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GHSA, Girls Basketball, Girls Game Stories

No. 7 Sequoyah holds off pesky Wolverines

No. 7 Sequoyah 57, Woodstock 54

Cherokee County powers met at the War Lodge in Hickory Flat, Sequoyah entering at a perfect 7-0 and ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAAA while Woodstock, limping in with injuries at 4-4 without South Alabama-signee Devyn Lowe.

On a rare Monday night showdown, the Lady Chiefs and Wolverines went back and forth with both sides trading runs. Sequoyah led 12-11 after one behind Alyssa Cagle’s five points. The Lady Chiefs were on the verge of a taking an commanding early double digit lead if it wasn’t for the hot shooting of senior Taylor Reed. The long ball threat scored seven of her 10 points in the first quarter and drained three threes on the night while using a flare screen to get open on the opposite wing.

In the second quarter, Cagle picked up a hockey assist as she dished to Emily Seres who found AnnaLynne Bennett on a nice interior pass to go up 19-13.

Sequoyah opened up a quick 24-13 lead on a 12-2 run and looked like they were about to put the banged up Wolverines away, but athletic senior slasher Bralise Reese got free and powered a 13-4 run with six of her game-high 16 points in the frame, leading the Wolverines into the half trailing 28-26.

The Lady Chiefs sprung out of the half quickly using five points from Colby Carden. The junior combo guard sank her seventh point of the quarter to give Sequoyah a 40-31 lead with 1:37 left in the third. Sequoyah finished out the period using a Lauren Schletty basket to maintain a 44-33 lead heading into the fourth.

In the blink of an eye, Woodstock crawled its way back into the game riding a 10-2 surge to cut the Sequoyah lead to 46-43. Senior point guard Kamryn Forrester was the catalyst, scoring six of her 10 points in the final 8 minutes and finishing the game with four rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block.

The Wolverines finally tied the game on freshman Sophia Singer’s three-pointer but Carden quickly got the ball up the court and found Schletty to regain a 48-46 lead at the 2:49 mark. Schletty got hot and scored six of her 10 points in the fourth including sinking two free throws to go ahead 52-46 with 2:11 left, the Lady Chiefs seemingly regaining control of the game.

Instead, Forrester came away with a steal underneath the basket and while tumbling down, kicked the ball behind her to Reese for two of her eight fourth quarter points to make it 56-54 with 42.6 seconds remaining.

Sequoyah’s Bennett was sent to the line with 27 seconds and missed her first free throw, prompting Woodstock head coach Julie Crowe to call timeout and organize a plan for the Wolverines. Bennett coolly knocked down her second attempt, setting up a final possession with 18.5 seconds left for Woodstock after advancing the ball and moving past half court.

Woodstock swung the ball around the perimeter but the best look they could get was a contested Reese heave from the top of the key that clanked off the rim.

My Take

Though she missed two free throws in the fourth quarter and didn’t have as many “wow” plays as usual, junior point guard Alyssa Cagle is still the real deal for Sequoyah. Every time she touches the ball good things happen whether she’s slashing through the lane, finding open shooters or pulling the trigger from deep herself. Coach Derrick DeWitt praised her for even her post defense when getting stuck on bigger Wolverines. As long as she’s in Black and Gold, the Lady Chiefs will be an issue statewide come February and March. She is the leader of a potent 7-man junior class which sees Colby Carden and Peyton Satterfield flank her as dangerous shooters. Carden moves in from Sprayberry, following father Allen Carden who is head coach of the boys team. She played very well with Cagle and provides a versatile scoring punch and high IQ alongside floor general Cagle. Lauren Schletty, one of two seniors on the roster, really came up big in the fourth quarter; she does some nice things around the basket. Without any Hartmans on the roster, Sequoyah’s one bugaboo when it comes to contending for a state title might be their lack of size.

Woodstock has been stung with injuries but that didn’t stop the Wolverines from fighting to the very end. Kamryn Forrester was excellent as an energizer bunny all over the floor, affecting the game in multiple ways. Taylor Reed used Coach Crowe’s flare screen offense to perfection in the first half with three threes. I loved Bralise Reese’s athleticism and tenacity. She was cat-quick getting to the rim and had a great second leap to clean up misses. Her 16-point 10-rebound double-double was a strong effort. A name to stow away in the memory bank is freshman Sophia Singer. The 5-foot-10 youngster resembles Olivia Nelson-Ododa with her long and lanky frame but of course, not at her height or skill set. She knocked down a big three in the fourth quarter and rebounded well.

Top Performers

Sequoyah
Colby Carden – 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals
Alyssa Cagle – 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Lauren Schletty – 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals 1 block
Peyton Satterfield – 9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Emily Seres – 6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist

Woodstock
Bralise Reese – 16 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block
Kamryn Forrester – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Taylor Reed – 10 points, 4 rebounds
Brittany Burnett – 7 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

GHSA, Girls Basketball, Girls Rankings

Week 4 Girls Rankings

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Class AAAAAAA

  1. Norcross (10-0)
  2. Collins Hill (7-0)
  3. McEachern (4-4)
  4. Mill Creek (8-1)
  5. Westlake (6-1)
  6. Archer (6-2)
  7. Newton (6-1)
  8. Colquitt County (7-0)
  9. Lambert (7-0)
  10. North Forsyth (8-1)

Class AAAAAA

  1. Harrison (7-1)
  2. Mays (3-2)
  3. Winder-Barrow (5-3)
  4. Douglas County (8-2)
  5. Lovejoy (8-0)
  6. Grovetown (6-3)
  7. Sequoyah (7-0)
  8. Tucker (8-1)
  9. Northview (8-1)
  10. Jonesboro (6-3)

Class AAAAA

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

Class AAAA

  1. North Oconee (7-1)
  2. Columbus (6-1)
  3. Cross Creek (4-3)
  4. Carver-Columbus (7-0)
  5. West Hall (4-3)
  6. Sandy Creek (6-0)
  7. Jefferson (5-2)
  8. Northwest Whitfield (5-3)
  9. Baldwin (5-1)
  10. Heritage-Catoosa (8-0)

Class AAA

  1. Johnson-Savannah (9-0)
  2. Beach (8-0)
  3. Greater Atlanta Christian (6-4)
  4. Hart County (7-0)
  5. Redan (7-1)
  6. Monroe (6-0)
  7. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (8-1)
  8. Calhoun (7-2)
  9. Ringgold (6-2)
  10. Haralson County (5-2) 

Class AA

  1. Model (5-1)
  2. Laney (3-1)
  3. Rabun County (7-1)
  4. Fitzgerald (2-0)
  5. Dodge County (4-1)
  6. Vidalia (4-1)
  7. Heard County (8-2)
  8. Dade County (7-3)
  9. Putnam County (3-3)
  10. Bryan County (7-0) 

Class A-Private

  1. Wesleyan (8-0)
  2. St. Francis (6-1)
  3. Holy Innocents’ (7-1)
  4. Calvary Day (5-0)
  5. Lakeview Academy (7-2)
  6. Pinecrest Academy (6-1)
  7. Landmark Christian (5-3)
  8. Our Lady of Mercy (6-2)
  9. Darlington (4-2)
  10. Stratford Academy (5-1)

Class A-Public

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

Three straight losses, all coming out of state, forces McEachern down to No. 3 in Class AAAAAAA. The Indians went 0-2 in the She Got Game Classic in Washington, D.C. Usually playing such good competition the Indians wouldn’t be punished, but No. 2 Collins Hill looks like the real deal and will just sneak ahead of the Indians for their in-state work. Newton falls to No. 7 after a 49-42 loss to Duluth, meaning Mill Creek is now in the Top 4. Archer rebounded from a rough week by shaking off an early deficit and beating No. 10 North Forsyth 55-43.

Harrison looked dominant as the No. 1 team in Class AAAAAA blitzed Creekview 63-37 and Hillgrove, 72-55. No. 3 Winder-Barrow got revenge against Loganville, 31-27 in another defensive struggle. Jonesboro had a week to forget in Region 4, losing to Tucker 57-43 and to Lovejoy 33-31. No. 8 Tucker lost to Lovejoy 39-32, slipping two spots while the Wildcats skyrocket five spots to No. 5 after a huge week. No. 7 Sequoyah jumps No. 9 Northview after scoring wins over county rivals River Ridge (54-45) and Cherokee (46-32).

Class AAAAA’s No. 2 Buford took down Loganville 56-44, and in the process dropped the Red Devils from the Top 10. Replacing Loganville is No. 10 Maynard Jackson who is undefeated to open the year. No one else in the rankings lost, but that will change this week as No. 6 Villa Rica hosts No. 7 Carrollton in a clash of Region 7 unbeatens on Tuesday.

Americus-Sumter and Henry County both depart the Class AAAA poll following Americus-Sumter’s 58-41 loss to No. 2 Columbus and the Warhawks’ losses to Woodward Academy (55-48) and Salem (69-63). Debuting this week are No. 9 Baldwin and No. 10 Heritage-Catoosa. The Braves defeated Putnam County on the road 50-38, and their only loss came to Warner Robins in overtime 72-62. Courtney Butts has led the charge, averaging 14.2 points, 7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 4.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. Heritage’s statement win came at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, 61-39 handing the Warriors their lone loss of the season. The top mover in this week’s rankings is No. 6 Sandy Creek. The Patriots defeated 7-2 Greenville, SC 66-64.

South Georgia dominates the top of the poll in Class AAA while North Georgia fills the bottom as four teams from Region 6 go spots 7 through 10. Even with a loss to Heritage-Catoosa, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe continues its rise to No. 7 after defeating region foe No. 10 Haralson County 61-54. Back into the Top 10 is No. 8 Calhoun, who handed No. 9 Ringgold a region loss, 75-67. The Tigers held fast to their No. 9 spot however thanks to a 51-48 win against Northwest Whitfield. Defending state champion Morgan County drops out after a 3-4 start.

Putnam County’s slide in Class AA continues as the Eagles fall from No. 4 to No. 9 after a loss to Baldwin. Pepperell exits after being ranked No. 10. No. 1 Model beat the Dragons 58-38. Into the poll for the first time this year is No. 10 Bryan County.

Wesleyan has cruised so far this season in Class A-Private. The top-ranked Wolves crushed Morgan County 81-46 and took it to St. Pius X, 56-18. Two surprises take over the No. 6 and No. 7 spots in Pinecrest Academy and Landmark Christian. The Paladins are 6-1 while Landmark has won five straight after an 0-3 start, with their latest win coming against No. 8 Our Lady of Mercy, 58-53. Savannah Country Day was blown out by No. 4 Calvary Day 60-23 and lost to Woodville-Tompkins 52-27. Replacing the Hornets is No. 9 Darlington.

Four players are averaging double figures for Class A-Public No. 1 Pelham. The Hornets are powered by junior Mahogany Randall’s 19.8 points per game. Terrell County slips to No. 4 after a strong showing loss to Monroe, 57-51. No. 2 Greenville and No. 3 Telfair County get the nod over the Greenwave due to quality wins. The Trojan’s scored a 54-38 win over No. 8 Wilcox County this past week. Hancock Central falls from the Top 10 after losing to Washington County and Baldwin. Treutlen sinks five spots to No. 10 after losses at No. 5 Wheeler County (66-41) and Dublin, 61-53. Woodville-Tompkins resurfaces in the poll thanks to a shellacking of Savannah Country Day.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Rankings

Week 4 Boys Rankings

Class AAAAAAA

  1. Norcross (8-0)
  2. Newton (8-0)
  3. Westlake (6-1)
  4. Pebblebrook (5-3)
  5. McEachern (4-0)
  6. Collins Hill (8-1)
  7. Wheeler (4-3)
  8. Tift County (7-1)
  9. Shiloh (5-3)
  10. Meadowcreek (9-1)

Class AAAAAA

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

Class AAAAA

  1. Buford (7-0)
  2. Eagle’s Landing (6-1)
  3. Fayette County (6-0)
  4. Miller Grove (5-2)
  5. Southwest DeKalb (7-2)
  6. Cedar Shoals (6-2)
  7. Columbia (5-3)
  8. Riverwood (10-1)
  9. New Hampstead (6-2)
  10. Warner Robins (5-1)

 Class AAAA

  1. Sandy Creek (4-1)
  2. Upson-Lee (9-0)
  3. Thomson (2-1)
  4. St. Pius X (5-2)
  5. LaGrange (5-1)
  6. Henry County (6-4)
  7. Perry (8-1)
  8. Westover (4-2)
  9. Richmond Academy (7-2)
  10. Eastside (5-1)

Class AAA

  1. Westside-Macon (2-2)
  2. Cedar Grove (3-1)
  3. Greater Atlanta Christian (5-1)
  4. Pace Academy (3-2)
  5. Islands (5-2)
  6. Central-Macon (4-0)
  7. Calhoun (5-0)
  8. Liberty County (4-4)
  9. Morgan County (2-2)
  10. Jenkins (4-4)

Class AA

  1. South Atlanta (4-0)
  2. Therrell (6-1)
  3. Butler (4-1)
  4. Thomasville (3-4)
  5. Callaway (1-1)
  6. Dublin (2-3)
  7. Monticello (5-4)
  8. Laney (4-1)
  9. Glenn Hills (4-2)
  10. KIPP Atlanta (5-1) 

Class A-Private

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

Class A-Public

  1. Wilkinson County (4-1)
  2. Calhoun County (7-0)
  3. Quitman County (8-1)
  4. Taylor County (4-1)
  5. Treutlen (5-0)
  6. Crawford County (5-2)
  7. Manchester (5-1)
  8. Twiggs County (5-1)
  9. Clinch County (2-0)
  10. Montgomery County (6-0) 

Ranked No. 2 in the nation to open the season, Wheeler now finds itself No. 7 in Class AAAAAAA after the Wildcats haven’t been able to piece everything together. No. 3 Westlake greeted Wheeler rudely to Region 2 play, handing the ‘Cats a 73-67 road loss, the Lions doing it without star guard Jamie Lewis. DeMatha, MD beat Wheeler 66-58 to continue the slide. The main beneficiaries of Wheeler’s “struggles” are No. 5 McEachern and No. 6 Collins Hill. McEachern defeated a talented young Holy Spirit Prep team 50-37 while the Eagles edged Class 6A No. 5 Heritage-Conyers 74-62 at the Christmas in Commerce tournament. Atop the state, No. 1 Norcross maintained its pristine record, beating Cordova, TN 70-55. Duluth drops out after one week in the poll, losing three straight games to Mountain View (72-56), Mitchell, TN (51-44) and No. 2 Newton (68-60). Entering for the first time is No. 10 Meadowcreek. The Mustangs’ only loss came against Class 5A No. 4 Miller Grove at Holiday Hoopsgiving, 57-46. Meadowcreek beat Cartersville 73-64 this weekend at the LakePoint Showcase.

After a poor by his standards showing against Wheeler to open the season, MJ Walker has been on a tear for Class AAAAAA No. 2 Jonesboro. In their past three games, the Cardinals have hammered Tucker (69-49), Lovejoy (79-24) and Mundy’s Mill (75-30), Walker averaging 28.6 points during the stretch. No. 4 Langston Hughes has navigated Region 5 successfully thus far with wins over Alexander (72-71), Tri-Cities (68-55) and Creekside (77-58). Tri-Cities has lost three straight, with Mays and No. 3 South Paulding handing them double digit losses, dropping the Bulldogs out of the rankings along with back-to-back state runner up Allatoona, who is now 3-3 with a 54-45 loss to No. 9 South Cobb who replaces them. The Eagles are off to a quick start and added a 79-61 win over Creekview and a 69-51 victory against Campbell to their ledger. No. 10 Richmond Hill has won eight in a row and debuts in the Top 10. Read about the Wildcats’ hot start HERE. The top mover this week is No. 6 Brunswick. The Pirates rise two spots with a 57-51 win over Bradwell Institute. No. 7 Dacula and No. 8 Alpharetta were both upset this week, Dacula by a red-hot three-point shooting North Oconee 75-72 and Alpharetta by Centennial, 50-49.

In Class AAAAA, No. 1 Buford cemented its status as tops in the state after holding off No.6 Cedar Shoals. Last week’s No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 teams all suffered losses, leading to shakeup. New No. 2 Eagle’s Landing crushed Class AAA No. 2 Cedar Grove, 71-49. The Eagles rise three spots while No. 3 Fayette County also jumps three places. Miller Grove is on the move behind scoring machine Tae Hardy, as the Wolverines remained a thorn in the side of rival No. 5 Southwest DeKalb, beating the Panthers 51-42. Columbia drops three spots to No. 7 after losing to Du Bois, TN 58-57, but more importantly after losing Lorenzo McGhee to a broken leg. Don’t sleep on No. 9 New Hampstead in Savannah, who jumps No. 10 Warner Robins. The Phoenix beat Brunswick 62-61 and knocked off Class AAA No. 5 Islands for the second time in overtime this year, 79-77 on a buzzer beater.

Sandy Creek picked up a major resume building win in Class AAAA by knocking off Class A-Private No. 4 North Cobb Christian 86-77 at the LakePoint Showcase. The Patriots received 24 points from Evan Jester, 21 from Xavier Brewer and 17 from TJ Bickerstaff. No. 6 Henry County’s roller coaster season continued, losing to Julian Cameron and Woodward Academy 71-70 before bouncing back and stopping Salem 69-65. The Warhawks slip three spots. LaGrange jumps three spots after beating Class AA No. 5 Callaway 75-65. North Clayton exits the Top 10 after Woodward Academy defeated them 50-49. The Eagles did beat Salem 54-49, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Eastside. This group of Eagles has been flying high at 5-1, their only loss to Newton, 74-51. Eastside beat Woodward Academy 90-75, withstanding Cameron’s 42-point outburst. Keiodre Perry is averaging over 20 points per game to carry Eastside with Desmeontay Dyer posting a double-double nightly.  They host Henry County on Tuesday in a critical Region 4 matchup, a region which has been topsy-turvy.

No. 1 Westside-Macon was upset by newly ranked No. 6 Central-Macon, but the Seminoles retain their top ranking after No. 2 Cedar Grove, No. 4 Pace Academy and No. 8 Liberty County all lost. The Cedar Grove Saints made a statement, beating Pace 55-42, but were later throttled by Eagle’s Landing. Liberty County plummets four spots, but hasn’t been healthy as Davion Mitchell is still in a boot with a broken toe. Will Richardson has tried to carry the load, but Richmond Hill (58-56) and Long County (73-72) handed the Panthers losses. Richardson poured in 54 points to beat Bradwell Institute 74-69 and is now averaging 31.2 points per game while averaging over 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Islands is up to No. 5 after beating No. 10 Jenkins, 75-72. Morgan County is down to No. 9 after Greenville, SC beat them 64-56 at the Valhalla Classic. Class AAA is shaping up to be another O.K. Corral.

Even with a 65-54 loss to Class AA No. 1 South Atlanta, Therrell showed that it can play with the big boys and rises six spots to No. 2. Butler jumps four spots to No. 3 after stunning No. 9 Glenn Hills 70-69 at the buzzer. The Bulldogs head to 7-1 Josey on Tuesday. A win and a clean week for the Eagles likely guarantees a Top 10 spot for Josey. No. 6 Dublin and No. 7 Monticello had rough weeks and tumble out of the No. 3 and No. 2 spots, respectively. Monticello was upset by Banks County 57-52 and then lost to Jones County 66-59. The Irish got revenge against Class A-Public No. 8 Twiggs County, but lost to A-Public No. 5 Treutlen, 67-64. Laney debuts in the poll thanks to a 53-46 victory against Class AAAA No. 9 Richmond Academy. Surging into the Top 10 for the first time in school history is No. 10 KIPP Atlanta. 5-foot-9 senior guard Stavon Griggs is pouring in 32.6 points per game and will lead the Warriors into battle on Tuesday at No. 1 South Atlanta. Chattooga and Toombs County drop out. The Indians lost to Class AAA No. 7 Calhoun 62-47 and Toombs lost to Jeff Davis 58-48.

North Cobb Christian’s loss to Sandy Creek drops them to No. 4 in Class A-Private as No. 2 St. Francis remains undefeated and No. 3 Southwest Atlanta Christian drills No. 7 Holy Innocents’ 88-61. Our Lady of Mercy exits the rankings following losses to Landmark Christian and No. 1 Greenforest. Darlington takes over No. 9.

Class A-Public is always fun to try and wrap my brain around and by fun I mean impossible. Calhoun County looks good at No. 2 in the state and will host No. 3 Quitman County on Tuesday to test the Hornets’ legitimacy. Taylor County is hot after an early loss to Class AAAA No. 2 Upson-Lee and have ripped off four wins in a row including beating No. 6 Crawford County, 65-53. No. 5 Treutlen has handled its business in South Georgia and scored a nice 67-64 win over Dublin. Twiggs County lost in their rematch to Dublin and falls to No. 8. Turner County and Schley County both say goodbye to the Top 10. The Rebels fall all the way from No. 4 after a 2-2 start while Schley County lost to Central-Talbotton 59-46. Newly ranked No. 9 Clinch County and 6-0 No. 10 Montgomery County will try to sustain their early success.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Girls Recaps, Recaps

GHSA Statewide Recap 12-9

BOYS

Class AAAAAAA

No. 7 Collins Hill 68, Discovery 51: Chris Parks (17), Kenny Stanciel (14), Justin Lee (11) and JaQuan Morris (10) lifted the Eagles over Discovery. Jaylen Bussey led the Titans with 15 points. DJ Young and Jaden Stanley both had 10.

Berkmar 81, Central Gwinnett 59: Unsigned senior Jay Estime was red hot again, banging in eight threes en route to 34 points. Indiana-signee Al Durham had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Ian Hardy chipped in 14 points and NJIT-bound point guard Zach Cooks tossed in 10.

East Coweta 59, Raleigh-Egypt, TN 51: Mark Mitchell scored 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 8 shots to help East Coweta over Raleigh-Egypt at the Memphis vs. Atlanta Classic.

Lambert 72, East Jackson 41: Austin Deckard scored 13 points and Jordan McIlwain added 12.

Mill Creek 48, North Gwinnett 39: Jayden Marshall dropped in 12 points to lead the Hawks in a balanced scoring attack. Noah Kenny had 9 points and Matty Dobbs added 8.

Parkview 71, South Forsyth 46: Parkview held UNCW-signee Evan Cole to 11 points to shut down the War Eagles. Ahmir Langlais posted 12 points and Toneari Lane added 11.  The Panthers saw 14 out of 15 players crack the scoresheet.

Woodstock 73, Walton 49: Noah Frith’s added dimension to the Woodstock frontcourt continued to pay dividends as he scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed 7 boards. Tyreke Johnson scored 16 and picked up 5 assists while Nate Garner had 11 points. Dylin Hardeman finished with 8 points and 5 assists. For Walton, Austin Kirksey and Jason McKie both had 8.

Grayson 82, West Hall 47: Travis Anderson torched the Spartans with 26 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Justin Fleming had 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Gerald Buncum had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. Bryce Brown collected 4 points and 8 rebounds while DeAli Thompson had 6 points and 8 boards.

Class AAAAAA

No. 2 Jonesboro 79, Lovejoy 24: MJ Walker posted 22 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Mies Black went for 20 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

No. 3 South Paulding 66, Douglas County 48: Georgia State-signee Kane Williams went for 19 points and 9 assists while Drew Shepperd netted 17 points.

No. 8 Brunswick 57, Bradwell Institute 51: Big man Kymani Dunham finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Jaylen Jackson tacked on 15.

No. 9 Allatoona 64, Osborne 59: Rolan Wooden scored 12 points and drew three charges to help the Bucs escape the Cardinals. Tyler Jackson scored 11 points and collected 4 steals. Trey Doomes finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assist and 1 block. Mike Johnson pitched in 8 points and 6 assists. LaTrell Tate gave the Buccaneers fits by scoring 25 points.

South Cobb 79, Creekview 61: Trevin Wade got off for 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Eagles blew past Creekview. Ralueke Orizu posted 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. Tay Dollar had 13 points and 6 rebounds and Mike McClendon added 9 points and 8 boards. Creekview received 23 points from KJ Jenkins and 15 from Weber Sandlin.

Sprayberry 59, Kell 57: Eddie Figueroa collected 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Rodney Pearson had 13 points and 6 assists. Kahdim Samb posted 15 points.

Alexander 60, Mays 54: Alexander went on the road and picked up a massive Region 5 victory behind Grant Howard’s 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Rod Rapley supplied 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Damion Howell battled for 7 points and 11 boards while Cameron Armstrong chipped in 8 points. For Mays, Reo Wright scored 13, Donald Harris 16 and Clayvon Croom 15.

Dunwoody 62, Johns Creek 51: Sidi Diallo scored 15 points and Christian Williams and Turner Nims netted 12 apiece to carry the Wildcats. Neil Ilenrey scored 9 for Johns Creek while Jordan Dinkins had 11.

Class AAAAA

No. 3 Cedar Shoals 63, Flowery Branch 50: In a game of runs, Cedar Shoals had just enough to hold off a previously unbeaten Falcons group. Phlan Fleming scored 21 points and Snipe Hall had 11. In the loss Brannon Clark had 15 points while Justin Quick scored 14 and John Mills had 12.

No. 6 Fayette County 70, Morrow 64: Phillip Young torched Morrow for 25 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals as the Tigers remained undefeated. Josh Dupree chipped in 16 points, 2 assists and 2 steals. Noah Gurley added 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Austin Nesmith had 10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

No. 7 Miller Grove 51, No. 2 Southwest DeKalb 42: Even after a sluggish start to the season, the Wolverines flexed their muscle against region rival Southwest DeKalb and earned an important victory. Tae Hardy scored 18 points to lead Miller Grove. Jermon Clark added 10 and Kevin Paige chipped in 8.

No. 8 Riverwood 59, Grady 54: Elijah Dudley scored 20 points to pace the Raiders. Elijah Jenkins had 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Josh Brown posted 10 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks.

No. 9 Warner Robins 65, Houston County 49: Nelson Phillips overwhelmed the Bears with a game-high 26 points. JaColbey Owens scored 21 and Champ Dawson chipped in 6. Houston County was led by Amari Colbert’s 13 points and Jalyn Nelson’s 12.

Clarke Central 71, Johnson-Gainesville 36: Dwon Smith scored 23 points for the Gladiators. Brian Dean (10) and Jack Mangel (9) also contributed.

Arabia Mountain 60, Chamblee 56: Jordan Sterling netted 18 points to carry the Rams.

Lithia Springs 65, Banneker 53: Jahrel Reagan dropped 20 points to lead the Lions. Ceaunte Zachery added 13 and Anthony Hardy had 12. Banneker received 16 points from Shamar Kerangu.

Paulding County 85, Woodland-Cartersville 67: Shihem Mitchell went for 27 points and 10 rebounds to power the Patriots. Tommy Robinson collected 18 points and 10 rebounds. Marcus Austin gobbled up 8 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks.

Cass 74, East Paulding 66: CJ Bennett finished with 25 points and Ashton Burley had 16 in the Colonels backcourt.

Class AAAA

No. 2 Upson-Lee 67, West Laurens 40: Even without Zyrice Scott, the Knights pummeled West Laurens. Tye Fagan dropped in 23 points with Middle Tennessee State, Murray State and Mercer in attendance.  Travon Walker posted 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Woodward Academy 71, No. 3 Henry County 70: Hunter Falconer hit a game-winner and finished with 12 points, 3 assists and 4 steals to stun Henry County. Julian Cameron caught fire with 27 points and 3 assists. Brennan McDaniel posted 15 points, 19 rebounds and 3 blocks. In the loss, Damion Rosser scored 24 points and Javon Greene had 18. Kovi Tate chipped in 10.

No. 4 Thomson 76, South Aiken, SC 69: Radaren Johnson pumped in 33 points while Darius Turman added 10.

North Oconee 75, 6ANo. 7 Dacula 72: Matthew Quint exploded for 39 points and Jack Taylor drilled a three at the buzzer to stun the Falcons.

Eastside 64, Druid Hills 51 OT: Keiodre Perry netted 21 points and Desmeontay Dyer posted 12 points and 8 rebounds on the road in a comeback victory.

Blessed Trinity 52, Forsyth Central 40: CJ Abrams scored a team-high 18 points to pace the Titans. Ben Shappard had 13 and Kyle Swade netted 10. CJ Smith led Forsyth Central with 22 points off five threes.

Northwest Whitfield 88, Pickens 54: Grant Terrell was unconscious, pouring in a school-record 11 threes to lead the Bruins. Terrell finished with 35 points. Paxton Pardee had 10 assists. Luke Shiflett had 15 points. Pickens was led by Blake Gorth’s 15 points and 5 rebounds. Seth Bishop added 11 points and Zach Goss tossed in 7.

Class AAA

Central-Macon 79, No. 1 Westside-Macon 74: Antarius McCoy willed the Chargers to a monumental victory in front of a packed house. McCoy dropped 25 points and received help from Duke Williams who had 15. Kylan Hill worked around the basket for 14 points and 9 rebounds. Wanya Thomas finished with 11 points, 5 coming in succession late in the fourth to close out the Seminoles. Former Charger Kentrevious Jones posted 33 points and 16 rebounds. Khavon Moore had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Terric Allen pitched in 10 points.

No. 2 Pace Academy 58, Westminster 38: Wendell Carter finished with 23 points and Isaiah Kelly added 18 as the Knights’ size hurt the Wildcats.

No. 9 Calhoun 59, Ringgold 46: Chapin Rierson scored a team-high 20 points for the Jackets. Malik Lawrence added 15 and Kaylan Aker had 10.

Lovett 70, McNair 52: Crawford Schweiger hit five threes en route to a game-high 26 points.

Class AA

Banks County 57, No. 2 Monticello 52: Kahmal Wiley was too much to handle inside for the guard oriented Hurricanes as Banks County upset No. 2 Monticello. The burly post hung 27 points while fellow big man Dylan Orr chipped in 11 points. Monticello was led by CJ Adams’ 17 points, 4 steals and 4 assists, Ashton Bonner’s 12 points and 4 assists and Jakeir Stone’s 10 points.

No. 9 Chattooga 94, Dade County 86: The Indians survived 14 Wolverine threes and rode Jay Shropshire’s 35-point performance to victory. Isaiah Foster scored 17 and Jay Broome had 10.

Bleckley County 55, Dodge County 52: Dodge County received 16 points from Nick Cummings, 13 from Demonte Ivey and 11 from RJ Carr in a loss.

Temple 79, Central-Carroll 67: Javin Boles was too much to handle, pouring in 33 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals.

Putnam County 70, Baldwin 66 OT: Carl Johnson wrecked the Braves with 32 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals.

Class A-Private

No. 2 North Cobb Christian 69, Bowdon 45: In the loss, Octavius Meadows scored 27 points and Zaylin Wood added 9.

No. 8 Aquinas 77, Greene County 54: Tre Gomillion went for 19 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists to pace the Irish. Trent Bowdre scored 16 points and Jelani Shakir hung 15 points, 6 assists and 3 steals to his ledger.

No. 3 St. Francis 60, King’s Ridge 50: Wallace Tucker tallied 19 points and 5 assists. Chase Ellis went for 13 points and 13 rebounds. Dwon Odom added 11 points and 7 rebounds. Sophomore Eric Coleman poured in 25 points for the Tigers, hitting five threes along the way.

Wesleyan 73, Mt. Vernon Presbyterian 50: Sean McDonough continued his recent hot streak, pouring in 28 points to lead the Wolves. Christian McLean netted 17.

Prince Avenue 65, Providence Christian 62: Parker Trump scored 15 points while Connor Allen and Al Dorsey chipped in 11 in the loss.

Class A-Public

Fulton Leadership Academy 45, Elite Scholars 24: Tyrese Berrymon scored 22 points to lift the Gryphons.

                                                 

GIRLS

Class AAAAAAA

No. 4 Newton 57, South Gwinnett 53: Lexii Chatman buried five threes and finished with 23 points to power the Rams past the Comets. Janelle Cook put in 15 points and Jurnee Smith added 11.

South Forsyth 57, Parkview 47: Zoe Maisel (16), Emily Dreslinski (15) and Olivia Poff (13) all supplied the scoring to help the War Eagles over the Panthers.

Class AAAAAA

No. 2 Mays 62, Alexander 36: Kamiyah Street dropped in 25 points to power the Raiders to a Region 5 victory.

No. 7 Grovetown 65, Richmond Academy 63: College of Charleston-signee Destiny Marshall scored 26 points for the Warriors as Grovetown withstood a 35-point performance out of Troy-signee Jasmine Robinson.

No. 8 Northview 45, Chattahoochee 39: In a battle of Region 7 undefeateds, the Lady Titans received 14 points, 8 steals and 7 blocks from Shannon Titus.

No. 10 Lovejoy 33, No. 5 Jonesboro 31: Saadia Munford scored 13 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop Jonesboro’s slide. The upstart Wildcats now sit at 7-0.

Creekview 53, South Cobb 26: Kennedy Cater totaled 16 points to lead the Grizzlies. Kendel Bennett and Sydney Rumble both had 9 points.

Johns Creek 65, Dunwoody 18: The Gladiators rolled to 6-2 overall and 3-0 in Region 7 under Coach Kirk Call. Sydney Tanguilig finished with 21 points. Markiema Lancaster had 10 points and Ashley Alexander chipped in 8 points and 15 rebounds.

Class AAAAA

No. 1 Flowery Branch 60, Cedar Shoals 33: Taniyah Worth posted 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 blocks. Lexie Sengkhammee scored 12 points. Caroline Wysocki finished with 9 points and 4 rebounds and Ashley Woodroffe had 5 points and 5 rebounds.

No. 6 Villa Rica 76, Hiram 30: Deasia Merrill went for 18 points and 10 assists while Aliyah Hindsman added 14 points. Jaila Orozco and Emmy Parham both netted 11.

Class AAAA

No. 1 North Oconee 68, Dacula 55: Emma Weynand posted 23 points and Camryn Williams scored 14.

No. 5 West Hall 72, Grayson 47: Anna McKendree burst out for 37 points in a Spartans rout. Macy Passmore had 15 points and Kinsey Wilson netted 10.

No. 9 Northwest Whitfield 73, Pickens 46: Bria Clemmons led all scorers with 16 points and 4 assists. Jada Griffin grabbed 7 rebounds. Nicole Bates had 11 points and 5 steals. Holly Heath and Chandler Hiland both had 10 points. Jada Griffin grabbed 7 rebounds. For Pickens, Autumn Young scored 13 points and Taylor Wigington finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Central-Carroll 58, Temple 45: Alexis Farley scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Lions. Haley Luke added 14 points and 6 steals while Haley Fehring went for 9 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Temple was led by Ruby Collins’ double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sheniah Swint had 11 points and 4 rebounds. Courtney Caldwell finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds.

Class AAA

No. 1 Johnson-Savannah 70, Jenkins 36: Alexis Pierce pumped in 26 points to lead the Atomsmashers. Olivia Owens (15) and Checobia Hugie (18) also did damage.

Calhoun 75, No. 9 Ringgold 67: The Yellow Jackets earned a high scoring victory over the Tigers, riding Jana Johns’ monster 27-point 18-rebound double-double. Erin Hyatt added support with 16 points while Ashlyn Barnes tacked on 13 points, 7 assists and 6 steals. Cassie Henderson went for 11 points and Anna George had 10.

Class AA

No. 3 Rabun County 64, Union County 28: Savanna Scott scored her 1,000th point of her career and led the Wildcats with 17 points and 3 steals. Tessa Matheson added 12 points and 3 steals. Brooke Henricks went for 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals. Laken Stiles chipped in 9 points, 3 assists and 3 steals.

No. 6 Dodge County 64, Bleckley County 44: Sophomore Destanee Wright led Dodge County with 20 points and Jurnee Powell chipped in 12. Tierra Hamilton cracked double figures with 11.

Class A-Private

No. 9 Pinecrest Academy 68, Mt. Paran 37: Margaret Metz dropped 26 points while sister Regina tossed in 17 to lead the Paladins. Molly Dankowski finished with 9 points.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball

Early Season Surprise Hot Starts

1 Comment

Class AAAAAAA

Mountain View (8-1)
2015-16: 13-13

I praised the team chemistry of Mountain View throughout the summer with the Georgia Heat Check program and their year round commitment has paid dividends so far this season, making it not much of a surprise. Mountain View’s only loss has come to Class A-Private No. 1 Greenforest, 67-49 at the Jared Cook Classic. Outside of that lone defeat, the Bears have already picked up two victories against ranked teams, beating Class AA No. 7 Butler 64-48 and No. 9 Duluth this Tuesday, 72-56. The 8-1 start is the best start in school history, the young seventh year program in search of its first postseason appearance. The sharpshooting of Spencer Rodgers has paced the Bears but the growth of Miles Long at the point guard position has been crucial as he has flourished since Donell Nixon’s transfer to Buford. Long dropped 20 points in the Bears’ win in Augusta over Butler.


South Gwinnett (5-1)
2015-16: 5-20

“I know we got the guys that want to compete and get better. We’ve got the pieces. I’m excited, I think we have a special year in store for us,” is what first-year head coach Ty Anderson said at Gwinnett County Media Day. His proclamation has come to fruition thus far as the fiery leader already has tied last year’s win total. The Comets’ only loss came to against Parkview at the Parkview Tip-Off Classic, 62-55.  Wins over Woodstock and Lambert highlight the resume. Seniors Brycen Lee and D’onte Torrence have led the renaissance under Anderson’s guidance. The Comets face their biggest test of the season on Friday as they host No. 2 Newton.

Class AAAAAA

Richmond Hill (6-1)
2015-16: 17-10 

Following a season-opening loss at Class AAAAA No. 10 New Hampstead, the Wildcats have played well. They were shutout of the postseason last year in disappointing fashion and were tasked with replacing leading scorer Isaiah Hill (20.3 ppg) heading into 2016-17. Richmond Hill scored a signature win this Tuesday, upsetting defending state champion and current Class AAA No. 4 Liberty County, 58-56. The Panthers were without Davion Mitchell and the ‘Cats took advantage, using Trey DeLoach’s 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks to stun Liberty County. DeLoach is averaging 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3 blocks while fellow senior Montest Bumpers is chipping in 10.1 points and 3 steals.

Bradwell Institute (5-1)
2015-16: 6-19 

William Douberly has turned around Bradwell Institute in his first year at the helm. The Tigers won just 10 games in the past two seasons before Douberly’s arrival. Bradwell Institute has won five straight after losing at Class AAA No. 4 Liberty County to open the season. They have drilled Savannah 70-42 and blew out a tough Long County team 86-54. Senior point guard Darryll Johnson has been on a scoring binge averaging over 18 points per game while 5-foot-8 backcourt member Anthony Vicente has tossed in 10 points on average his final season. The Tigers test themselves against Region 2 power Brunswick on Friday.  Bradwell Institute and Richmond Hill will fight for playoff position all year long in the tiny five team region.

Class AAAAA

Chamblee (6-2)
2015-16: 7-19 

A blowout 66-47 loss against Stockbridge to open the year at the Southwest DeKalb Showdown has been the worst outcome of the season for the Bulldogs. Chamblee nearly upset No. 7 Miller Grove, 61-56 in their only other loss. They beat Class AAA No. 10 Redan 59-55 as their best W of the year. Seniors Odell Ferrell, Dazz Riggins and Glen Robinson have been crucial to the ‘Dogs’ turnaround.

Maynard Jackson (6-1)
2015-16: 15-14 

The Jaguars snuck into the playoffs last year by upsetting a then 22-2 Westminster team in the region tournament. There will be now more sneaking around this season however as former Tennessee State head coach Travis Williams now has the group playing to their full potential. The Jags’ lone loss came at No. 8 Riverwood, 68-67. Senior forward 6-foot-6 JaQuavius Hayes has been a monster inside, averaging 23.7 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1 steal and 1.3 blocks a night. As good as he has been, the Jags have taken their game to the next level thanks to an improved supporting cast. Juniors Marquavis Carter and Keshun Byrd have provided scoring around Hayes. Carter is hitting 47% of his threes and is averaging 15.3 points while Byrd is pitching in 10.7 points.

Class AAAA

Salem (8-1)
2015-16: 17-12 

A lot graduated from last year’s playoff team, but the Seminoles are out to a quick start. Their only loss has come to Class AAAAAA No. 10 Tri-Cities, 57-51. Salem’s best win is a 67-56 home win over Arabia Mountain. Tehjuan Powell, Montez Swann, Kendrick Harris and Brandon Smith have all played important roles. They will try to keep pace with No. 3 Henry County in Region 4 as they visit No. 10 North Clayton on Friday, who is currently 0-2 in the region standings.

LaFayette (7-1)
2015-16: 12-13 

Although they aren’t ready to become a statewide player, LaFayette is taking baby steps to become a playoff contender in a wide open Class AAAA. The Ramblers have breezed past week competition up in Region 6, but were handed a 65-63 loss by Heritage-Catoosa, who takes over first place in the standings. Head coach Hank Peppers has rode star sophomore Alex Kelehear this season as the versatile playmaking guard projects to be an all-time LaFayette great. Tyrese Hunter, LaTrail McClinic, Andrew Pendergrass and Caleb Boyd have helped take some scoring burden off Kelehear’s shoulders.

Class AAA

No Surprises yet

Class AA

No. 8 Therrell (6-0)
2015-16: 14-9

The drop to Class AA has helped Therrell who is now ranked No. 8 in the state. Wins over Mays (76-71 OT) and at South Cobb (66-57) are high quality. Sophomore guard Anthony Edwards stands 6-foot-4 and is a future D-I ball player with a high ceiling. After playing with the Atlanta Xpress, Edwards is in tip top form, pouring in 36 points against Mays and 23 points and 9 rebounds vs. South Cobb. Consistent help will be key to Therrell sustaining their early success. Deandre Brown has helped out thus far, the 6-foot-2 freshman averaging double figures.

No. 5 Glenn Hills (4-1)
2015-16: 3-19 

Coach Travis McRae has already surpassed last year’s 3-win total. The Spartans announced their presence with a 62-56 win at Class AAAA No. 7 Richmond Academy last week, but fell at Lakeside-Evans on Tuesday, 88-83 in overtime, not a bad loss. Junior center Timmy Seller has been the anchor inside. The 6-foot-8 big man is averaging 12.6 points and 7.8 rebounds. On the wing, 6-foot-4 freshman John Whitehead is adding 9.6 points a night. CJ Bowers, Eric Farmer, Jordan Lord and Robert Drew are all scoring over 8 points per game, giving Coach McRae a dangerously balanced attack.

Class A-Private

Tallulah Falls (7-0)
2015-16: 13-13 

The Indians missed the Class A-Private playoffs last season and are clicking on all cylinders early on. A pair of 6-foot-5 seniors power Coach Jim Van Hooser’s offense. Josey Keene is averaging 15.4 points and 4 rebounds while Michael Van Hooser is dropping in 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Michael Weidner is a scrappy guard that is posting 9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.6 steals. The veteran group’s top five scorers are all seniors. The Indians’ best win came against White County, 78-62. They will see a step up in competition in the upcoming weeks with their toughest game coming on January 6 at No. 6 Lakeview Academy.

Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (4-1)
2015-16: 4-19 

Derrick Mason has changed the culture of the program, already matching last year’s win total. The Chargers’ best win was their season opener against Preseason Top 10 ranked King’s Ridge Christian, 47-32. ECLA’s only loss was a 58-55 decision against Class AAAAA 6-2 Union Grove. On Friday the Chargers host No. 7 Tattnall Square Academy.

Class A-Public

No. 6 Twiggs County (5-0)
2015-16: 9-15 

Another case of a new coach maximizing talent, Twiggs County has skyrocketed to No. 6 in the state after a handful of impressive wins. They beat Preseason Class AA No. 9 Swainsboro 76-58 and stunned current AA No. 3 Dublin at Dublin 82-74 behind senior guard Zuri Brown’s 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists as well as senior Cortavious Ates’ 26 points and 6 boards. Coach Andrew Johnson has the Cobras striking with a potent offense that averages 75.6 points. Ates is averaging 20 points, Brown 19 and Juwan Brown 15. Twiggs County draws Dublin in a rematch this Friday with a chance to really solidify themselves as a Class A-Public power player.

No. 10 Schley County (4-0)
2015-16: 4-21 

Who knows how long it’ll last, but the Wildcats have already matched last year’s win total and find themselves ranked in the Top 10. They hang their hats on wins over previously ranked Hawkinsville (51-45) and at Marion County (82-78). Both wins very well may not be all that impressive in two weeks, but for now it’s been enough to get the ‘Cats recognized.