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Oconee County spoils Jackson County senior night in OT

Oconee County 47, Jackson County 45 OT

It was an electric crowd for Senior Night
It was an electric crowd for Senior Night

One of the state’s biggest turnarounds, Jackson County (15-10, 7-5), looked to send off its seniors in style against Oconee County (8-16, 4-8) Friday night. Panther Indoor was packed, the 1966 girls basketball team was being honored and all the pomp and circumstance had electricity in the air, but in the end it was the Warriors stunning the Panthers and spoiling Senior Night, 47-45 in overtime.

Jackson County, coming off of a 4-22 season and winless region record, took Region 8 by storm this year by surprising everyone and running as the No. 2 seed late into the season behind defending state runner-up, No. 1 Morgan County. A win would clinch the No. 2 seed heading into the region tournament and a loss would slip the Panthers to third-place behind rival East Jackson who Jackson County swept in emotional fashion. One win in the region tournament and the Panthers will go dancing for the first time in 14 years, breaking a spell that has seen Jackson County absent from the post season picture for over a decade.

Before focusing in on the looming tournament, the Panthers still had work to do as they welcomed Oconee County. A potential trap game heading into the most important week of the season, the Warriors had fallen at home to Jackson County 49-47 on Jan. 12 and challenged the Panthers despite their sub-.500 record.

After coming out and mobbing with the crowd known as one of the best sixth men in the state, the Panthers came out roaring up 8-0.  The Warriors would get their footing but not before Jackson County took a 14-7 lead into the second quarter after Malique Wade drove the lane and whipped a pass inside to Mitchell Mershon for a basket at the buzzer.

Rahul Das came in off the bench for Oconee County in the first quarter and gave the Warriors a spark scoring four of his six points in the first period while finishing with a team-high 12 rebounds on the night. Das’ play helped loosen others up around him in the second quarter. Roques Dowdy, an athletic wide receiver on the football team, scored five points in the second quarter and helped the Warriors close to within 16-14, but Coach Chuck Butler’s team responded with a 6-0 run to push the lead back out to 22-14 with 53.1 seconds left in the first half. The score held entering halftime following a poor final play by the Warriors, holding the ball for the last 40 seconds and coming away with a last second one-handed heave.

The third quarter began with whistles on both sides. Jackson County, known for its gritty play, didn’t back down from any of the more athletic Warrior guards swooping to the paint. Jase Latty took a pair of charges – the senior’s calling card – and helped get the Panthers in the bonus half way through the quarter.

As Latty and company were sacrificing their bodies on defense, Joel Ellis began to eat away at the Oconee County interior. The burly undersized center gnawed away inside for eight points in the third and finished with a game-high 19 points and 11 rebounds. The lead held steady at an eight point margin and eventually cracked double digits when the Panthers carried a 36-26 advantage into the fourth quarter, but from there on out Jackson County could not extend the lead while free throws began to haunt them.

With 5:01 left in regulation the Panthers still maintained a 10-point lead at 38-28 before the Warriors began their slow climb back into the game. Dowdy found Chance Peden for three to make it 38-31 with 4:22 left. Das made it 38-33 with 2:48 remaining, creeping closer. Stephen Fogarty slung a pass inside to Ellis to extend the lead back to seven but the very next possession it was Peden again, who scored eight of his team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter, answering the bell.

Trailing 41-38, Peden was sent to the line. The senior missed both free throws but Das managed to tip the ball back outside to Peden who had floated to the three-point line where he buried a three to tie the game at 41 with 1:15 left.

Wade found Ellis down low for a bucket to regain the lead 43-41 with 43 seconds to play, but once again it was Peden getting to the hoop and tying the game with 23 seconds left in regulation. Jackson County had a chance to win it when Wade attacked and kicked it to Latty for three but the shot went wide and the game sent to overtime knotted at 43.

After being held to 26 points through the first three quarters, the Warriors broke the levy and poured in 17 in the fourth to Jackson’s 7. The Panthers had opportunities to shut the door but couldn’t do it from the foul line, going 3-of-10 in the fourth quarter led by Wade’s 1-of-6 as the guard couldn’t find a good grip on the ball.

Momentum had clearly swung into Oconee County’s corner, but the Warriors were still in search of their first lead of the game. They nearly had it at the 2:50 mark when Ty Paschal came away with a steal and went up for a wide open layup. Instead, it looked as if someone from the Jackson County fan section blowdarted him, causing him to slip, stumble and end up tossing the ball up in the air while he hit the ground.

The calamity of a fastbreak might have swayed momentum back into Jackson’s favor as it looked like the basketball gods weren’t going to let the hard working group of seniors end their careers with a loss on their home floor.

But It wasn’t in the cards.

The free throw woes continued with Latty missing a pair. With 2:22 to play, Dowdy streaked to the basket to give Oconee County its first lead of the game, 45-43. Preston Giroux, one of seven seniors, whirled in the lane and banked in a tough shot to deadlock the game with 1:28 to go, his 13th point to go along with his game-high 13 rebounds.

Oconee County held the ball and looked for a last shot with the ball in Dowdy’s hands. He finally made his move with six seconds after weaving around the defense. Dowdy slid to the cup, avoided Ellis and layed in the go-ahead basket with just 4.5 seconds left.

Coach Butler got a timeout with 3.8 left underneath the Oconee County basket. They riffled in a pass to halfcourt and called another timeout with 3.6 to play, setting up a decent location to draw up one final play. Latty bulleted a pass into Ellis on the left elbow. Ellis turned and fired but his shot was amiss and the ball went back to the Warriors with 0.8 remaining. Dowdy missed both free throws, allowing one last Hail Mary heave for the Panthers but their prayers were not answered as it went wide left.

My Take: My final regular season game of the year couldn’t have been a better choice. Jackson County was electric on Senior Night, a program that has risen from the ashes since Chuck Butler took over full-time last year. The student section was the best I’ve witnessed all season long and the most in-tune with their team. The Panthers opened the night coming out of the locker room and jumping into the fan section, mobbing each other for one last time before going to war. Even during the pre-game warm ups, the Panthers’ defensive slide drill which ends in all 10 players diving in unison for a simulated loose ball was a spectacle to behold and really revved up the home crowd. As far as the action on the court, the Panthers do not wow you with size, speed or athleticism. What they do wow you with is their heart and tenacious play. Coach Chuck Butler installed the E.A.T. motto “Effort, Attitude, Toughness”. All were on display as the undersized and unheralded Panthers fight for every possession, nothing given to them. They are difficult to drive the lane on because almost everyone on the roster is eager to step in and take a charge on the chest. Jase Latty has turned it into an art form while Stephen Fogarty isn’t afraid to take the beating as a guard. Preston Giroux and Joel Ellis were the Panthers’ go-to guys tonight. The two combined for 32 points and 24 rebounds. Giroux is adept at getting to the basket while Ellis pounds his way inside, very patient using as many pump fakes as needed before gathering himself and finishing down low. Christian Smith battled foul trouble all night, really hurting the usually balanced attack. Malique Wade had an off game offensively but played a good floor game collecting five assists.

Oconee County did what it needed to do against Jackson; hang around. Jace Bonds hit three timely three-pointers and Roques Dowdy had the game-winner, but big men Chance Peden and Rahul Das did the most damage. Das entered the game and made an impact immediately. He finished with six points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Jackson County struggled keeping him off the glass as he was able to get a hand on nearly every ball that ricocheted off the rim. Peden came alive in the fourth quarter with 10 points and carried the load with two big threes and the lay up to tie the game at 43 and send it to overtime. Jackson County and Oconee County will meet one final time in the Region 8 tournament. Win and advance, or lose and go home. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out with both teams earning two-point victories over each other this year.

Top Performers

Oconee County
Chance Peden – 13 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal
Roques Dowdy – 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Jace Bonds – 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Rahul Das – 6 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Jackson County
Joel Ellis – 19 points, 11 rebounds
Preston Giroux – 13 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Malique Wade – 3 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal
Stephen Fogarty – 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

No. 2 Allatoona says Ahoy! to undefeated regular season

No. 2 Allatoona 75, New Manchester 57

No. 2 Allatoona (25-0, 18-0) wrapped up its fifth straight season going undefeated in region play, advancing its streak to 77 in-a-row on Thursday night after using an 18-0 run spanning over five minutes from the end of the third quarter into the fourth to clinch a 75-57 win over New Manchester and stay perfect on the year.

Having lost 58-47 on Dec. 12 at home to the Buccaneers, New Manchester (17-6, 13-4) felt prepared to take the next step into becoming a statewide threat if they could defeat the juggernaut that Allatoona has become.

The Bucs jumped out to a 12-7 lead midway through the first quarter before Clinton Bentley connected on a four-point play in the right corner. The corner proved to be a headache for both coaches, as three players were fouled while taking a three during the course of the game. Bentley’s bucket gave the Jaguars a 13-12 lead before Allatoona pushed ahead. Known for the defensive prowess of Ephraim Tshimanga and Trey Doomes, inside it was sophomore Rolan Wooden off the bench that gave up his body. Wooden would take three charges in the first quarter alone and finish with four drawn on the night.

Allatoona only took a 21-19 lead into the second quarter after Tabashi Thomas came away with a steal and assist Momodou Singhateh as time expired.

For the Buccaneers, the 40-point quarter and high pace were not to their typical liking, allowing the Jaguars to play their tempo and find baskets in transition. In the second quarter with the game teetering back and forth, sophomore Chima Ogboi stepped in and provided a spark for Coach Markus Hood’s Bucs.

First Ogboi found Wooden for a layup.

Then it was Michael Johnson the beneficiary of an Ogboi dime, hitting a three in the corner. Ogboi capped the spurt with a drive to the basket for a hoop of his own making it 33-25, the 6-foot-3 forward accounting for seven straight points.

New Manchester fought back to stay in striking distance and cut the lead to 35-30 with 53.3 seconds left. The Jaguars would enter the break trailing 39-32, Bentley almost hitting a three at the buzzer after a steal.

Uncharacteristic sloppy play haunted the Bucs in the first half. Coach Hood, Coach Craig Gaskins and Coach Nicholas Estes went to the drawing board at halftime and got back to basics, but it wasn’t before the Jaguars made one last push at the undefeated Buccaneers.

Bentley connected with Titus Cook in the left corner for a three-ball, making it 45-43 with 4:41 left in the third quarter, Coach James Bailey’s bunch only down two.

Then Allatoona tightened the screws.

In the flip of a switch the Buccaneers stopped toying with New Manchester and tamed the Jags with their relentless defense keyed up top by Doomes and Tshimanga.

Allatoona closed the quarter on a 10-0 run taking a 55-43 lead into the fourth quarter, putting New Manchester on the ropes after Michael Johnson sparked the run with five points. At the 6:53 mark of the fourth quarter, Allatoona delivered its knockout punch, an 18-0 run ballooning the lead to 63-43. New Manchester was held scoreless for over five minutes until Bentley got a hoop and harm with 6:42 left. From there on out it was academic, Allatoona committing zero second half turnovers and all 12 players scoring helping the Bucs cruise to an 18-point win in Davey Jones’ Locker.

My Take: Shots might not fall but defense doesn’t slump. Allatoona decided to run-and-gun with New Manchester in the first half, but when games are won and lost in the final 16 minutes, they decided to get back to Buccaneer Basketball. The fan base, understanding of the team’s strength, got behind the Bucs as they began to grind away at the Jaguars. The Bucs Basketball Moms brought the D-Fence with them in the crowd and were great all night. On the court the usual suspects had their hands in New Manchester’s cookie jar all game long. Ephraim Tshimanga and Trey Doomes continued to terrorize opposing guards. The duo came away with eight steals to pace Allatoona’s 16. Kevin Perry played a nice game with six points in both the first and fourth quarters to finish with 12. Three unsung heroes stood out to me in Rolan Wooden, Chima Ogboi and Michael Johnson. Wooden scored five points, but it was his willingness to sacrifice his body which did not go unnoticed. He drew four charges and has been taking ones for the team all season long. Ogboi accounted for a quick seven points during his stretch in the second quarter. The Mt. Paran transfer shows a lot of potential as being a great glue guy that can do a little bit of everything in the years to come. Johnson scored eight points. It was his three-pointer that ignited the 18-0 run to put away New Manchester.

The Jaguars played hard and have some good athletes led by Tabashi Thomas, the quarterback of the football team. He skied for a couple rebounds and threw down a dunk. Clinton Bentley didn’t play his best game, but he is a good junior guard that should produce big numbers his senior season. The Jaguars will lose Thomas, Randall Quarles, Momodou Singhateh and Aaron Reddick to graduation as key seniors, but Coach James Bailey’s team shouldn’t completely fall off next year.

Top Performers

Allatoona
Trey Doomes – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 1 block
Ephraim Tshimanga – 13 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals
Kevin Perry – 12 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals
Dylon Ramsey – 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Michael Johnson – 8 points
Chima Ogboi – 2 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Rolan Wooden – 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 4 charges

New Manchester
Tabashi Thomas – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal
Clinton Bentley – 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Titus Cook – 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Momodou Singhateh – 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

GHSA, GHSA Basketball

The Best of the Rest

State title contenders don’t always have to be ranked heading into the region and state playoffs. Here are a few dangerous teams heading into the home stretch as The Best of the Rest.

Class AAAAAA

Lambert's Connor Mannion is a Navy signee | Ty Freeman
Lambert’s Connor Mannion is a Navy signee | Ty Freeman

Lambert  (22-2, 17-0) – Region 6
Sixes are wild with the Longhorns. Lambert peaked at No. 6 in the poll in Week 6, but following a 1-2 showing at the Lake City Classic including a 73-37 drubbing from the hands of current No. 6 McEachern, the Horns dropped out and haven’t returned since. Those two losses have been Lambert’s only of the season. Playing in Region 6 hasn’t challenged Coach Scott Bracco’s team too much as they are still the favorite to go undefeated if they can slip past Johns Creek, who is having their best year ever. The Longhorns have the size and depth to make a run in the state tournament. 6-foot-7 forwards Connor Mannion (Navy) and Ross Morkem (North Georgia) pose problems inside and out for opponents while Andrew Melms, Tanner Hall and Austin Deckard are all experienced guards

 

gladiators_G_logo_1442954597002_233944_ver1.0Johns Creek (22-2, 16-1) – Region 6
Coach Pete Goggin has guided the Gladiators to their best season in school history. Johns Creek doesn’t have the size inside like Lambert, but they can match them with their perimeter play. Mark Lancaster (15.2 ppg), Mason Henkel (12.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Ian Joseph (10 ppg, 5.1 rpg) form a steady trio on offense. They will have a chance to earn a signature win over rival Lambert this Friday. In their first meeting the Gladiators fell 64-53. Johns Creek’s only other loss came to No. 8 Brookwood 65-62 in overtime.

TeShaun Hightower | Photo By Ty Freeman
TeShaun Hightower | Photo By Ty Freeman

Collins Hill (21-3, 10-3) – Region 7
The Eagles peaked at No. 5 in Week 2 and have strung together an impressive record while battling adversity. Injuries and sickness has riddled the team but Coach Ty Baumgardner has kept them in position to grab a top seed out of Region 7, which has suffered a bit of a down year compared to how Region 8 has shaped up. No. 1 Norcross beat the Eagles 93-72 in December but escaped by just two, 50-48 on Jan. 19. A 63-57 loss to Duluth is Collins Hill’s only other loss. The Eagles will likely find themselves in the top ten entering region tournament play barring a loss to Peachtree Ridge. New Orleans-commit AJ Cheeseman is a handful inside while TeShaun Hightower has come aboard and established himself as one of Gwinnett’s most explosive scorers. Coach Baumgardner has been able to build a lot of depth in part to all the injuries they have faced.

Austin Dukes, Coach Pierce, Alphonso Willis, Tre Sconiers | Photo By Ty Freeman
Austin Dukes, Coach Pierce, Alphonso Willis, Tre Sconiers | Photo By Ty Freeman

Grayson (18-6, 9-6) – Region 8
Grayson climbed to No. 9 in Week 8 before the gauntlet known as Region 8 hit them. Coach Geoffrey Pierce has playmaking senior guards in Alphonso Willis and Austin Dukes, both averaging over 17 points per game. Tre Sconiers is a strong force inside, hustling on the glass averaging over eight points and eight rebounds a night. Freshman Kenyon Jackson has provided a sometimes dominant presence in the paint, posting close to 10 rebounds and four blocks per game.

Al Durham | Photo By Ty Freeman
Al Durham | Photo By Ty Freeman

Berkmar (17-7, 12-3) – Region 8
Don’t look now, but the Patriots have quietly snuck their way to the top of one the state’s most competitive regions. Five-straight wins have put Berkmar in a position to steal the No. 1 seed heading into the region tournament. Friday night’s showdown at No. 10 Shiloh will determine the regular season champion. After a pedestrian 3-3 start, Coach Greg Phillips’ team has figured things out and has passed almost every stiff test presented. Wins over Grayson, 3ANo. 5 Jenkins, Dacula 2x and Brookwood are all resume boosters. Indiana-commit Al Durham is flanked by Jay Estime and Zach Cooks. Estime battled a nagging injury early in the year while Cooks was waiting to become eligible. The two guards along with a slew of other good ones such as Lane Foster, Josh Faulkner and Leroy Jones IV have the Patriots peaking at the right time.

Kevon Tucker | Photo By Ty Freeman
Kevon Tucker | Photo By Ty Freeman

Dacula (18-6, 11-4) – Region 8
The Falcons have bounced between the No. 8 and No. 9 spot in the top ten all year and have proven they can score with anyone in the state between the dynamic duo of Derek St. Hilaire and Kevon Tucker (Wofford), but they have also proven that if their shots aren’t falling they can get run out of the gym. After scoring a huge 66-57 win at home against No. 10 Shiloh on Jan.16, ten days later the Generals throttled the Falcons at home, 74-44. On Tuesday they dropped to Berkmar 66-46, but rebounded on Wednesday with a 54-39 win at No. 8 Brookwood, stopping the red-hot Broncos. If Demari Edwards, Juwan White and Shayne Buckingham can provide consistent sparks, the Falcons can make a nice run in the tournament.

IMG_8158Milton (16-7, 13-2) – Region 5
Milton opened the year ranked No. 5 in the state after a shuffling of the roster brought three transfers into the starting lineup, giving Coach Matt Kramer on paper potentially one of the best in the state, but things haven’t worked out. The size is there with 6-foot-8 Chris Lewis (Harvard) and move-in Kyrin Galloway. Lewis missed a couple games due to a leg injury early in the year and missed the Lake City Classic, some of Milton’s worst showings which plummeted them out of the rankings. After a 74-68 loss to 5A No. 3 McIntosh, the Eagles laid an egg getting embarrassed by Lambert 93-67 and lost to 1A No. 2 North Cobb Christian 70-59, who was reeling without their starting point guard, losing three in a row before beating Milton. The talent is there for the Eagles to get hot and they have proven they can hang with No. 2 Wheeler, losing by 11 and four points, they just need to get over the hump and ride Alex O’Connell’s sweet stroke.

Class AAAAA

Rico Smith | Photo By Kevin Eckleberry | LaGrange Daily News
Rico Smith | Photo By Kevin Eckleberry | LaGrange Daily News

LaGrange (19-5, 8-3) – Region 1
In Week 5 the Grangers were ranked No. 8, but by Week 7 they fell out. LaGrange is extremely dangerous if both Rico Smith and Laperion Perry get going. Smith was an All-State performer a year ago and is first-year head coach Mark Veal’s go-to guy. Mike Hardy, Qua Epps and Alex Dantzler also contribute from the perimeter while Bryan Fanning and Kenan Gray can do damage on the low block at 6-foot-6. Region 1 has been very competitive this year. With Northside-Columbus remaining on the schedule, a win could either propel them to the No. 1 seed or potentially drop them down to the third or fourth.

Moses Williams | Photo By Jon-Michael Sullivan | Augusta Chronicle
Moses Williams | Photo By Jon-Michael Sullivan | Augusta Chronicle

Richmond Academy (18-5, 9-1) – Region 2
The addition of Madison Williams (Illinois State) has helped the Musketeers become a contender in AAAAA. Six players score over seven points per game led by Williams’ 11.5 per. Sophomore guard Dantavian Stephens will be a player to keep an eye on over the next two seasons. Two heartbreaking losses to 3A No. 4 Laney by single digits are a strong indicator that the Musketeers can be a force in the state playoffs. Their balanced attack will be important as they will likely run into No. 8 Warner Robins come Region 2 tournament time.

IMG_8417
Byron Abrams guarding Cedar Shoals’ Jerrick Mitchell

Heritage-Conyers (17-6, 9-4) – Region 8
Region 8 has transformed into the deepest region in the state with at least one good team going to see their season end short in the region tournament. Heritage-Conyers was ranked No. 5 in Week 5, but a four game swoon saw the Patriots tumble out of the top ten. Coach Vernon Denmark’s team remains scary if they regain their form. Wins over 1A No. 3 Southwest Atlanta Christian, Berkmar, 2A No. 10 Macon County and Duluth were no fluke. Junior Jordan Thomas can stroke from deep and leads the team in scoring at 14.2 points. Isaiah Banks and Byron Abrams are both versatile players while Charles Moore is the leader at point guard averaging 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

IMG_7664Apalachee (17-5, 9-4) – Region 8
Oh Kamar Baldwin. The Butler signee has averaged just a shade under 29 points, close to 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals per game, making him one of the most elite players in the state and a legitimate Mr. Basketball candidate. The Wildcats haven’t cracked the rankings this year, but they are prime to upset someone in the region tournament and grab better than a No. 4 seed. Derek Miller, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, has emerged as an important post presence. Jabari Hill has played well alongside Baldwin as well and has proven to be a reliable scorer.

Class AAAA

AJ Jones | Photo By Melinda Pease | Walton Tribune
AJ Jones | Photo By Melinda Pease | Walton Tribune

Walnut Grove (22-3, 8-2) – Region 4
After reaching No. 6 in Week 7, the Warriors finished the regular season out with a bang, beating No. 5 Eagle’s Landing 64-59 before drilling Hampton 67-41. Since losing back-to-back games to Eagle’s Landing and Henry County in mid-January, the Warriors have won five-straight. Seniors have come up big for Walnut Grove and Coach Ryan Terry. AJ Jones and Faizon Jackson both average over 13 points per game while Deandre Durham and Jatahj Malcom both can provide a spark when needed.

CS5Ym_CWsAQAvAMSandy Creek (17-6, 7-2) – Region 5
The Patriots opened the year ranked fifth and played up to their ranking for the beginning of the season, but have since dropped out. Their only two region losses came to Carrollton and Whitewater by two points apiece. Other losses have come to 5A No. 3 McIntosh 69-51 and No. 6 Grady, 67-66. Sandy Creek also has two out-of-state loses. Looking at the level of competition they have played, the Patriots should be ready to hone in and take care of the Region 5 tournament. The pieces are in place. Gardner-Webb signee Christian Turner playing point guard averaging 14.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 3.6 steals. Elias Harden averages 21.3 points as a 6-foot-6 wing and Keith Heard II and Evan Jester are shot blocking and rebounding machines.

Tyree Crump
Tyree Crump

Bainbridge (17-7, 11-3) – Region 1
The Bearcats opened at No. 4 in the poll before losses hindered their progress and knocked them out. Looking back, Bainbridge’s losses have come to quality opponents. 2A’s No. 1 Thomasville 2x and No. 2 Seminole County have handed Bainbridge three losses, but the Bearcats were able to defeat the defending 2A state champs in the rematch, 82-69. Other losses have come to No. 8 Monroe, Westover, Americus-Sumter and Chipley (FL). UGA signee Tyree Crump is pouring in 21.8 points per game to power the ‘Cats. Both Trevon Shaw and DeVonte Jones have seen their scoring dip in their senior seasons, but are still viable and dangerous options.

Class AAA

Khavon Moore | Photo By HoopSeen
Khavon Moore | Photo By HoopSeen

Westside-Macon (19-5, 13-2) – Region 2
Khavon Moore leads the Seminoles. The 6-foot-8 sophomore averages 21.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.8 blocks. The key for Coach Josh Grube will be to find consistent threats around him. Junior Samone Reed averages 11.3 points with guards Ben Elder (9.9) and Gerimie Mitchell (7.5) rounding out Westside’s top options. Moore’s ability to take over games makes the Seminoles and intriguing team come playoff time. The supporting cast will need to play well if they want to make a run in state.

Justin Cave
Justin Cave

Islands (18-6, 10-3) – Region 1
It has been a sensational turnaround season for the Sharks. They will play in their first ever state tournament game unless disaster strikes. Defending state champ No. 5 Jenkins humbled the Sharks 91-65 on Jan. 5, but this Tuesday Islands scored its biggest win in school history, edging the Warriors 61-59. Three juniors combined for 48 points led by Justin Cave’s 22. The 1,000-point scorer is averaging 21.5 points per game. Hugh Durham and freshman Trae Broadnax both score over 12 points a night. Size could be an issue in the state tournament with Justin Cutter, their best interior player, standing 6-foot-3.

Tyler Phillips | Photo By Matt Hamilton | The Daily Citizen
Tyler Phillips | Photo By Matt Hamilton | The Daily Citizen

Coahulla Creek (19-5, 12-3) – Region 6
The only team to challenge undefeated No. 3 Calhoun? The Coahulla Creek Colts. After 60-52 loss earlier in the year, the Colts pushed the Yellow Jackets to the brink before bowing out 65-58 in overtime. Alex Fisher went off for 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the charge. They aren’t the tallest, fastest, or strongest team, but Coach Matthew Queener gets every ounce of production out of every single player. Patience on offense leads to open looks and solid defense leads to eliminating second chance points. The Colts can also get hot from deep, as Fisher hit four three-pointers in the overtime loss. JR Laird finished with 15 points and showed he can drive the lane and knock down open threes. If teams overlook the Colts in the playoffs, they will be in deep trouble. Coahulla Creek can control tempo and take away the fastbreak for teams who like to run.

Class AA

Temple (18-3, 7-1) – Region 5
The Tigers need to beat Manchester on Friday to gain a share of first place in the region and potentially steal the No. 1 seed away from the Blue Devils on the final weekend. Peyton Applegate is a legit 6-foot-7, 245-pound center that can shoot it from outside and bang inside for baskets. He will be the key to solving the Blue Devil puzzle. They lost to Manchester 65-62 on Jan. 19.

Wendell Carter Jr.
Wendell Carter Jr.

Pace Academy (13-10, 11-2) – Region 6
The Knights started the season at a woeful 2-8 thanks to playing a national schedule. Things have gotten better for the Knights, the preseason No. 2, but a loss to No. 4 Lovett in overtime 66-63, dropped Pace out. Expectations have been high for Pace after a 27-3 season and a 15-0 region record. With 6-foot-8 Isaiah Kelly moving in to play inside with 6-foot-10 Wendell Carter Jr., the No. 1 ranked junior in the nation, the Knights’ struggles this year have been unforeseen. Penn-commit Zack Kaminsky is still in the mix standing 6-foot-6 as a three-man, but for some reason Coach Demetrius Smith’s group hasn’t dominated like they did last year. If they are able to finally piece things together, it should come as no surprise if the Knights are tipping off in Macon for the state championship.

6da42435-84c3-4200-8e1d-9f7403344b2e_3aa19fdd-4268-4b67-b17a-614c002f0c16_originalHoly Innocents’ (15-7, 6-6) – Region 6
Injuries have derailed the Golden Bears, but don’t count them out just yet. When everything was clicking and everyone was healthy in Week 7 the Bears peaked at No. 4 in the state. Jules Erving has improved into a versatile forward for Coach Terry Kelly. Size inside has been a strength, but that is where the injury bug has bitten Holy Innocents’ the most. Two 6-foot-7 centers have traded missing action. Brent Duncan has been sidelined for nearly half the season and is continuing to work his way back into game form. Richard Surdykowski stepped up in his absence, but a late stress fracture in his foot was too much to overcome and has recently cut his junior season short. If Duncan can get healthy and the Golden Bears can hit their stride, they will be an interesting team to watch in the state tournament, if they are able to grab a top four seed out of the muddled Region 6 featuring Pace Academy, GAC, No. 4 Lovett and Wesleyan.

Class A

Photo By Pat Molnar
Photo By Pat Molnar

Paideia (12-12, 7-3) – Region 5
Three-straight losses have sunk the Pythons, all three coming to ranked teams. Big men Addison Owen and Robbie Holley stand 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-7. Owen along with junior guard Solomon Burt-Murray are among the team’s top scoring options. Paideia’s biggest win came early in the season against No. 10 Tattnall Square Academy, 54-35. The Pythons are still looking for a signature win and are inching closer towards getting one. According to the GHSA Power Ratings, they might need a couple to sneak into the state playoffs, ranking No. 19 at last check.

Photo By krtigers.org
Photo By krtigers.org

King’s Ridge (13-9, 7-5) – Region 6
The Tigers trump Paideia with four-straight losses after a solid start to the year. 7-foot behemoth Tolu Jacobs is finally eligible, but hasn’t provided the impact expected from a player of his size. Instead King’s Ridge has taken it on the chin from some of the Class A-Private’s best, losing to No. 5 Whitefield Academy 60-47, No. 4 St. Francis 82-55, No. 1 Greenforest 74-45 and Walker 48-41. If Coach Scepter Brownlee can get the Tigers back on track with Ellis Merriweather leading the charge, they could upset a team or two in the state playoffs, but right now they have to worry about getting there as they rank 13th in the Power Ratings, before their slide.

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Hawkinsville (14-8, 9-6)– Region 4
Junior CJ Smith leads Hawkinsville in scoring at over 17 points and five rebounds per game. The Red Devils peaked at No. 4 in Class A-Public in Week 7, but suffered a three game losing streak that knocked them out. Wins at No. 9 St. Anne-Pacelli and Perry are Hawkinsville’s biggest wins. Region 4 has proven to be tough with Pacelli, No. 7 Central-Talbotton and No. 8 Taylor County all on the schedule.

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

No. 3 Calhoun uses overtime to stay undefeated

No. 3 Calhoun 65, Coahulla Creek 58 OT

It took an extra period, but No. 3 Calhoun (22-0, 15-0) was able to stay undefeated on Tuesday night against Coahulla Creek (19-5, 12-3), slipping past the Colts 65-58.

Winning has been synonymous with Calhoun, the AAA powerhouse, in nearly every sport. Known for its football program, the Yellow Jackets have shown sting ever since Coach Vince Layson slid over a couple seats to head coach. Since his arrival in 2012-13, Layson has compiled an 88-13 record and has dominated inside the region at 56-5.

Coahulla Creek, a burgeoning new program, is in search of the success Calhoun has had. Since opening in 2011-12, the Colts have improved their win total each year under Coach Matthew Queener and hold an all-time record of 44-65.

The Colts challenged the Jackets back on Jan. 2, falling 60-52, Calhoun’s only single-digit win. Early on Tuesday it looked as if Calhoun would breeze past the Colts as Coahulla Creek missed three wide open layups to start the game which could have been a sign for things to come, but Calhoun wasn’t able to bury them.

At the end of one, it was 17-15 in favor of the host Yellow Jackets. Malik Lawrence came away with a late steal and pitch ahead to Kaelan Riley for a layup before the buzzer to give Calhoun the lead.

The Yellow Jackets pushed the lead out to 26-15 using an 11-0 run before JR Laird hit an And-1 with 4:18 left in the second quarter. Colts leading scorer Alex Fisher scored seven points in the first quarter, but was held to two in the second as Calhoun surged ahead.

Calhoun carried a 32-25 halftime advantage into the second half before Fisher caught fire.

The senior poured in 10 of his game-high 26 points in the third and cut the Colt deficit to 46-44 entering the fourth quarter.

Fisher quickly drilled his fourth three-pointer of the game with 7:20 remaining to give Coahulla Creek its first lead of the second half. Back and forth the two teams went down the stretch, battling each other and the poor officiating. Missed calls, make up calls and general inconsistency from the men in stripes plagued the game but both teams persevered.

Chapin Rierson gave Calhoun the lead back at the 4:20 mark following a rebound and a coast-to-coast And-1 lay in to make it 52-51. It seemed like the Yellow Jackets regained control after Ray Reeves used his body to shield a defender for a layup with 3:34 left. Two minutes later Riley, the Jackets’ leading scorer, knocked the ball off a Colt’s leg. It ended up in the hands of Jireh Wilson, who drove the length of the court to score two of his 15 points, making it 56-51 with 1:44 left.

Coahulla Creek would not go away however. Out of a timeout, Caleb Lewis hit JR Laird after he slipped into the corner for three, closing the lead to 56-54 with 1:31 to play.

Riley began chewing up clock up top with 45 seconds when it looked like the Colts were about to foul as a defender ran at him. Riley bobbled the ball but regained possession and found Rierson open down low. As Rierson went up for the easy two, Fisher came out of nowhere to pin his shot on the backboard, giving the ball back to the Colts with 29.9 seconds.

Lewis drove to the hoop and threw up a contested shot that didn’t drop. Malik Lawrence gathered the rebound, got fouled and went to the line for a 1-and-1. Lawrence sank the first attempt, but his second shot rimmed out. Fisher took the ball up the court and drove the lane, connecting on a basket plus the foul, tying the game at 57 after the free throw with 13.7 ticks left.

Calhoun’s final possession resulted in Wilson driving and dishing to an open Reeves up top for three. His shot hit the back iron and bounced into Riley’s hands whose putback tantalizingly fell short rolling off the rim sending the game into overtime tied at 57.

A crucial momentum changing play happened half way through the extra period. At the 2:37 mark Kaelan Riley picked the pocket of a Colt and charged down the floor. He took a look over his left shoulder to see a man close behind, but not close enough to make a play on the ball. As Riley went to gather himself for what looked like a surefire dunk his foot slipped egregiously. Instead of the travel being called, Coahulla Creek was whistled for the foul.

Riley knocked down his first free throw but missed the second. Wilson came up with the rebound before more controversy ensued. One referee called a jump ball while the other whistled a foul. The crew met and decided to keep the foul call, sending Wilson to the line and in the process fouling out Colt point guard Caleb Lewis.

Up 60-58 with 1:12 remaining, Coach Layson dialed up the play of the night off of the inbound underneath the basket. Wilson received the ball on a rotation after the initial pass in and riffled a pass inside to a wide open Riley for an And-1 that hung on the rim and dropped in, breaking the hearts of Coahulla Creek as the lead grew to 63-58 with 59.2 seconds left putting the game out of reach.

My Take: One of the best games of the season took place in Calhoun, Georgia last night. I wasn’t sure what to expect heading into the game. Calhoun is a machine, crushing everyone while Coahulla Creek has been one of the state’s most pleasant surprises. The Colts are the opposite of an “airport team”. When they step off the plane and step onto the court, they don’t look like an imposing team, but boy do they know how to play. Calhoun had the size, strength and athletic advantage boasting all its football stars but they were unable to shake the Colts. Coach Matthew Queener used a patient and methodical offense to control the tempo. Dribble handoffs up top lulled the Yellow Jackets to sleep before either Alex Fisher, JR Laird or Tyler Phillips would attack. The Colts started off slow in the first quarter, missing three quick layups, but they battled for second chances led by Phillips’ 13 rebounds. Coahulla hit six threes on the night and its unquestioned leader was Fisher. The senior was unconscious down the stretch making every big play needed, whether it be to attack the rim or pull up off the dribble for three. He finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

As well as Fisher played however, Calhoun always had an answer. The winning culture shone through as the Yellow Jackets battled through adversity and relied on their upperclassmen to close the game out. Kaelan Riley, Jireh Wilson, Malik Lawrence and Chapin Rierson combined for 58 points. Riley was relentless inside with 16 points and 13 rebounds while Wilson and Lawrence did damage on the perimeter. Wilson scored 15 points and dished out five assists and Lawrence scored 15. Rierson didn’t have his best game, struggling to finish inside but still made plays when his team counted on him the most, none bigger than when he showed off his versatility grabbing a rebound and taking it all the way to the hole for an And-1. Calhoun will have a target on its back going into the region and more importantly state tournament, especially if they are able to enter unblemished. Whoever draws Coahulla Creek will have their hands full if they don’t take the Colts seriously. The veteran group consisting of six seniors and four juniors play very hard for Coach Queener. With a strong core of guards in Caleb Lewis, Alex Fisher and JR Laird the Colts have a chance to sneak up on teams and will likely get one last crack at Calhoun in the Region 6 championship if everything plays out chalk.

Top Performers
Calhoun
Kaelan Riley – 16 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 1 block
Jireh Wilson – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Malik Lawrence – 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Chapin Rierson – 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks
Ray Reeves – 6 points, 1 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Coahulla Creek
Alex Fisher – 26 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 4 blocks
JR Laird – 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Tyler Phillips – 8 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 bock
Caleb Lewis – 4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block

College, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Where are they now? (February update)

A monthly check up on how some of last season’s top GHSA players are faring as freshmen at their respective D-1 schools:

Class AAAAAA

Jaylen Brown (Wheeler to Cal)
15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 46.4 FG%

Shembari Phillips (Wheeler to Tennessee)
3.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg

Derek Ogbeide (Pebblebrook to UGA)
3.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg

Ty Hudson (Pebblebrook to Clemson)
2.0 ppg

Trhae Mitchell (Pebblebrook to South Alabama)
N/A

Bryce Brown (Tucker to Auburn)
8.7 ppg, 35.1 FG%

Devontae Cacok (Alpharetta to UNC-Wilmington)
4.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 66.7 FG%

Marcus Sheffield (Chattahoochee to Stanford)
7.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg

Ricky Madison (Norcross to High Point)
3.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Class AAAAA

Lamont West (Miller Grove to West Virginia)
N/A

Class AAAA

Tracy Hector (Jonesboro to Kennesaw State)
1.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.5 apg

Austin Donaldson (Jonesboro to Georgia State)
10 minutes

Malik Benlevi (Jenkins to Georgia State)
2.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg

Montae Glenn (Carrollton to Georgia Southern)
5.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 60% FG

Ty Cockfield (Johnson-Gainesville to Stetson)
7.1 ppg, 0.9 apg, 1.9 rpg

Class AAA

Tookie Brown (Morgan County to Georgia Southern)
17.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.0 spg

Austin Venable (Banks County to Presbyterian)
3.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 48.5% FG

Antwan Maxwell (Johnson-Savannah to Charleston Southern)
N/A

Class AA

Reggie Reid (Harlem to FGCU)
4.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 0.7 spg, 34.8% FG

Trevon Scott (McIntosh County Academy to Cincinnati)
N/A

Eric Jamison (GAC to Gardner-Webb)
N/A

Class A

Malik Beasley (St. Francis to FSU)
17.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.0 spg, 51.8 FG%, 41.9 3PT%

Kaiser Gates (St. Francis to Xavier)
2.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Josh Coleman (St. Francis to Coastal Carolina)
27 minutes

‘Turtle’ Jackson (Athens Christian to UGA)
1.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.8 apg

Justin Ravenel (Greenforest to Florida A&M)
8.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg

Courtney Alexander (Whitefield Academy to Tennessee Tech)
2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 50 FG%

Trey Kalina (North Cobb Christian to UTC)
N/A