Prep Zone

By KSShake

February 6, 2007 04:18 PM | Link to this

There’s really not much to discuss n 5A. It’s Maya’s world. Period. Maybe Stephenson can givem a game, (and mind you I’m a Stephenson supporter), but I’m also a realist and Maya will leave the Gwinnett Arena (excuse me “The House that Maya Built”. Somebody at the GHSA office had good foresight to Maya and Collins Hill was going to go on this run 4 years ago when she was a freshmen and lost to Ashley Thomas and Stephenson. I knew back then and I remember saying it, “I’m glad Stephenson pulled this one out cuase that girl (Maya Moore) isn’t going to lose another one (cahmpionship game). They ran the Gauntlet in Arizona and i believe Seattle, if they didn’t lose then, Maya will not allow her team to lose now. So it was best to set up the Final 4 and Championship down the the street in her own backyard and save her and her teammates the trips (after making far ones earlier), just save some gas money and let the Queen of Georgia High Girls basketball have her Coronation of Domination in “her house”. Like Deion said about the Georgia Dome. I don’t mind bumpin for Maya because inspite of her utter dominance she stays humble and classy and always bumps for her teammates.

By David P.

February 6, 2007 05:37 PM | Link to this

I think Collins Hill is ripe for an upset. They’ve been tested this season and if they overlook, say South Gwinnett, it could be the biggest upset ever.

By Proud Pop

February 6, 2007 06:28 PM | Link to this

David P, c’mon SG is pretty good I will give you that. But really who have they played and beat that really is consider a power house or good team. Trust I know the nucleus of SG’s team and have watched them play AAU ball since they where 11. I know what they can and cannot do on the basketball court. Just like KSShake said the difference maker is Maya. This girl is as close to Jordan for a female in high school as it comes. She is truly unstoppable on the court and unlike KSShake I witnessed her in Seattle put it to a top ten team and willed her team to a victory. Oh yeah SG fans love to bring up the Winter Haven game, the difference is SG lost that game and Collins Hill won it after traveling across country for 10hrs because of lay-overs and flight problems. I said it before that’s impressive. Ok I know what’s next Mill Creek….let’s be real. Collins Hill had one night where they took a team for granted which I can understand because they blow everyone out in GA.Lets review that game Mill Creek up by 20 in the third quarter and still loses if that doesn’t tell you about this team I don’t know what else can. Sure last year Collins Hill only won by 10 points in the championship game, one of the worst games I saw them play last year and they still won by double digits. Sounds like to me SG fans took that as a moral victory, it was still a double digit loss. I said it before in a blog on any day anything can happen but if you where to play and best of series between the two teams Collins Hill would win and I’m sure every SG fan will admit that and that tells who is the best team not a March Madness type set up.

By basketball55

February 7, 2007 02:27 PM | Link to this

Proud Papa - can’t SG get any respect?????? You know what they have and you still dogged them???? With Dudish’s and Hewitt’s games at a much higher level this year as compared to last year you might be over looking the match up problems that CH might have this year with SG!!! I agree CH is a powerful team but there are weaknesses that were not there last year!!! Have you seen SG play this year????

By big fan

February 7, 2007 07:08 PM | Link to this

hands down collin hill will win nobody else can compete .

By gaelite

February 8, 2007 07:27 AM | Link to this

Proud pop and ksshake, c’mon.Pretty good? 1st let me ask did someone say CH was not the #1 team in the country or have the#1 player? or do you just like hearing yourself say it? CH is the only team that has parents justify why when they play like crap there a great team,example of the MC game CH sould have never been down by 20(1st game) or any number but MAYA pulled the team out because of there dismal play. The same in the WH game should have never been that close to start!Now for South Gwinnett yes the lost the first two games of the year after traveling 7 hrs on a bus playing teams in there home state on there home floor with the local refs (CH always played on neutral sites)enough excuses i sound like a CH parent now.after these two losses have reeled off 22 stright, have a region record of 46-1 over 3 yrs(not bad)are 22-2 and played 8 out of state teams all who will be in there state Championship 3 GA top 10 MC,Berkmar,and brookwook sounds like pretty decent competition or does this fall shot for you also?O:K won last year in state over McEachern,Campbell,and Stephenson, lost in the Championship game by 10 and playeed the worst games I saw them play all year, more return 4 starters from last season howard,clarke, winchell, and dudish all have schlorships. You seem to have your opinion that CH just cant be beat they still have to make it through Stephenson OH YEA there still undefeated so dont worry about SG so much someone else(#5 in the country)gets a shot at you first. and one more thing if CH does happen to lo0se dont come on the boards and cry take it like a man.

By gaelite

February 8, 2007 07:34 AM | Link to this

The region 8 teams should be berkmar, central,brookwood and south. South has an automatic to state. Shiloh can play with the other three so whoever they match up with could knock one of the others out.BW,Central and Berkmar should all be 10-4 after fri games so a three way split and a coin toss will determine there finishes os 2-3-4.

By KSShake

February 8, 2007 09:50 AM | Link to this

Gaelite, you’re letting your loyalties and optimism cloud your better “basketball” judgement. I understand that you’ve got all of the returning starters and what not. But the fact of the matter is, Maya will not allow her team to lose. I know in a team sport that’s a hard concept to swallow, but really is just that good. And as Mill Creek found out Tuseday, their “other” players are pretty good too. Jordan Jones (Texas Tech), Nikki Urbizo, and Darlymple are pretty good. But the bottom line is Maya. Because she can dominate and impact a game from BOTH ends of the floor. Quite frankly or to keep it real no other female player in the state of Georgia has EVER been able to do that rather it be Keisha Brown, Tasha Humphrey, Ashley Thomas, Tracy Sadler, Traci Waites, Lashonda Stephens, Covosier Grier. I’ve seen them all as well as others, and she’s HANDS DOWN the best! Like I said Stephenson or PERHAPS South Gwinnett can give them a game. But in the long run Maya will be holding up the “Big” trophy in “Maya’s House” aka Gwinnett Arena after the final game.

By Proud Pop

February 8, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

GAELITE….let me take this away from an emotional retort, let’s lay it out on a basketball level. You bring up match ups….we’ll start with Dudish(since you bought her up first). As I said before I’ve watched them since they were 11, and I will admit she has preformed a lot better this year. But a lot of open looks makes for easy shots. Jordan Jones is a better defender and a lot quicker then Dudish with just as good of a shot….advantage CH. Howard, who I feel is your best player, doesn’t play sound defense (proven by your coach who won’t put her on the other teams best scorer)will probably be guarded by Maya who is as good a defender as she is a scorer. That’s really how she changes the game on defense, and we won’t even mention anyone on your team stopping her….advantage CH. Winchell who is my favorite of the bunch because of her grit and determination. Both her and Urbizo are about the same size and speed and shoot the ball on the same level. Alex is a little smarter on the court though….advantage SG. Now here is the interesting match up Clarke vs Richie. Clarke has the skills to be an all-american but let’s be honest injuries have plagued her and diminished some of her athletism. Richie is probably the most underrated player in GA. She can hit the 3 (but won’t take it unless neccessary) plays D as well as Maya (she takes on the other team’s second leading scorer) and is one of the smartest players on the court at all times. That’s why she plays mostly the whole game ever game. No bad decisions and she rebounds…..advantage CH. The center position is not one to even go into….SG has no-one that can stop Dalrymple….all of who you named, Clarke, Howard,Winchell and Dudish will tell you the same thing (go ahead and ask them they played with her in AAU or better yet ask their parents,for a grown up’s perpective, they will tell you also). Hands down advantage CH….Now like I said before one game anything can happen but things don’t look good for another team in GA against CH, and believe me they know that Stephenson and SG are gunning for them. And trust you don’t want to play a motivated CH just ask Mill Creek. Now as for me crying if for some strange twist of fate and CH loses to SG don’t worry my tears won’t be for the outcome of the game but more so the end of the world. Because if SG beats CH in a championship game that’s the first sign of the Apocalypse

By Proud Pop

February 8, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

It was bought to my attention that I didn’t address some of GA Elites concerns. One, competition….you mention Berkmar,Brookwood,McEachern and Campbell. They don’t sound like Long Beach Poly(ranked 2 in the nation),Notre Dame Academy(ranked 3rd) Winter Haven(16th in the nation and I’m sorry to bring up your lose again) and St Elizabeth(ranked 21st in the nation). And those are rankings by the holy bible of sports (Sports Illustrated) and USAToday, steep competition and to come out of that undefeated. I don’t have to toot CH’s horn their play speaks for itself(and their record). I’m only here to enlighted non-believer’s or ones suffering from delusions of granger. Stephenson is ranked in the nation, where’s SG? You can’t say SG is being overlooked if they found Stephenson to put them in the rankings. Oh yeah in closing have you checked CH’s record over the last 2 years playing a NATIONAL schedule. Holla back when you guys do damage in the ELITE tournaments……

By SG Fan

February 8, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Proud Papa - My only question to you today is have you seen SG play at all this year? If you have then I will take a back seat until the season plays out but if you haven’t then what you spent what seems a great deal of time writing above is a waste of your time! If you haven’t seen SG play this year then I think you are going to be even more surprised then you were last year when you predicted pretty much of a blow out by CH over SG in the championship game!! You state that CH played a terrible game and if you study the film of the game you will see that both Clarke and Winchell didn’t shoot the ball very well but had great looks at the basket! So you can say that SG didn’t play a very good game also (so let’s say that excuse is thrown out for both sides). Now it’s just my opinion but I think last year’s CH team had a lot more speed and was a better over all team when you compare it to this year’s team. Now all that being said if you not seen SG play this year then I will be glad to do my match up analysis for you! Also, forget about season foes!!! CH had a much tougher schedule last year then SG did but that didn’t matter when the BIG game came about. You can throw all that in the trash because of SG heart (you know that fact and you know the SG girls will bring their hearts) and that is the unknown factor (to almost everyone but you). You have to admit that has to scare you a little bit!

By Proud Pop

February 8, 2007 02:00 PM | Link to this

Since we are looking at tape of last year, Jordan Jones had an even worse shooting performance in that game, so did Shantall. Besides that,speaking of speed …SG was a lot faster with the guard you had last year(and I’m sorry her name escapes me)….I watched SG play for a half on a Saturday against Berkmar or Brookwood and left because it wasn’t even a close game. So trust that when I speak I know of what I’m talking about. Not only do I know basketball I know these kids and have evaluated their abilities FOR YEARS. Now SG fans not once have I not said that the girls aren’t pretty good, but I still want to see what they can do against competition(and if you guys are calling the rest of the pack sans Stephenson comp c’mon). As for heart….well we all know that heart will last for a half of a game and then talent starts to take over(plus I’ve seen heart on a grander stage in a more hostile enviroment….Nike Tournament of Champions). Here is something everyone is forgetting Collins Hill is playing for a NATIONAL Championship. If they go undefeated not only do they win state they are concensus number one in the nation(and trust from an athlete stand point that’s more important). And have you seen CH play this year? Remember last year’s championship team didn’t have Taylor Dalrymple playing because of injury.They are a much stronger team inside with her and Maya downlow. Incase you didn’t see it they handled Kelly Cain of St Pius, and Notre Dame Academy, whose front line goes a legitimate 6’1,6’2 and 6’4. And I’m trusting since we all have comments that we know a little about basketball, that being said everyone knows if you control the paint you can control the game.But I await your analysis of the two teams it should be interesting.

By SG Fan

February 8, 2007 03:13 PM | Link to this

Ok –since you have seen SG play I will take that back seat! But before I do, on JJ’s poor shooting performance last year that wasn’t the case. She just didn’t get to shoot that many shots! The girl that played for SG last year was Gia Lockett and she was playing with a hurt knee most of the year. I think girl’s basketball in Georgia is the best around. I don’t think any other state even comes close to the competition or the quality of players that we have (including having the best player in the country). I know CH has played some quality teams but with the level of play in Georgia that might not mean too much. Now I agree controlling the paint is a big key but I think playing great D, which SG has been playing, could offset that some. The x factor in this is Emily Clarke. Probably the most underrated player in the state of Georgia! I am not sure why because she has been around and has won more championships than anyone else but Maya! Both Clarke and Howard have been playing great on both ends of the court. Howard’s D has improved and it appears she is getting ready for her career at Fla. I know you know the girls on SG team so you know they been there before (including AAU), so big games don’t affect them like it would maybe for some other teams! Just some thoughts for you to ponder! CH is a great team and really this discussion is not about questioning that greatness it’s about people’s perception how good SG is? Last year they were the underdogs throughout the state playoffs!

By KSShake

February 9, 2007 05:59 PM | Link to this

I always say, “Don’t get mad,…Get ready for next season!”

By Hoops

February 11, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

Don’t forget about Adosha Kelly from Beach who gave tasha humphrey the business so that Beach could when there first womens state title 1999-2000

By KSShake

February 12, 2007 03:19 PM | Link to this

Thanx for the detail, in depth analyst of Collins Hill and South Gwinnett. But SG Fan, the CH guy (Big Poppa) was pretty detailed and accurate breaking down the finer points of a CH/SG matchup. But, in the long run, to make a long story short. It comes down to one simple fact. Or shall I say one girl, “The Girl”, you know who, yes, “That Girl”. And as long as “she” takes the court on that final game in March, Collins Hill will leave the Gwinnett Arena with the title. As I’ve said (and mind you I’m a Stephenson supporter). But I won’t let that blind my basketball common sense. As I said, I know its hard to except the inevitable reality of your team NOT winning the state championship. But, what you can do is wait it out and when “That Girl” aka “The Girl” aka “The M.A.Y.A.” aka “Miss Moore”, or just simply “Maya”. No matter how you say it, until she crosses a stage in May with her Diploma, and she’s on her way to Storrs, Connecticut to attempt to get Geno and her an NCAA championship at Uconn, well, then and only then, can the rest of us start having realistic expectations of winning a 5A State championship. Don’t get mad,… wait til next year!

By SG Fan

February 14, 2007 03:13 PM | Link to this

Proud Papa - this can’t be good for your analysis!!! Posted last night on Peachstate basketball web page??? I want Big T in the game so any insight of what is going on with her??

2/13/07 Collins Hill’s state and national championship hopes possibly took a big blow today with the indefinite suspension of 2008 6’1” PF Taylor Dalrymple. Dalrymple’s sister McKenzie, a freshman at Collins Hill, was dismissed from the varsity for violating team rules earlier this season. Taylor has been courted by several Division One programs during the year.

By gaelite

February 17, 2007 08:55 AM | Link to this

Hey People Havent been here in a week or so interisting posts. Cant address them all because theres so many that think the only players are on CH. PP the match ups since we only have last years game and this years players as match-up let look! Winchell vs Urbizo are you serious equal? im loosing respect for yor analysis. Winchell has played and defended the best Dixon, degraffrien, lindsey speed shooting bb IQ plus DOMINATED urbizo last year Plus SG.Dudish vs Jones both exellent shooters and both have uped there D if they both cant shoot then its a draw no ad to either but if one gets HOT look out.Hewatt(our 5)vs TD now that she is back. AD to TD has all the tools unless EC takes over the task then lock down D will frustrate TD.Clarke vs Richie 1st Clarke has never had an injury so Im lost as to why the comment. are you kidding Clarke will dominate her no one could stop her last year and CH was better on D she shot 4-17 a very dismal day and winchell was 5-17 all the shots were uncontested jumpers so who can stop them? not the players you mentioned. Now for MAYA and Howard No one can stop maya maybe make her take tough shots and Howard will give CH D trouble with power moves with clarke and howard in the paint I believe this gives the hill a lot of problems It keeps maya in there and the CH guards cant handle the shooters. If AW MD get hot look out.with SG 4 players are double figures theres only one player that has the ad over sg and stephenson if all play well they can win. My last point you make it sound like the hill will RUN over SG and stephenson like they were in your region well I dont think either game will be an easy one for CH not as a PROUD POP but realistic I believe both these teams are capable of top ten in the country Stephenson is there at 5 SG had there shot and fell a little short with the opening loss. A blow out by CH on either team I dont think so.