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Free throws ice No. 8 Maynard Jackson’s great overtime escape at No. 9 Lithia Springs

No. 8 Maynard Jackson 69, No. 9 Lithia Springs 64 OT

We need more Wednesday night games. Thanks to the snow storm of last week, No. 8 Maynard Jackson (9-0) vs. No. 9 Lithia Springs (7-1) was pushed back and thank goodness it was. With undefeated records and first-place in Region 6-AAAAA on the line, both teams left everything on the floor after a sluggish start, but in the end, it was the Jaguars finding a way to survive in overtime in front of a hostile home crowd.

There were no high-flying offensive spectacles on display at Lithia Springs, instead it was a throwback hard-nosed ugly game to start. Both teams struggled to score, especially Maynard Jackson with 6-foot-7 senior forward TJ Boykin coming off the bench with a bad back. Lithia Springs took a quick lead behind a Terrence Ashford three-ball.

Both teams pressed each other, with the Lions forcing some early turnovers while making it a point to keep the ball out of Marquavis Carter’s hands, likely the Region’s best player entering the night averaging 23.8 points. The Lions held Carter scoreless in the first quarter and took a gritty 10-8 lead into the second quarter.

Maynard Jackson got their footing and started to turn the tables with their 2-2-1 press but couldn’t quite take control of the game as a quick 4-0 spurt, which felt like much more at the time, forced a Coach Travis Williams timeout with his Jaguars trailing 16-10 at the 3:42 mark of the second quarter.

The pace quickened and the home crowd started to make its presence felt as the Lions finished the quarter on a 7-3 run sparked by 6-foot-5 freshman post Omarion Smith’s defense, helping Lithia Springs take a 25-17 lead into the half. Smith, who came in averaging over six blocks per game, started flying around, turning his defense into Lions offense, blocking four shots in the half while Ashford and Anthony Hardy traded buckets to grow the lead.

Down eight points, halftime couldn’t have come at a better time for Maynard Jackson. Carter was held to three points while Boykin entered off the bench with three quick turnovers and zero offensive production. The saving grace for the Jaguars was the play of Damari “DJ” Johnson. With Carter and Boykin held to nearly nothing, it was the 5-foot-8 senior who decided to step up. Johnson steadied the Jags with six first half points, three rebounds and three assists, but if Maynard Jackson was to remain undefeated, they would need major contributions from their horses in the second half and that is exactly what they got.

As if a switch was flipped, the Jaguars became the aggressor in the third quarter. Maynard Jackson cut the Lithia Springs to 27-26 at the 5:11 mark behind a 7-0 run sparked by Johnson, who made a layup followed by a Boykin three and a Timipa Ogoun bucket inside.

With the Jaguars pulling close, Ashford answered back with an old-fashioned three-point play to ease the lead back to four.

But from there, Maynard Jackson surged ahead, closing the third quarter on a 9-2 run and outscoring the Lions 20-9 in the frame for a 37-34 advantage. Ashford scored seven of Lithia’s nine points in the quarter but Maynard Jackson began to see their stars break free, Johnson scoring six points, followed by Carter and Boykin’s five apiece.

Back and forth the two teams traded leads throughout the fourth quarter. Senior Christian Horton, who scored all four of his points in the fourth quarter, finally saw the ball drop through with a tough hook shot in the lane as Lithia Springs regained a 42-41 lead at the 5:25 mark.

But in a foreboding sign, Carter got to the line on what looked like a bad call and sank both free throws. Carter finished the night with a game-high 22 points but only made three field goals, the rest coming on 15-of-19 shooting from the foul line including going 14-of-17 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Lions held a 46-45 lead with 2:37 on the clock and sent Hardy to the line with a chance to extend it, but instead Hardy went 0-for-2 and Johnson raced down the floor and handed out one of his game-high six assists to Marquis Colzie to give Maynard Jackson a 47-46 advantage.

Johnson struck yet again with a scoop shot in the lane with just over a minute to play giving the Jaguars a 50-48 edge. After a missed jumper, Maynard Jackson controlled the rebound and Boykin was fouled with 36.9 seconds remaining, where he would split a pair of free throws. Hardy attacked in transition off the miss but went 1-of-2 from the line putting the score at 51-49. Colzie grabbed the rebound and was immediately fouled. He missed the front-end of the one-and-one, allowing Lithia Springs to advance the ball with 18 seconds left before Coach JW Cantrell called timeout.

Ogoun swatted a drive attempt out of bounds, putting the Lions in the corner with 10.4 seconds remaining in regulation. Lithia Springs turned it over with 6.8 seconds left and Ogoun was sent to the line with a chance to ice it with two free throws. He hit his first, making it a three-point game and the Lions seemingly in need of a miracle. Ogoun missed his second free throw and the Lions’ prayers were answered. Chance Ellison grabbed the rebound and quickly tossed it to junior guard Karee Anderson, who quickly advanced it up the left sideline. The lefty pulled-up on a dime and drilled a three at the buzzer in front of a defender to send the game to overtime time at 52-52 and the crowd into a frenzy.

In overtime, Lithia Springs held a 57-56 lead with 1:05 left, but Carter drew a foul curling from the left of the arc to the top of the perimeter where he was able to exaggerate the contact and baited the refs into calling a foul. Carter buried all three free throws to take a 59-57 lead that the Jags would never lose. The Lions cut the score to 64-62 with 12.8 seconds left and 66-64 with 4.7 remaining but the Jaguars were money from the line going 15-of-19 in overtime, Carter sinking 9-of-11 and Johnson 4-of-4 to ice the game.

My Take

After an ugly start to the game, No. 8 Maynard Jackson at No.9 Lithia Springs ended up being one of the best games I have seen this year. The house was loud and the place was packed in the lower bowl section. I didn’t see enough for either team to be considered legit state title contenders, especially with No. 1 Warner Robins, No. 2 Buford and the deadly Region 5 group that this Region 6 has to pair up with in the first round, but I did see two well-coached teams that had their kids playing hard. Both teams have some tricky guards that can give opponents trouble in the state playoffs and could advance a few rounds in.

Marquavis Carter was held in check the entire game, but the fact that he could score 22 points on three made field goals is impressive. The 6-foot-1 lefty off-guard has a pretty stroke that is often lethal when given space to fire. Credit Lithia Springs’ high energy defense for knowing where Carter was at all times, but like all great players can, Carter still found a way to beat the Lions by getting to the line. I was most impressed by little DJ Johnson. He didn’t look like much, the smallest player on the floor with a vibrant red-mouth piece, but Johnson was great. So pesky, he kept finding ways to score in the paint and even come away with offensive rebounds at 5-foot-8. Without his consistent play throughout, there is no way Maynard Jackson wins this game. 6-foot-7 senior TJ Boykin has been a highly touted prospect his entire career at Columbia then transferred into Maynard Jackson for his final season. I was told that he had a bad back, but I came away unimpressed. His motor was in hibernation mode for much of the game and he didn’t play with much energy. The potential is still there, but I’m not sure we will ever see him dominate at the high school level like we might have thought he could a few years back. He’s still a super intriguing player at the next level. We might be able to chalk up his lackluster performance to his back, but we will have to see; the clock is ticking. 6-foot-5 sophomore post Timipa Ogoun kind of reminds me of 2017 River Ridge graduate Destin Exinor with his body type and athleticism. You can tell Ogoun is young and a little raw, but he has a quick leap and came up big with some late rebounds and blocks.

Lithia Springs has a stable of steady players, no real stars. They can nickel and dime you for 10 points apiece and make defending them a real headache. Senior Terrence Ashford came up big for the Lions and was fearless attacking the basket as was sophomore leading scorer Anthony Hardy. Hands down I was most impressed by 6-foot-5 freshman Omarion Smith. He is an elite shot-blocker in the class of 2021 and considering his size, he might be the best rim protector in the state for his grade right now. He gets to nearly every single ball that is shot his way (8 blocks) and rebounds his area effectively. He even showed off a 15-footer, but his offense is still improving and he doesn’t see many post touches. He will be a player to track over the next few years, especially if he can squeeze out a few more inches to his frame.

Omarion Smith, JW Cantrell
Coach JW Cantrell beaming ear-to-ear like a proud papa next to freshman post Omarion Smith

Top Performers

Maynard Jackson
Marquavis Carter – 22 points (15-of-19 FT), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
DJ Johnson – 18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
TJ Boykin – 9 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Marquis Colzie – 9 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks
Timpia Ogoun – 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks

Lithia Springs
Terrence Ashford – 17 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Anthony Hardy – 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Omarion Smith – 9 points, 10 rebounds, 8 blocks
Karee Anderson – 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

Game Stories, GHSA, GHSA Basketball

All-State duo Tayne Smith & ZyTavian Hill power No. 2 Central-Talbotton in early battle of unbeatens

Contributed by Rob Grubbs   (@RCGJr226070)

No. 2 Central-Talbotton 75, Dooly County 68

TALBOTTON, Ga – There is a special feel about high school basketball in the small towns across Georgia, the intimacy of the gym, the feel of community and the sense of pride for those who played previously and return for the memories and root for the current team. A perfect example is Talbotton, Georgia where the Central-Talbotton Hawks call home. On this chilly night, the action heated up inside as two undefeated teams faced off in an early Region 4-A matchup. The No. 2 ranked Hawks (9-0) welcomed the undefeated Dooly County Bobcats (4-1) from Vienna, Georgia.  After overcoming a 13-point halftime deficit, the Bobcats fought back to tie the game at 58-58 with four minutes remaining, but the All-State duo of Tayne Smith and ZyTavian Hill took control down the stretch for the 75-68 win.

In the first quarter, the Hawks were up 6-5 early but went on a 10-2 run featuring threes from Hill and Javares Copeland for the 16-7 lead. The Hawks would push that lead to 13 at the half, with Hill and Smith both scoring three-point plays on drives to the basket with the foul. With Bobcat star Jarquavius Brown held in check in the first half, sophomore Rashad Lucas lead Dooly with six points and was strong on the boards.

You can never keep a player like Brown down for long, as he spearheaded the Bobcat comeback by scoring 13 points in the third quarter as Dooly County slowly whittled the lead away. Brown also showed his passing ability, threading the needle on a full-court pass for an easy basket after a Hawk made free throw. The Bobcats finally tied things up with 6:21 remaining in the game at 51 with a three from Bo Lawson, his second three of the fourth quarter.

With the game tied now, it felt like Central-Talbotton rose their game to a higher level. Perhaps Dooly County had expended too much energy in making the comeback, but the two times the Bobcats tied things up, the Hawks seemed to dig deeper. Once things were tied at 58, Hill got a strong offensive rebound and put-back to give Central-Talbotton a lead they would never relinquish as they closed the game on a 17-10 run, including Smith’s free throw clinic at the end to ice it.

Hawk Head Coach Fredrick Cotton said of his two stars, “They are big time athletes, they are who we want to have the ball with the game on the line. They have played together so long, it is almost like they know exactly what the other is thinking and going to do. They are fun to watch.  We have seven seniors, they all have a lot of experience playing together.”

Dooly County Head Coach Towandi King also put on a coaching clinic, he respectfully negotiated with the refs all night and coached his players back into the game when it would have been easy for them to fold on a mid-week game on the road. In the end, his team ran out of gas from the comeback effort, but they were right there till the end.

The win gives Central-Talbotton the lead in the early Region 4-A standings, but there is a lot of ball left to be played.

Rob’s Takeaways

  1. Region 4-A is going to be fun to watch, there were four undefeated teams headed into action Tuesday night, No. 2 Central-Talbotton, No. 3 Macon County, No. 10 Manchester and Dooly County. Also in the mix is Brookstone at 6-2.
  2. It was a tough road trip for Dooly County. On a school night, they left Talbotton at 9:30 for the 1:30 hour drive back to Vienna, which would put them home sometime after 11pm. Single-A schools face long trips for region contests.
  3. JaQuavius Smith let the game come to him, after being held scoreless in the first quarter, he finished with 29, highlighted by 11 in the fourth quarter with the game on the line, including 7-7 from the free throw line.
  4. ZyTavian Hill is a beast on the boards, he thinks every loose ball is his and he takes it.
  5. Hawk senior Javares Copeland is a solid inside player, perfect complement to Hill and Smith and has gotten college coaches’ attention as well.
  6. Bobcat Jarquavius Brown scored right at his season average of 26.7. He is a finalist for the Mr. Middle-Georgia basketball player of the year presented by Hypesouth Media.

Top Performers

Central-Talbotton
JaQuavius “Tayne” Smith – 29 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
ZyTavian Hill – 29 points, 14 rebounds
Javares Copeland – 9 points, 6 rebounds 3 steals

Dooly County
Jarquavius Brown – 25 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists
Zeff Felton – 9 points, 15 rebounds
Rashad Lucas – 16 points, 7 rebounds

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Girls Recaps, Recaps

Statewide Recap 12-12

BOYS

Class AAAAAAA

No. 2 Norcross 65, No. 6 Meadowcreek 52: Kyle Sturdivant opened the game and closed the game for the Blue Devils. Sturdivant scored 8 first quarter points and 6 in the fourth on his way to netting a team-high 16 points. JoJo Toppin and Dalvin White scored 15 points apiece while Brandon Boston added 11. Cory Hightower scored a game-high 20 points for Meadowcreek in the loss. Dequarius Nicholas netted 14 points and Jamir Chaplin tacked on 13.

No. 5 Grayson 74, No. 4 Newton 73: Grayson won a thriller on the road after trailing by seven points in the second half. Kenyon Jackson finished with 15 points including the game-saving defense of Ashton Hagans’ last second layup attempt. Nick Edwards scored 19 points to lead Grayson while Reco Hallmon added 11 and Deivon Smith tacked on 10. Newton was led by Hagans’ 19 points and Dre Butler’s 15. Tyrease Brown and Tre Clark scored 11 apiece. Armani Harris had 10 in the loss.

No. 8 Duluth 72, Mill Creek 63: Adam Flagler poured in 24 points to go along with his 6 rebounds. Will Huzzie had 18 points and Lamont Smith (13) and Jordan Blue (11) each scored in double figures.

No. 10 Collins Hill 49, No. 7 Mountain View 48: The power struggle in Region 6 is in full swing. Queens-signee Chris Parks and Northern Illinois-signee Justin Lee scored 16 apiece in the Eagle win. Mandarius Dickerson netted 11. The Bears were led by Troy-signee Spencer Rodgers’ 15 points.

Discovery 86, North Gwinnett 69: Jaylen Bussey scored 21 points while Old Dominion-signee Kalu Ezikpe double-doubled with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jaden Walker added 10 points and 6 assists while DJ Richardson chipped in 11 points. Cam Rowland led the Bulldogs with a game-high 27 points.

Etowah 66, Lassiter 46: Julian Baldwin scored 15 points and Jaxon Etter had 14 in the Eagles win. Tusculum-signee Adrian Cohen finished with 10.

Parkview 57, Brookwood 49: Ahmir Langlais put up 19 points, 18 rebounds and 2 blocks. Chris Connor netted 18 points and both Devrit Gros and Chris Poythress scored 6 points.

Woodstock 85, Sequoyah 80 OT: Columbus State-signee Dylin Hardeman pumped in 26 points followed by wide receiver Noah Frith’s 22 points and 15 rebounds. Sid Mesumbe, Will Allen and Bryce Clark all scored 10 apiece. Sequoyah was powered by Jackson Greco’s 7 three-pointers en route to a game-high 29 points. Donovan Shipp scored 7 of his 15 points in overtime. DJ King (13) and Myles Magee (10) both chipped in.

Archer 57, Shiloh 54: The Generals’ roller coaster season continued with Archer handing them an all important Region 8 loss. The Tigers used Malik Sproles’ 18 points and sophomore Brent Smith’s 13-point 10-rebound double-double to clinch the road win. Shakim Jenks had 10 points and 5 assists. Sophomore Justin Edmondson had 6 points and 4 steals, but more importantly held Elias King to 12 points.

Rockdale County 71, South Gwinnett 57: Sayvon Traylor piled in 30 points and 7 rebounds.

Cherokee 60, South Forsyth 46: Freshman Taihland Owens totaled 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the Warriors’ non-region win.

Class AAAAAA

No. 4 Brunswick 64, No. 8 Coffee 61: The Pirates rallied past the Trojans, outscoring Coffee 16-7 in the final frame to sweep the season series. Marcus Scott netted a career-high 32 in the comeback after trailing 36-27 at the half.

Stephenson 54, No. 9 Tucker 40: Bryce Latimer poured in 32 points including 11 in the final 4:28 as the Jaguars outscored the Tigers 25-12 in the fourth quarter.  Latimer went 7-of-8 from the foul line in a 15 second span after two technicals on Tucker with 2:18 left iced the game. Drevion Evans added 10 points in the win. Tucker was led by Jevon Tatum’s 17 points.

No. 10 Douglas County 96, Creekside 80: Malik Battle (22), Cam Copeland (19) and Rickey Clark (18) combined for 59 points in the high-scoring Region 5 win.

Pope 66, Dunwoody 52: Micah Paulk dropped 25 points for the Greyhounds. Jared Whitehurst led the Wildcats with 14 points.

Apalachee 65, North Oconee 41: Derek Miller finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Jamonte Wallace notched 12 points and 4 assists. Brandon Bannis had 12 points and 3 assists while Deron Collier scored 11.

Creekview 43, Allatoona 37: The Grizzlies grinded out a win behind KJ Jenkins’ 15 points.

Harrison 64, River Ridge 45: Michael Wilson scored 18 points for the Hoyas. Jack Brunswick contributed 11 points and 5 assists while Jason Porter added 10 points.

Mundy’s Mill 73, Forest Park 31: John Coats (24) and David Crawford (10) combined for 34 points in the blowout win.

Richmond Hill 53, Tattnall County 49: Sheldon Lewis posted 21 points and 7 rebounds while Eric Jones had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Cambridge 66, Alpharetta 61: David Banks scored 19 points and Kamar Robertson had 17 in the Bears win. Bryce Boutelle added 12 points.

Midland Valley (SC) 68, Lakeside-Evans 64: On the verge of cracking the Top 10, the Panthers suffered a resume crippling loss to Midland Valley. Kalen Williams poured in 21 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Brad Hilley netted 18 points. TyShun Briscoe and Tucker Gilbert each had 7 points apiece.

Heritage-Conyers 51, Cedar Shoals 49: The Jaguars’ slide continued. Demetrius Glenn led Cedar Shoals with 11 points in the loss. Quincy Canty collected 9 points and 11 rebounds. Jai’Vanni McDavid had 9 points and 5 rebounds.

Chattahoochee 86, Johns Creek 68: Will Bracknell scored 20 points to pace the Cougars. AJ White netted 18 points followed by Cam Sheffield (11), Grant Van Beveren (10) and Hunter Patterson (10).

Class AAAAA

No. 5 Southwest DeKalb 58, Chamblee 41: KD Johnson had 17 points and 5 rebounds. James Glisson III had 13 points and 7 rebounds. Eugene Brown III tacked on 12 points. Chamblee was led by Zach Mason’s 15 points and Rodney Smith’s 13.

No. 10 Lithonia 53, No. 4 Columbia 52: D’Allen Pritchett finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Bulldogs scored a massive Region 5 win.

Flowery Branch 53, Loganville 28: Justin Quick ignited the Falcons with 21 points and 5 rebounds. Myles Janess added 8 points and 6 rebounds. Patsheko Lutumba netted 9 points while Blake Coxworth collected 6 rebounds and 9 assists.

Arabia Mountain 85, Central Gwinnett 69: Jordan Sterling broke out with 22 points. Jaelin Simpson added 19 points while Ridge Turner (14) and N’Kyzie Hawkins (13) each cracked double figures.

Stockbridge 85, Dutchtown 27: The Tigers crushed the Bulldogs behind six players in double figures. Terryance Jackson led the way with 21 points followed by, GSU-signee Kavonte Ivery (14), Ocean Scott (12), Kalean Hinton (11), Trillis Brown (10) and Elijah Austell (10).

Eagle’s Landing 65, Jones County 60: Mercer-signee Brandon Thomas banged in 7 three-pointers en route to 27 points. Rashad Elloie had 18 points and Tarrence Evans added 13.

Villa Rica 54, Carrollton 51: JJ Franklin scored 13 points followed by Micah Hodges’ 12 and Phillip Zachery’s 11.

Class AAAA

No. 1 Upson-Lee 81, Northside-Warner Robins 49: MTSU-signee Tye Fagan had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists as the Runnin’ Knights won their 41st consecutive game.

No. 7 Stephens County 91, Rabun County 52: Ty Nails hung 32 points and 5 rebounds on the shorthanded Wildcats. Tae Thornton tallied 21 points and DeUndra Singleton double-doubled with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Chaz Bridges tacked on 12 points and 5 rebounds.

No. 10 Westover 81, Early County 72: Mike Isler posted 24 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks while Kris Gardner collected 24 points and 4 assists in the win. Cam Weston pitched in 19 points and 4 assists. Jordan Brown had 10 points and 4 assists.

Thomson 71, 2ANo. 9 Monticello 66: Zander Hamilton scored 18 points and Zavian Smith added 13 in the win. Ashton Bonner piled in 33 points in the loss.

Henry County 86, Eastside 82 OT: DeAndre Rice picked up 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks in the win. Josh Steele netted 19 points. Wisdom Uboh tallied 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists while Semaj Rice totaled 12 points.

LaFayette 83, Gilmer 52: The Ramblers trounced the Bobcats after opening up with a 50-15 halftime lead. Alex Kelehear netted 34 points including 8 three-pointers. Jon Morgan put in 18 points.

Heritage-Catoosa 78, Pickens 61: Hunter Hermann, Chase Simmons and Joseph Gossett all scored 11 points in the loss.

Blessed Trinity 46, North Cobb 44: Ben Shappard netted 16 points to lead the Titans while Andy Swade pitched in 12. North Cobb was powered by Nayari Dampier’s 12 points and Kevin Hester’s 10.

Troup County 66, Heard County 47: Jay Jefferson had 20 points and 5 assists. Andy Boykin posted 12 points and 7 rebounds. Montez Crowe collected 8 points and 10 rebounds.

North Clayton 55, Drew 54: Joseph Wimbley scored 20 points and Jaimonnie Watkins-Causey had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Class AAA

No. 4 Cedar Grove 63, Towers 59: Jamari Dean collected 11 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Malik Johnson had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Devon Barnes tacked on 11 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block.

No. 6 Calhoun 50, North Murray 38: The Yellow Jackets finally opened their season after winning the state title in football before the snow postponements. Fresh off the football field, Davis Allen finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 8 blocks. Chase Goble scored 13 points and blocked two shots while Kaylan Aker netted 10 points and 6 rebounds and Porter Law chipped in 6 points and 8 assists. Waylyn James paced the Mountaineers with 14 points.

No. 7 Westside-Macon 76, Kendrick 53: Greg Holloway had 22 points and 7 rebounds. Khavon Moore posted 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. Kowacie Reeves Jr. netted 11 points an Des Foston had 8 points and 4 steals. Omar Jones tacked on 5 points, 10 rebounds and 4 steals.

Central-Macon 59, Jackson 57: Kylan Hill collected 18 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists while Kanuri Williams netted 17 in the win.

Dawson County 58, Lumpkin County 38: Cullen Reed scored 19 points to pace the Tigers. Jeremiah Crumley had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Ryan Gallenkamp collected 9 points and 8 rebounds. Campbell Reed scored 8 points and Dakhota Sonnichsen added 6.

North Hall 60, Fannin County 27: Noah Holman scored 16 points and Taylor Hanson netted 13.

East Jackson 91, Oglethorpe County 65: The Eagles moved to 9-1 behind Tay Howard’s 21 points, Makayl Rakestraw’s 18 and Xavier Clark’s 15.

Pierce County 83, Brantley County 74: 6-foot-7 2019 forward Jaylin Williams erupted for 40 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks in the loss.

Class AA

No. 1 Glenn Hills 62, Laney 61: The Spartans rallied past the Wildcats to send a statement to the rest of the CSRA. Tim Williamson had 14 points followed by John Whitehead’s 13. Timmy Sellers and Jeffrey Cabarrus added 9 apiece while Eric Farmer scored 8 points and Isaiah Bauman netted 6. Laney was led by D’Juan Griffin’s 21 points, Ronnie Walker’s 10 and Donald Henley’s 9.

No. 2 Banks County 71, Madison County 41: Carl Cleveland netted 22 points for the Leopards and added 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Dylan Orr totaled 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. Gabe Martin scored 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds and 4 steals while Noah Rylee had 8 points. Darius Bonds collected 7 points, 7 assists and 5 steals while Dakota Orr pitched in 7 points and 5 rebounds.

No. 3 South Atlanta 85, KIPP Atlanta 56: Jalen Stegall tacked on 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in the win while Dre Barnes added 14 points, 3 assists and 3 steals to ignite the backcourt. Demetrius Headspeth collected 14 points and 9 rebounds. In the loss, Deshon “Squirt” Ashton had 14 points and 4 assists. Chris Dumas added 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Javon Thornton tagged on 14 points and 3 steals for the Warriors.

Vidalia 62, No. 4 Jeff Davis 59: The Indians rode Tahj Jones’ 30 points to a huge Region 2 victory. Kirese Manley finished with 25 points in the loss for the Yellow Jackets. Chandler Davenport and Tae Thomas scored 10 apiece. Ja’Queze Kirby was held to 8 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks.

No. 10 Washington County 90, Southwest-Macon 30: The Golden Hawks laid down the hammer thanks to an offensive onslaught which saw eight players score seven or more points. Jamarius Dixon led with 13 points followed by Jawan Dukes’ 10 points and 8 rebounds. Ivory Williams and Jarden Maze each scored 9 points while Jalen Jackson and Curtis Brown netted 8. Josh Parker and Lazerionta Taylor chipped in 7 points apiece.

Lamar County 76, Pike County 52: Dallas Ogletree netted 19 points followed by David Daniel and Rondez Fletcher’s 11 apiece.

Washington 50, Hapeville Charter 45: Paul Byner (12), Davin Quinones (10) and Marquez Crews (8) couldn’t lead the Hornets to victory without leading scoring Jemaure Ezzard.

Dodge County 72,  West Laurens 69: Nick Cummings erupted for a career-high 44 points to lead the Indians. DeMarcus Caines added 10 and RJ Carr netted 7.

Class A-Private

No. 1 St. Francis 93, SACA 32: Dwon Odom flirted with a triple-double finishing with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists in a dominant performance. Sam Hines had 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. CJ Riley netted 14 points and dished out 3 assists. Chase Ellis contributed 12 points and 3 assists while Jai Smith tossed in 13 points. Caleb Snyder tallied 6 points and 3 assists.

No. 3 ELCA 77, No. 8 King’s Ridge 54: Malachi Rhodes went off for 25 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists in the Charger win. Trevon Reddish added 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Jamaine Mann posted 12 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. KJ Jones tagged on 10 points.

Whitefield Academy 54, No. 10 Mt. Vernon Presbyterian 46: The Mustangs struggled on the road going 10-of-34 from the foul line to seal their fate. Tahj Keeton finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds in the loss. Marques Frye had 11 points.

Darlington 54, Trion 52: JD Hull led the Tigers with 19 points while Barrick Wade sank a late three-pointer to seal the Tiger win.

Lakeview Academy 72, Athens Academy 61: Adam Cottrell had 19 points and 4 steals while brother Drew chipped in 14 points. Arturo Varela had 13 points and 8 rebounds. Jack Blackburn notched 9 points and 7 assists.

Mt. Paran 55, Providence Christian 33: Adam Doty scored 10 points in the loss.

Class A-Public

No. 2 Central-Talbotton 75, Dooly County 68: The dynamic duo of Tayne Smith and ZyTavian Hill poured in 58 points combined to remain undefeated and hand the Bobcats their first loss. Smith finished with 29 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists while Hill hung 29 points and 14 rebounds.  JarQuavius Brown powered Dooly County with 25 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists while Rashad Lucas added 16 points and 7 rebounds and Zeff Felton grabbed 15 rebounds to go with his 9 points.

No. 4 Woodville-Tompkins 66, Claxton 32: Preston Crisp dropped in 20 points followed by Charleston Willingham’s 12.

Terrell County 82, Webster County 49: In the loss, Keundre Campbell pumped in 25 points for Webster County.

 

GIRLS

Class AAAAAAA

No. 6 Newton 63, Grayson 42: The Lady Rams dominated in their Region 8 bout with Grayson. Jurnee Smith scored a game-high 17 points.

No. 7 Cherokee 73, South Forsyth 39: Lacie McCoy scored 15 points to pace the Lady Warriors followed by Olivia Herrera (12), Laiken Wade (11) and Ashlyn Andrus (9).

No. 8 North Forsyth 54, Chestatee 38: Catherine Shope netted 14 points for the Lady Raiders.

North Cobb 63, Blessed Trinity 40: Azonya Austin (20) and Sydney Solomon (12) combined for 32 points in the Lady Warrior win. Blessed Trinity was led by Erin Hynekamp’s 21 points and Katie Hynekamp’s 14.

Lassiter 39, Etowah 32: Wambui Chege put up a team-high 15 points for the Lady Trojans while Taylor Smith added 11 in the win.

Class AAAAAA

No. 1 Lovejoy 66, ML King 36: Anaya Boyd finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Lashanti Blunt netted 14.

No. 2 Harrison 59, River Ridge 48: Savannah Samuel had 16 points and Lexi Palmer scored 13 but it wasn’t enough to score a Region 6 upset.

No. 4 Alpharetta 62, Cambridge 30: Jalyn Tillerson had 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals while MVSU-commit Sydnie Ward posted 16 points and 3 steals. Kendall Phillips (11), Grace Knutsen (6), Mahima Sangtani (5) and GoGo MAduka (4 points 5 rebounds) all chipped in .

No. 5 Northview 68, North Atlanta 21: Ashlee Austin eclipsed the 1,000-point barrier by scoring 20 points. Eden Sample netted 20 points while Asjah Inniss (10) and Jada Reidling (6) each chipped in.

No. 9 Tucker 48, No. 8 Stephenson 38: Kerrigan Johnson scored 14 points and Jasani Buchanan double-doubled with 12 points and 10 rebounds to power the Tigers past the Jaguars. Amariah Stanard added 10 rebounds. Stephenson was led by Sierra Wynn’s 12 points and 8 rebounds and Kassidy Broussard’s 10 points.

Pope 51, Dunwoody 49 OT: Cheyenne Holloman scored 21 points followed by Teya Holloman’s 17 to pace the Greyhounds in a wild game. Talia Cloud chipped in 6 points and played a key role defensively.

Class AAAAA

No. 2 Flowery Branch 64, Loganville 34: Caroline Wysocki tallied 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in the win. Alabama-signee Taniyah Worth finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds. Lexie Sengkhammee scored 9 points. Ashlee Locke added 8 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks while Jenna Sutton and Carly Shaw each had 6 points and 4 rebounds apiece.

No. 5 Eagle’s Landing 63, Jones County 36: Ashley Foster (19), Jaleah Storr (12) and Kiera Howard (11) paced the Eagles in a balanced win.

No. 8 Villa Rica 67, No. 3 Carrollton 60: The Lady Wildcats grabbed a massive Region 7 win behind Deasia Merrill’s 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals. Tee Windom had 12 points and 5 rebounds. Kyndal Coleman and Aliyah Hindsman scored 11 apiece.

Woodland-Stockbridge 48, Hampton 31: Jayla Parks scored 10 points followed by Emprest Muhammad’s 9 points and 5 rebounds. Mya Geddis tagged on 9 points and 10 rebounds.

Class AAAA

No. 4 Luella 66, Druid Hills 33: Keely Brown poured in 27 points in the Lady Lion win.

No. 5 Jefferson 44, Habersham Central 33: McKenzie Tyler and Akera Benton each scored 8 points in the win.

Pickens 65, Heritage-Catoosa 58: The Dragonettes moved to 7-0 behind Mykenzie Weaver’s 22 points and 7 rebounds. Allie Stephens contributed 12 points and 5 rebounds while Torie Williams posted 8 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

White County 74, Commerce 32: Dasha Cannon scored 16 points followed by Naomi Crumley’s 13 and Bentley Cronic’s 12 in the Lady Warrior win.

Class AAA

No. 3 Central-Macon 58, Jackson 31: Jada Clowers posted 20 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks to power the Lady Chargers. Tyleia Williams had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. ReNesha Goolsby chipped in 10 points and 3 assists while Nakaiya Greene had 6 points.

Lumpkin County 46, No. 7 Dawson County 39: With no Kaylee Sticker available, the Lady Tigers were unable to muster enough offense to avoid an upset. Calli Watson finished with 12 points on 4 three-pointers. Emma Brown had 7 points and Chloe Bennett scored 6.

Calhoun 49, No. 10 North Murray 44: The Yellow Jackets held off North Murray to knock the Mountaineers from the unbeatens. Anna George scored 13 points while Lyndi Rae Davis added 12 and Railey Greeson and Erin Davis netted 8 apiece. Raven Stone led North Murray with 20 in the loss. Calhoun held the Mountaineers to 17% shooting.

Sonoraville 63, Coahulla Creek 35: Freshman Alexa Geary pumped in 21 points for the Lady Phoenix.

Island 55, Groves 21: Elizabeth Sierzant scored 19 points to lead the Sharks. Diamond Garvin double-doubled with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Meara Kelly grabbed 12 rebounds.

North Hall 53, Fannin County 27: The Lady Trojans were led by Natalie Nixon’s 19 points.

East Jackson 44, Oglethorpe County 39: Annice Pittman (12) and Maurissa Thomas (10) led the Lady Eagles.

Class AA

No. 1 Laney 90, Glenn Hills 16: De’Sha Benjamin (26), Jhessyka Williams (20) and Jaiden Hamilton (15) powered the Wildcats to another easy win in region play.

No. 2 Rabun County 81, Stephens County 41: Georgia Stockton poured in 25 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in the win. Kaitlin Coleman added 16 points and 5 rebounds. Hanna Cannon had 9 points and Jaden Quilliams collected 10 rebounds.

No. 7 Banks County 60, 4ANo. 7 Madison County 53: Allison Smith (19), Maddie Thomas (16) and Amber Williams (13) combined for 48 points as the trio led the Lady Leopards to a big bounce back win.

No. 8 Dodge County 63, West Laurens 39: Europe Brown scored 23 points and Zanessia Mitchell tossed in 18 in the win. Destanee Wright added 11 points and Nadia Lewis scored 8.

Josey 59, Butler 39: Tykedra Rolland, Ebony Clark and Rondaijah Wynn all scored 14 points in the win as the Eagles moved to 10-0.

Bleckley County 70, First Presbyterian Day 40: Jahnaria Brown went off for 26 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals for the Lady Royals.

Gordon Central 69, Dade County 68 OT: Freshman Mercedes Coleman exploded for 38 points in the win.

Hapeville Charter 59, Washington 56: Cherry Reeves cashed in 34 points while Ja’dah Thomas added 19 in the Lady Hornet win.

Class A-Private

No. 4 Our Lady of Mercy 52, No. 6 Fellowship Christian 41: Florida State-signee Morgan Jones scored the first 31 points for the Lady Bobcats and finished with a game-high 42, outscoring Fellowship Christian in the win.

No. 8 Christian Heritage 57, No. 10 Pinecrest Academy 42: The Lady Lions scored a huge Top 10 win behind Meghan Schneller’s 22 points and 9 rebounds.

Lakeview Academy 61, No. 9 Athens Academy 51: Mattie Towles netted 16 points while Maddie Blackburn scored 13 as the Lady Lions proved they are still the team to beat in Region 8. Tori Taylor and Jackie Allen scored 11 apiece. Gabby Mastandrea scored 17 points in the loss while Greer Moseley added 14 points. Rose Bone tallied 8 points and 6 rebounds for the Lady Spartans.

Prince Avenue Christian 38, Elbert County 35: The Lady Wolverines got their revenge behind Mackenzie Case (10), Maddi Britt (9) and Ansley Hall (8).

Class A-Public

 

GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Peach State Stops of the Week (12/10-12/16)

People always ask me, “What’s the best game in town this week?”

Peach State Stops of the Week will highlight some of the best basketball being played in Georgia for the current week. Whether it’s a tournament/showcase, a region rivalry, a Top 10 showdown, or a seldom heard sleeper, Peach State Stops of the Week will let you know what gym you need to get into

TUESDAY

No. 6 Fellowship Christian at No. 4 Our Lady of Mercy [Girls]

Looking for two elite High Major All-State players that carry their teams? You will want to take a trip down Evander Holyfield Highway to watch reigning Class A-Private Player of the Year Morgan Jones (Florida State) trade buckets with future Colorado Buffalo Cameron Swartz in this heavyweight bout. Jones is the state’s most unstoppable force, pouring in 36.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game as a 6-foot-2 forward. She has led the Lady Bobcats to a 5-1 start including a 59-48 upset of No. 5 Landmark Christian last week to propel Our Lady of Mercy into the Top 10. Jones dumped in 47 points and 20 rebounds and has her Bobcats making noise statewide after finishing 13-13 a year ago. If Jones is the state’s most unstoppable player, Swartz is one of Class A-Private’s most explosive athletes and versatile scorers. The 5-foot-11 guard makes plays all over the floor for Fellowship Christian (2-2), averaging 33.5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3.7 steals. She is a threat to score once she steps over half-court and isn’t afraid to fire away from all angles. Expect fireworks tonight.

No. 5 Grayson at No. 4 Newton

Two juggernauts collide for early season supremacy in Region 8-AAAAAAA. Ashton Hagans has been unstoppable for Newton (7-0), collecting five consecutive triple-doubles. The Rams have not missed a step from last year’s 28-2 team that fell in the Elite Eight, even after graduating JD Notae (Jacksonville) and Isaiah Miller (UNCG). Tyrease Brown has emerged as one of the state’s most lethal shooters while Hagans has toys inside with Dre Butler and Armani Harris to finish around the rim. The Rams have much more inside-outside balance than they had a year ago, giving teams headaches trying to figure out how to slow down the high-flying offense that averages 86.8 points per game – tops in Class AAAAAAA. Something will have to give as Grayson (4-1) enters with defense being their calling card, allowing just 52.6 points per game, their highest point total allowed coming in a 67-64 loss to Class AAAAA No. 1 Warner Robins. The Rams can get a bucket when they need it from their deep backcourt headlined by Charleston Southern-signee Travis Anderson. Fellow senior Nick Edwards is one of the state’s better unsigned guards while DJ Williams, Reco Hallmon and Justin Fleming all provide their own unique dynamic. Luol Solomon, Orvel Graham and Deivon Smith have provided sparks throughout the season while the post is anchored by double-double man 6-foot-6 Kenyon Jackson and 6-foot-7 senior Terrence Porter. You can watch LIVE on SUVtv.

WEDNESDAY

No. 8 Maynard Jackson at No. 9 Lithia Springs

Last week’s snow storm affords us a full week of high school basketball with Region 6-AAAAA front runners locking up for sole possession of first place on a rare Wednesday-nighter. Head Coach Travis Williams has breathed new life into the Maynard Jackson (8-0) program and has the Jaguars off to their best start in over a decade in just Year 2 at the helm. Senior Marquavis Carter has been lights out from deep, averaging 23.8 points while connecting on 20-of-47 three-pointers. The addition of 6-foot-7 senior TJ Boykin has provided a versatile piece that can do a little bit of everything while 6-foot-5 sophomore Timpia Ogoun has developed into a sturdy post presence that averages 9.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Lithia Springs (7-0) just cracked the Top 10 this week behind a balance of youth and veterans. Sophomore guard Anthony Hardy has led a balanced scoring attack with over 14 points per game. 6-foot-5 freshman post Omarion Smith has dominated defensively around the rim, blocking 6.2 shots per game to go with his 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds. Seniors Christian Horton, KeyShawn Phillips and Terrence Ashford have all contributed consistently this season.

FRIDAY

No. 7 Swainsboro at No. 4 Jeff Davis

Hazlehurst, GA might be considered “the middle of nowhere” to us city slickers up north, but that doesn’t mean the area isn’t a hotbed for good basketball. Jeff Davis (6-0) is home to possibly the best 2020 player you haven’t heard of, but you should have by now: Ja’Queze Kirby. The hyper-athletic and high-motor forward is a 6-foot-5 energizer bunny that does everything for the Yellow Jackets. The 2016-17 Class AA Freshman of the Year led Jeff Davis in nearly every category, posting 14.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.1 steals, 3.2 blocks and is improving across the board this season. Seniors Kirese Manley and Chandler Davenport are big shot makers while Tae Thomas is the sparkplug at point guard. They will have a chance to prove themselves a worthy state title contender as they host Preseason No. 1 Swainsboro, who looks motivated after taking a 71-36 beating to Statesboro 10 days ago. The core of All-State First Teamer Jaylan McKinney, Jamil Watkins and Eddie Roberts is still to be feared in Class AA. The Yellow Jackets will have to find a way to slow down McKinney, a binge scorer that averaged over 28 points per game last year, if they want to continue climbing up the rankings.

SATURDAY

2017 SEBA Atlanta Hoop Festival

A true favorite, the SEBA Atlanta Hoop Festival held by William LoPresti is back at Pope High School marking its 10th annual edition. A loaded field features a bevy of talent.

2 PM: Blessed Trinity vs. Hillgrove
3:30 PM: Berkmar vs. Mt. Bethel Christian
5 PM: Hoover (AL) vs. Kennesaw Mountain
6:30 PM: No. 8 Duluth vs. No. 1 McEachern
8 PM: No. 2 Dacula vs. Pope

For an excellent preview of each team, visit SEBA’s Preview Page.

Gwinnett Daily Post Metro Atlanta Challenge

Gwinnett County is slam packed with basketball this Saturday as 15 different in-county schools are in action across three different gymnasiums. Matchups are provided courtesy of the Sandy’s Spiel graphics department.

 

GHSA, Girls Basketball, Girls Rankings

Week 4 Girls Rankings

Class AAAAAAA

  1. Westlake (5-0)
  2. Collins Hill (6-1)
  3. Norcross (7-1)
  4. McEachern (5-2)
  5. Colquitt County (6-1)
  6. Newton (7-1)
  7. Cherokee (6-1)
  8. North Forsyth (6-1)
  9. Brookwood (4-1)
  10. South Gwinnett (7-1) 

Class AAAAAA

  1. Lovejoy (7-0)
  2. Harrison (5-1)
  3. Winder-Barrow (6-0)
  4. Alpharetta (6-0)
  5. Northview (5-2)
  6. Sequoyah (5-1)
  7. Forest Park (4-2)
  8. Stephenson (4-3)
  9. Tucker (4-1)
  10. Northside-Warner Robins (5-1) 

Class AAAAA

  1. Buford (6-0)
  2. Flowery Branch (5-1)
  3. Carrollton (3-1)
  4. Dutchtown (6-1)
  5. Eagle’s Landing (6-3)
  6. Harris County (6-0)
  7. Bainbridge (8-2)
  8. Villa Rica (5-0)
  9. Southwest DeKalb (3-3)
  10. Maynard Jackson (5-0) 

Class AAAA

  1. Carver-Columbus (6-0)
  2. Henry County (7-0)
  3. Spalding (7-0)
  4. Luella (7-1)
  5. Jefferson (4-2)
  6. Northwest Whitfield (5-1)
  7. Madison County (2-2)
  8. West Hall (5-2)
  9. Baldwin (6-0)
  10. Marist (6-0) 

Class AAA

  1. Greater Atlanta Christian (6-1)
  2. Beach (8-0)
  3. Central-Macon (2-0)
  4. Franklin County (7-0)
  5. Lovett (7-1)
  6. Johnson-Savannah (5-2)
  7. Dawson County (4-1)
  8. Haralson County (3-0)
  9. Hart County (3-2)
  10. North Murray (8-1) 

Class AA

  1. Laney (4-0)
  2. Rabun County (6-0)
  3. Fitzgerald (2-0)
  4. Swainsboro (5-0)
  5. Model (6-2)
  6. Putnam County (5-0)
  7. Banks County (3-1)
  8. Dodge County (6-1)
  9. Dublin (6-1)
  10. Berrien (7-2) 

Class A-Private

  1. Holy Innocents’ (6-1)
  2. Wesleyan (5-1)
  3. St. Francis (5-1)
  4. Our Lady of Mercy (5-1)
  5. Landmark Christian (5-3)
  6. Fellowship Christian (2-2)
  7. Stratford Academy (4-2)
  8. Christian Heritage (5-1)
  9. Athens Academy (5-1)
  10. Pinecrest Academy (2-3) 

Class A-Public

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

 

Due to the lack of games because of the snow storm, there are no changes in Class AAAAAAA. No. 3 Norcross picked up a 70-46 win over Marietta and No. 8 North Forsyth beat Archer 50-46 to highlight last week’s notable results.

No. 2 Harrison knocked Creekview (3-4) back out of the Class AAAAAA Top 10 with a 66-51 win in Region 6. Also exiting the poll is Bradwell Institute (6-2); the Lady Tigers were beat at Brunswick 65-64. Replacing the Grizzlies and Tigers are debutants No. 9 Tucker and No. 10 Northside-Warner Robins. The Tigers are no stranger to the state rankings but make their first appearance in Week 4. They have won four straight games following a season opening loss to Class 7A No. 3 Norcross, 63-52. The Lady Eagles enter the rankings following a 47-33 win at Bleckley County, dropping the Royals from the Top 10 in Class AA. Northside-Warner Robins also holds a 60-49 victory over Brunswick coming at the Jag Challenge at Spalding. 6-foot senior post Tamia Sapp anchors the Eagles inside averaging 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

Arabia Mountain (5-1) gets squeezed out of the Class AAAAA rankings to make way for No. 6 Harris County. The Lady Tigers bust into the Top 10 thanks to a dominant 75-57 win over No. 7 Bainbridge, who slides three spots. The Tigers have the best inside duo in the state between Mississippi State-signee Jessika Carter (23.5 ppg, 15.8 rpg, 5.5 bpg) and junior Taziha Fanning (15.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg). Carter’s younger sisters are beginning to blossom, giving Coach Steffanie Ramsey an embarrassment of size and length. 5-foot-11 junior Ny’Azjha Carter-Ransom is averaging 10 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3 assists while 6-foot-4 sophomore ZiKeyah Carter-Ransom is fourth on the team in both scoring and rebounding. Outside shooting and guard play will determine how deep the Tigers will go this season.

The only movement in Class AAAA comes at the bottom of the poll with No. 8 West Hall jumping two spots following their 52-46 win over Class 2A No. 7 Banks County. Anna McKendree dropped 31 points to pace the Lady Spartans followed by Aashyah White’s 10.

Class AAA sees no shuffling. No. 2 Beach defeated Brunswick 38-32 and now travels to rival No. 6 Johnson-Savannah for a state championship rematch. The Atomsmashers have won five-straight including avenging a season-opening 46-41 loss to Camden County by edging the Wildcats 50-49 on the road. No. 7 Dawson County held on for a 56-52 win at Blessed Trinity without star Kaylee Sticker who sprained her ankle in the third quarter. Sticker finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists before subbing out; it is likely she will miss some time.

To no surprise, No. 1 Laney is rolling in Class AA. Alabama-signee De’Sha Benjamin is averaging 28 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.3 blocks to power the aggressive Wildcats. Jhessyka Williams is posting 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists per game as an athletic wing while junior Jaiden Hamilton is collecting 18 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists on average. No. 7 Banks County is down two spots following their loss to Class 4A No. 8 West Hall. The Lady Leopards see No. 5 Model and Region 8 opposition No. 6 Putnam County climb ahead of them for now. The Squaws of No. 8 Dodge County were inline for a major jump after wins against Class A-Public No. 7 Wilcox County 59-42 and Bleckley County 63-60, helping knock the Royals from the rankings at 2-3, but Dodge County was upset on a buzzer beater at East Laurens 52-51, keeping them locked at No. 8. Replacing Bleckley County is No. 9 Dublin. The Irish thrashed Treutlen 53-35 in Soperton.

There’s more madness in the middle of the rankings in Class A-Private. No. 4 Our Lady of Mercy has won five in a row and now is ranked for the first time following their 59-48 win over No. 5 Landmark Christian. Reigning Class A-Private Player of the Year Morgan Jones has been unstoppable again this season, averaging 36.2 points and 11.7 rebounds. The Florida State-signee torched Landmark Christian for 47 points and 20 rebounds. There will be more fireworks this week as Jones leads her Lady Bobcats against No. 6 Fellowship Christian. The Lady Paladins beat No. 10 Pinecrest Academy for the second time this season, 53-50, behind Cameron Swartz’ 36 points. The Colorado-signee is averaging 33.5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3.7 steals per game. Dropping out to make way for Our Lady of Mercy is Greenforest (1-3)

No. 2 Telfair County defeated No. 7 Wilcox County 53-49 in Class A-Public. No. 9 Woodville-Tompkins is teetering on falling out of the Top 10 along with Region 3 rival Treutlen (1-4). The Wolverines lost in overtime to Savannah Country Day 46-41, but rebounded with a 40-37 overtime win against Savannah Christian. Treutlen was blown out 53-22 by No. 3 Wheeler County and by Class 2A No. 9 Dublin 53-35.