire state behind Gainesville, Cedar Shoals and No. 6 Heritage, not to mention the always ready to take over a game, Butler signee Kamar Baldwin of Apalachee. This matchup will be the Jaguars first major test of the season. Gainesville has defeated 2A No. 2 St. Francis (without Kobi Simmons) 70-58 at the Jared Cook Classic and rallied from down 11 at the half to knock off Heritage, 85-79 last week. Georgia State signee D’Marcus Simonds poured in 26 points in the comeback while Bailey Minor added 20. The Red Elephants have plenty of pieces and can beat teams in a variety of ways. KJ Buffen is a blossoming star forward, Tae Turner is a Lakeview Academy transfer and Messiah Dorsey and Xavier Bledson have both hit big shots over their career. Phlan Fleming is usually the focal point of the offense for Cedar Shoals from his wing position, but Snipe Hall, Jerrick Mitchell and big man Stavion Stevenson have brought the Jags to the next level with their balanced play.

Pace-GACNo. 5 GAC (4-3) at No. 2 Pace Academy (0-2)
Don’t let the record fool you. Pace may be winless but they have held on tight to their No. 2 ranking for good reason. A 7-point loss to 6A No. 1 Westlake and a 56-44 loss this past weekend at Adidas Xplosion to 1A No. 1 Greenforest are as good of losses as you can get. Class of 2017 No. 1 overall player according to many pundits, Wendell Carter Jr., is a beast inside at 6-foot-10. He can handle the ball, shoot from the outside, protect the paint and may be the state’s best rebounder. Shooters Zack Kaminsky and Caleb Holifield are lethal from the outside while Isaiah Kelly brings an active 6-foot-8 body inside to pair with Carter. GAC is working its way back to full strength. Leading scorer Brian Coffey Jr. will try to give it a go at point guard after injuring his knee last week. Garrett Covington can do everything with the basketball and causes matchup problems from his off-guard position. Jacob Hoffman came down with an ankle injury in a 75-67 overtime win over rival No. 6 Holy Innocents, but when healthy, he is one of the best shooters in the state. Freshman guard Hunter McIntosh is tough to rattle as shown when he poured in 27 points in Coffey’s absence. Charlie O’Briant stands 6-foot-8 and will be a game-time decision after a severe laceration to his lip. He and big man Chris Hinton, 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, will need to put a body on Carter the entire game and try to push him outside like Greenforest did successfully.

Grayson-BerkmarGrayson (5-0) at Berkmar (3-3)
There is a long line of talented teams waiting to crack the top ten in Class AAAAAA. Berkmar opened there, but quickly dropped out. Grayson now might be the next in line to seize the opportunity. Some of the best guards in the state will be going head-to-head in this Gwinnett County Region 8 slugfest. Austin Dukes and Alphonso Willis is a pair of lethal senior guards for Coach Geoffrey Pierce’s team. Dukes scored 23 points and handed out five assists in a 58-52 win over Centennial. There also is some balance behind these two guards. Trey Sconiers, Kenyon Jackson and Hafeez Anifowoshe are all important contributors scoring and rebounding the ball. Berkmar relies of Indiana-commit Al Durham to cook up offense. The lanky yet smooth southpaw can drive the lane and burry deep threes. Running mates Jay Estime, Darius Harrison, Josh Faulkner, Leroy Jones IV and Lane Foster make the Patriots extremely deep on the perimeter.

Hughes-PebblePebblebrook (3-4) at Langston Hughes (6-1)
Make no bones about it, Region 3-AAAAAA is the most athletic and exciting region in the state bar none. Expect the points to drop at a neck breaking pace and get your popcorn ready because there will be highlights galore night in and night out, especially when Pebblebrook rolls into town. At 3-4, the Falcons are much better than their record shows and are loaded with D-1 talent in Auburn signee Jared Harper, Collin Sexton and JJ Smith. Those three are the straws that stir the drink. They like to run-and-gun and pull up for deep threes, but they can be susceptible to breakdowns on defense. Harper averages over 30 points per game and Sexton went for 40 points in a 96-94 heartbreaking loss to 2A No. 2 St. Francis at Adidas Xplosion, in which the guards forgot to rotate back on Harper’s shot with 8 seconds left, allowing St. Francis to pitch the ball ahead for an uncontested Kobi Simmons dunk with 1.1 seconds remaining. Coach Rory Welsh likes to run his inverted flex offense which can pick teams apart if they aren’t fundamentally sound on defense. Junior guard Khalil Cuffee has D-1 written all over him. He may not be as flashy as his counterparts, but his steady game and his pure three-point stroke make him hard to stop. He is averaging 18.4 points per game and gets help from Derrick Cook (16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists) and Justin Jones (10.6 points). Isaiah Green can be an X-factor with his toughness inside and his knack for doing the dirty work.