AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December
December 2007
Muhammad’s game matures to match new role
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Running the point for Norcross is not like running the point anywhere else in Georgia. With the Blue Devils, each year brings the expectation of a championship — even if three seniors graduate to play Division I basketball.
No one knows this better than Taariq Muhammad, Norcross’ junior floor leader whose responsibility switched from last year’s don’t mess things up to this year’s make things happen.
It is a drastic alteration in a number of ways, and yet Muhammad has made it with the deftness of a savant. Norcross (8-1) remains No. 1 in the state and is ranked nationally in several polls, and a significant reason for such a lofty position rests with Muhammad.
The growth in his game from a year ago, when he was surrounded by luminous talent and required to do less, is subtly commendable. It’s not like he has morphed into a Louis Williams (formerly of South Gwinnett) or a Chris Allen (late of Meadowcreek).
Rather, he puts together one solid performance after another, a spectacularly steady performer in leadership and effort. Forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who has signed with Wake Forest, is Norcross’ best player. Muhummad might be the Blue Devils’ most indispensable.
How? Because if Muhammad is not running the offense, setting up teammates, applying defensive ball pressure or functioning as an extension of coach Eddie Martin, Norcross would have little on-court direction.
“Taariq is a Division I guard,” said Martin. “He understands the game, how to play. With the players we lost, it’s important for him to be a leader for us. And that’s what he has been.”
Moreover, he eagerly accepted the responsibility, understanding it would be a lot different without Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech), Jordan DeMercy (Florida State) and Tony Neismith (Oklahoma) from last season’s AAAAA title team.
“We live with expectations of a championship,” said Muhammad, who averages about 15 points and 9 assists a game. “We play in front of big crowds because people know the kind of team we are, every year. So, it’s more of a challenge for me this year. My role is one with more responsibility now.
“I have to be a leader now, and as a leader I have to come with it every night. We have a tradition of making the championship, and I have to be a leader by example in order for us to get back there.”
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound guard plays with a confidence and desperation that others can learn from, if they are willing to make the commitment.
Muhammad will sacrifice his body through taking charges and diving for loose balls. He’ll also run the club with supreme self-esteem, a we-won’t-lose attitude that permeates the team.
And now that he continues to develop a consistent jump shot, Muhammad will go down as one of the Norcross all-time stars before he is done.
“That’s a long ways off,” he said. “I have a lot to work on and I have a lot of strengths. I use my strengths and work on my weakness, which really is getting stronger and my jump shot.”
He participates in the Norcross weight-training program and does extra lifting after practice. He shot hundreds of jump shots a day in the summer and now. He understands the magnitude of running point for Norcross.
“It’s a big job,” said Muhammad, who has received college interest from Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Miami, Clemson and many others, “but it’s the only one I want. It’s humbling. And it’s all about winning, doing what it takes to win. That’s what’s expected. And that’s what I expect from myself.”
No holiday break from the mats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Dec. 31.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Pound for Pound took a couple weeks off from blogging but not from following some fantastic high school wrestling both in-state and, thanks to the magic of the internet, far across Georgia’s borders.
Brecksville Invitational
Union Grove spent the holidays competing in the ultra-competitive Brecksville Invitational. Facing top-tier Ohio schools, the Wolverines finished fifth and pushed two wrestlers into the finals. Joey Lazor blew through a difficult 130-pound field that included seven nationally-ranked wrestlers. Lazor, the No. 22 ranked 125-pound junior, pinned three other ranked wrestlers in succession: Harrison Hightower (No. 25 130-pound sophomore/freshman) in the quarterfinals; Garland McCormick (Special mention 135-pound sophomore/freshman) in the semifinals and Jake Vaughan (No. 17 135-pound junior), who Lazor dropped in 2:39 in the final.
“(Lazor) was on this tournament; he kind of mowed through the bracket,” said Union Grove coach Joey Dinino. “He completely dominated the finals.”
Heavyweight Wesley Mena fell in the final to Columbus DeSales’ John Hiles (No. 8 285-pounder) with an early-third period pin.
Pound for Pound Top 10 (Last week’s rankings in parenthesis)
1: Collins Hill (2) — The Eagles followed a run away win at the Gwinnett County meet with a dominant victory at Kyle Maynard Duals
2: Union Grove (1) — Unbeaten in duals and fifth-best team at Brecksville Invitational
3: Harrison (3) — Hoyas place 12th at Powerade, head to Minnesota this weekend for The Clash Duals
4: Jefferson (4) — Wins at South Paulding and Keen Classic Duals keep Dragons rolling
5: Pope (9) — Dirty South champs finished fifth at Wadsworth tourney
6: Cass (NR) — 2nd at Dirty South; 4th at Wadsworth
7: Stockbridge (7) — Fayette Classic co-champs pulling it together at right time
8: Eastside (5) — Second-best Georgia school at Kyle Maynard Duals
9: Gilmer (8) — Bobcats hoping to get 171-pound David Snider healthy
T10: Lafayette (6) — Dominated Pigeon Forge Duals
T10: Kennesaw Mountain (10) — Along with Harrison, proving to be one of Area 5-AAAAA’s finest teams
Kyle Maynard Duals
Count this reporter as perhaps the last man in Georgia to jump aboard the Collins Hill bandwagon. The Eagles continued their dominance by cruising to a first-place finish at the Kyle Maynard Duals, clipping Baylor (TN), 34-22 (their second win of the season over the Tennessee powerhouse) in the first-place match. Before that, Collins Hill shut out Montgomery Bell Academy (TN), 68-0; and defeated Eastside, 58-6; Ravenwood (TN), 73-3; and South Carolina’s No. 5 Fort Mill, 53-6.
Dirty South Classic
Pope and Cass saw quite a lot of each other over the holidays. At the Dirty South Classic, Pope won while Cass finished second and the Greyhounds won four of seven head-to-head matches. This past weekend at the Wadsworth (OH) Grizzly Invitational Tournament, Cass finished fourth, Pope finished fifth and the Colonels won four of five head-to-head bouts. Pope also owns a win over Cass, 37-24 at the Walton Duals in early December.
Powerade Invitational
Harrison ran up against some of the better teams in the country at the 41st Powerade Invitational at Canon McMillan High School in Pennsylvania. The Hoyas finished 12th and placed three wrestlers, led by InterMat No. 8 160-pounder Josh Condon, who gave up a near fall in the third period to secure State College’s Steve Bosak’s 3-0 decision in the final. Thanks to the magic of the Web, Pound for Pound editors were able to listen to Condon’s bout on msasportsnetwork.com, as well as the consolation final matches for Ryan Medved (fourth at 135 pounds) and Alex Medved (fourth at 140).
Zac Jarzynka Memorial Ironman
Four of Georgia’s Class AAAAA teams made a stop in Oviedo, Florida for the Zac Jarzynka Memorial Ironman Tournament and three wrestlers took home individual titles. Camden County 119-pounder Sam Spradlin guided the Wildcats to a top-15 finish, winning his second consecutive crown in Oviedo after taking home gold at 112 pounds last season. A pair of North Gwinnett wrestlers — Travis Sheehy at 152 (defeating Wrestling USA top-20 152-pounder Zach Mastro of Palmetto Ridge) and Steven Buffington at 285 — won titles to help the Bulldogs finish 10th. Parkview finished ninth behind medalists Carson Fields (2nd at 135 to WUSA top-15 140-pounder Tico Baez of South Dade) and Brent McFall (3rd at 215). Forsyth Central’s Michael Vazquez finished 2nd at 140 pounds.
Fayette County Christmas Classic
The Fayette County Christmas Classic was one of the closer team races in recent memory. Stockbridge, trailing Wesleyan by six points heading into the final match of the tournament, the 285-pound championship, got a first-period pin from big man Randy Salmon against Rome’s Emanuel Woods and the Tigers split the title with Wesleyan and won their second consecutive Fayette Christmas crown.
Class AA Wesleyan, meanwhile, made perhaps the strongest statement of the tournament. The Wolves placed nine wrestlers, the most impressive being Kelby Smith, who not only dominated East Coweta’s Christian Flavin in the 215-pound title match, but also solidified himself as Class AA’s 215-pound front-runner.
Kennesaw Mountain finished third and collected four individual titles. Ryan and Alex Maus won the 112 and 140-pound titles, respectively, while first-year wrestler Jonathan Rivera won at 135 pounds and Zach Fultz picked up the 145-pound crown.
Takedowns
• Walton finished 24th at Brecksville as Andrew Lanham placed third at 152 pounds and heavyweight Jeff Francis (Dirty South runner-up) finished sixth.
• Carrollton has come a long way in six years. During the 2002-2003 season, the Trojans’ first year of wrestling, they finished last at the Fayette Christmas Classic and collected just three team points. This past weekend, Mike Mason’s crew went to Fayette and finished sixth.
• Fayette County once again is strong at 171 and 189 pounds, a year after 171-pounder Audy Whittington won the Class AAAA state title and Patrick Blankenbeker was state runner-up at 189. Blankenbeker, a Fargo All-American, is once again a state title contender at 189 and Brian Tilton, fresh off a Fayette Classic title, is looking good at 171.
• Dacula won the George Thompson Memorial tournament at Winder-Barrow, capped by lightweight Outstanding Wrestler, Noah Hunt, who won the 119-pound title.
• Effingham County picked up a 7th-place finish at the Seahawk Duals in Hilton Head, SC, Friday, and in Saturday’s traditional tournament, the Rebels placed seven wrestlers. Head coach Chris Hardin held out Josh Barnhill (20-0) for Kyle Piche, who placed third. Wade Hall (119) and Kevin Ulmer (now 30-2 at 125) were runners-up and freshman Bruce Smith, in his first year wrestling, placed fourth at 130 pounds. Three others placed for Effingham County.
• Ringgold won the Rockdale County Duals, sweeping five matches, including a 53-24 win over second-place Rockdale County.
On the Record
“It’s a good environment. (There’s) 60-something kids in the practice room (and) there’s not an easy kid in there.” — Jim Haskin, Pope head coach on the depth and quality of the wrestling program
“This one, as far as the balance, was the best tournament we’ve been to. I’m happy (with fifth-place finish); we wrestle a little bit better, we might’ve finished top two or three.” — Union Grove coach Joey Dinino on the Brecksville Invitational
“It’s just a sport I love to do. (Wrestling) is my first love, girls second. I’d rather wrestle than go on a date. Maybe Hugh Hefner calls me up, I might have to go.” — Cass’ Justin Martin
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: Pound For Pound
What Take 10 Wants For Christmas
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“It’s that time of year… when the world falls in love…” Blah blah blah. Sure, we could sit around singing the 72,049,385th off-key version of “The Christmas Waltz,” but why bother when you can cozy yourself up next to a warm computer and check out What Take 10 Wants For Christmas? We’ve been naughty AND nice so we reckon nabbing some of the cool “HS football stuff we reeeeeeeally want” on Santa Haws’ list is, as they say, in the bag.
10: Wireless routers at stadiums — We’ve got some Internet cards, but the Dome reminds us every year how nice it is to just be able to snag a wireless signal and go. Certainly makes us happier on deadline. Or maybe we should just get an iPhone like everyone else.
9: No more strangely timed games — Saturday games and 8 p.m. games throw everybody off a bit, including us. We’d like to see every game start at 7:30 Friday night. And let’s put a 2 1/2-hour time limit on the games too, just for good measure.
8: Instant replay at every game — Yeah, it could slow things down a little at times, but that whole Roswell-Peachtree Ridge thing drove everybody nuts. Replay could have quelled some of that problem. Of course, it would create more issues, but what doesn’t?
7: Press box food spreads everywhere — Some schools really do this up nice, and it’s always good when they do. Sandwiches, barbeque, pizza, drinks. We do have to spend several hours covering games; it’s nice to have a little grub. And since it’s free, we can’t even complain when mushrooms show up on the pizza.
6: The GHSA moves somewhere near the interstate — Have you ever driven to Thomaston? I’m sure it’s a fine little town. I’ve been there, and I’ve gotten twisted around the strange street layout. But Macon seems like a more logical choice. Is the GHSA trying to hide from us all?
5: Stat guys in the press box for every team — I’m pretty used to keeping my own stats by now, but it’s always good news when somebody hands me a stat sheet at the end of the first half. Of course, being a skeptical journalist, I often don’t trust the stats I get. I clearly have issues.
4: Every game is at the Dome — It’d be a pain for the teams and would feed the South Georgia cries of favoring Atlanta, but it’d be great for us. Any time you can walk from your office to the game is a good time. No parking or traffic woes. No weather issues. It’s perfect - for us, anyway.
3: Everybody is happy with their realignment — Fat chance, sure. But there’s so much consternation surrounding this stuff. We’re all for harmony around here.
2: An All-Classifications champ — This would be great. Set up some sort of tournament, though it’d be better if there were only four classes again. Maybe we could make that happen at the same time. Two more weeks, and there could be an all-class state title, and Buford fans could stop their posturing and see if their Wolves are as good as they think.
1: North/South harmony — Like I said, we’re all for bringing people together. Maybe we need to exhume Lincoln or something for this task. He seemed to have this act down. Or perhaps we can at least join hands and sing Kumbaya, if only for the Christmas season. Even the Grinch’s heart would melt after seeing that.
Go on. Take Ten. What’s on YOUR football wish list? Shoot Santa Haws your list of what’s naughty and nice about Georgia high school football.
Permalink | Comments (37) | Categories: Take Ten
Collins Hill star dazzles at UConn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When last we saw Maya Moore, she was basking in the aftermath of another state championship at Gwinnett Arena — an appropriate conclusion to a luminous high school career.
Last week, she was helping dig out teammates’ cars from a Connecticut blizzard.
Dealing with the vast snowfall seems about all that has changed with the delightful Moore. Already as a collegian with perennial powerhouse UConn, the magnitude of her brilliance has blown in like a nor’easter.
The former Collins Hill star makes her first start tonight on the road at San Diego State, but only because junior Kalana Greene tore her ACL. And yet, Moore still leads the No. 2 team in the nation in scoring at 16.5 points a game (in 21.5 minutes). She had 21 points, 10 rebounds in her Huskies debut. She followed that with 31 points in the next game and then 19 and 12 rebounds against Stanford.
She is the first freshman in Huskies history to start her career with double-figure scoring in each of her first eight games. And there’s Moore: She leads the team in blocked shots, steals, offensive rebounds and field-goal attempts. Moore, as we saw in high school, is no ordinary talent.
“We have as many, if not more, impressive individuals come through this program as any place in America,” Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said before the season, “and I don’t think … any of them came in here with more going for them than Maya does.”
Since then, Auriemma has been even more impressed, as Moore has negotiated the transition from preps to college as she does double teams: seamlessly.
“The game’s a lot faster in college,” she said the other day from a Chicago airport, where she was awaiting a connecting flight to California.
“Every player is gifted and talented, so it takes more on the mental side of the game than in high school. In high school, your talent can get you by. In college, you need more, especially mentally being able to push through fatigue and battling talented players.”
Always a quick study, she said it took her just into her second week to reach a level of belonging.
“It’s different, new, being in college,” Moore said. “There’s so much more individual freedom being away from home. I’m growing into another level as a person.”
That growth extends to the basketball court as well. She has not come off the bench since ninth grade in AAU, she said, but her performance so far indicates there was not much of a transition.
“I’m still getting a lot of playing time,” she said. “I’m not surprised [about my play] because I always have goals and I’m very competitive about reaching them. But it helped that I had a couple [of] good games early to build my confidence on this level. Now I just have to continue to do what the coaches teach to get better.”
She can hardly get better as a student, which also is a reflection on that competitive nature she mentioned. Grades have not yet come back, but she expects all A’s and B’s, just like in high school.
“I was prepared academically at Collins Hill,” she said. “I’m getting used to the demands of being an athlete and a student. And the snow.
“It’s not hard; it’s just different.”
So time-consuming are her schoolwork and basketball loads that she hardly has much time to reflect on her sparkling years at Collins Hill. Shoot, she only sees her mother about once a week, and she moved to Storrs to be near her daughter.
“When I do think about high school, it’s all good memories,” said last year’s consensus national high school player of the year. “I miss being around my friends and teammates all the time. But I try to call every so often.”
For sure, her former classmates recall often the championship teams Moore led at Collins Hill. And it should come as a surprise to no one if she is celebrating at the end of her first college season as she did her final year of high school.
ECI’s Ealey earns Player of Year honor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There was debate among AJC staffers, but the choice was clear.
Washaun Ealey showed he was the best player in the state from the start to finish.
Georgia-bound receiver Tavarres King of Habersham Central left his mark and earned national recognition with a breakout season. Northside-Warner Robins’ Tijuan Green helped carry the Eagles to a state championship and shoulder a big load when star quarterback Marques Ivory was out with a broken leg.
But Ealey’s record-breaking season, which included 58 touchdowns while leading Emanuel County Institute to the Class A state title, was convincing enough to win the AJC All-Class Player of the Year.
Ealey, a junior, will be back next season to give defensive coordinators more nightmares.
Video: See Ealey in action
Meet the All-State teams: Class AAAAA • Class AAAA • Class AAA • Class AA • Class A
Give us your choice: Who do you think deserved the honor? Name names and give those top players a shoutout.
Permalink | Comments (79) | Categories: AJC Player of the Year
S. Atl. team may be Reddick’s best
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Go ahead and admit it. You’ve been so wrapped up in the football season that you haven’t given much thought about basketball.
Since the football championship trophies are now sitting in the trophy cases, it’s time to catch up on some basketball. If the early season is an indication, it should be a great year.
• Douglass boys’ team is having a resurgence this season and is among the state’s elite. The Astros will try to dethrone South Atlanta at the city championships this week at the APS Holiday Classic.
• Speaking of South Atlanta … it might be the best team Michael Reddick has had. Derrick Favors, a 6-9 junior, is making a good case for himself to be Mr. Georgia Basketball. He’s averaging a double-double and is one of the top junior prospects in the nation.
• With apologies to Region 6-AAAA, which has produced the last four boys state champions, the best basketball in the state is being played in Region 5-AAA. South Atlanta and Dunwoody are among the top programs, and Blessed Trinity is working its way up. The Titans started the season with a big victory at Dunwoody and have not looked back.
• In Class AAAAA, Norcross is going for its third title, but Savannah, Wheeler and last season’s semifinalist, Centennial, are all on the Blue Devils’ heels.
Post up: How’s your favorite team doing? What player has impressed you the most in the early season? Go ahead — it’s safe to talk basketball now.
Permalink | Comments (62) | Categories: Fastbreak
Salem medals at Beast of East
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Dec. 17.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Georgia wrestlers are starting to make winning at national tournaments a regular thing. In the Beast of the East at the University of Delaware, Salem’s Peter Yates won the 145-pound title, clinching the prestigious medal with a 4-1 decision over Walt Peppelman of Central Dauphin’s (Pa.).
“We knew he had a chance [to win] going in,” said Salem coach Tim Owens. “But we knew it’d be tough especially in a big tournament like that.”
Yates, a two-time state champion and three-time finalist, remained unbeaten at 19-0.
POUND-FOR-POUND TOP 10 (Last week’s rankings in parenthesis)
1: Union Grove (1) — Followed the South Metro title with another crown at Tiger Invitational.
2: Collins Hill (2) — Midwest Classic heavyweight champ David Coffey leads Eagles, who come into this weekend’s Gwinnett County Tournament as heavy favorites.
3: Harrison (3) — Shook off a dual loss to Kennesaw Mountain by winning McCallie Invitational. Josh Condon obliterating opponents, now 24-0.
4: Jefferson (4) — Morgan County Tournament champs stay unbeaten.
5: Eastside (5) — Short-handed Eagles drop a dual to Union Grove; place nine and finish third at Tiger Invite.
6: Lafayette (7) — Ramblers put two in McCallie finals, finish tournament tied for ninth.
7: Stockbridge (6) — Tigers placed 5th at Tiger Invitational.
8: Gilmer (9) — In a preview of Class AAA state-level battles to come, Bobcats secure title at Hardaway Invitational.
9: Pope (8) — Finished second at Bradley Central (TN) tournament.
10: Kennesaw Mountain (NR) — Solid No. 2 at Tiger Invitational; Maus brothers, Alex and Ryan, both 27-2.
McCallie Invitational
The Peach State was also well-represented at the McCallie Invitational in Chattanooga as Georgia wrestlers won 10 of the 14 individual titles and put 18 in the finals.
Pound for Pound No. 3 Harrison continued to fare well outside of Georgia, running away with the first-place trophy at McCallie. Josh Condon, wrestling in what will be his new backyard when he starts at UT Chattanooga next fall, collected two pins and a tech fall before winning an 8-4 decision over Harold Gage of Cleveland High School (Tenn.) in the 160-pound final. Condon (24-0) led 11 total placers for the Hoyas, who don’t return to the mats until the brutal Powerade Invitational in Canonsburg, Pa., on Dec. 28.
Parkview’s Carson Fields (21-0) continued his strong senior season by winning the 135-pound title and the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler award. Six other Panthers placed, led by heavyweight champ Brian Farris.
McEachern and Walton finished tied for sixth with five champions coming from the two Cobb County schools: Brandon Westerman (119 pounds) and Matt Smith (125) from the defending state champion Indians; Phil Holloway (130), Andrew Lanham (152) and Jeff Olsen (189) from Walton, which is becoming a dangerous traditional tournament team.
Midwest National Wrestling Classic
No. 2 Collins Hill took on teams from Missouri, Oklahoma and Iowa, among others, and came away with a strong third-place finish in Kansas City. The Eagles’ David Coffey won the heavyweight crown while T.J. Mitchell (119) and Joel Smith (135) each finished second. 145-pound Taylor Knapp finished third and was one of seven state champions in the weight class.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Pound For Pound
Gentlemen, start your arguments
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The final word: See Todd’s final 2007 rankings for every class.
This week, we will hear final arguments. At least 104 times this season, someone has posted on the Poll Talk blog that the only rankings that matter are the final rankings. Now, this is the week where 107 people will post that the final rankings are garbage, too.
Well, say what you want, but I feel pretty solid about my five No. 1 teams: Lowndes has five championships in the highest class now. No school outside Lowndes County has more than that, a fact I didn’t know until my diligent research today. Northside, Carver, Buford and ECI each went 15-0. If not mistaken, this is only the second time since 1990 that all but one state champ has been undefeated. In 2002, all five went 15-0. In 2006, only one did.
Now for the tough rankings questions:
Class AAAAA: Would you rank Newnan, a team that made the quarters but never beat a ranked team? What about Peachtree Ridge, the team that beat 10-0 North Cobb and lost in overtime to Roswell? How many readers will spew when they see Brookwood at No. 7?
Class AAAA: In what order would you rank Ware, Tucker and TCC? I had Tucker at No. 2, but changed my ballot at the last minute. It would have been good for my ratings, but I changed my mind. I’ll still argue for Tucker if anyone requests it. The gap between the top four and the rest in AAAA is immense. And what is that at No. 9? Whitewater? And where’s Mays, SPX, Marist?
Class AAA: North Hall’s rep suffered after the Dome game, so I’m expecting some criticism of the No. 3 ranking. Westminster, like Whitewater, is another team whose season looks better when you see how its opponents fared in the playoffs. Any arguments for Henry County or Flowery Branch in the Top 10? And who was the guy who ranked Hart County No. 1 in preseason? As my 8-year-old would say, “Jeesh!”
Class AA: Where’s Dodge? Early? Calhoun? Swainsboro? All out of the Top 10. Into the Top 10 are GAC (another team whose season looks better in retro) and JeffCo.
Class A: Hardly changed from the end of the regular season. ECI is one of the best Class A teams in history.
And finally, who is the all-class player of the year? Mikey Tamburo? Greg Reid? Kenny Miles? Debrale Smiley? Tijuan Green? DeRon Furr? Deangelo Tyson? Jarmon Fortson? Tavarres King? Washaun Ealey? Omar Hunter? We’re close to deciding, but we’re not telling anybody until Sunday, when the all-state teams are announced.
The final word: See Todd’s final 2007 rankings for every class.
Todd talks back: Holcomb mixes it up with you all week long. Catch his running commentary in Poll Talk Monday-Friday. Leave comments, questions, etc., here and return to talk about the final 2007 rankings.
Union Grove moves up, Hoyas drop
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Dec. 10.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
The list of accolades continues to grow for Harrison senior Josh Condon. At the Walsh Ironman in Ohio, Condon eclipsed the 160-pound field, winning a 7-3 decision over Alex Munoz of Bishop Lynch (TX) in the final. It was Condon’s third consecutive win over Munoz after beating the Texas senior in each of the last two Super 32 tournaments. In the semifinals, Condon (20-0 in 2007) won a 6-1 decision over No. 1 seed Eric Cubberly of Pemberville Eastwood (OH), Wrestling USA Magazine’s No. 4 ranked 160-pounder. Cubberly could only manage a single escape point and Condon “just dominated,” according to Harrison head coach Josh Stephen.
“He was incredible; he wrestled outside himself,” Stephen said.
Harrison, which slipped to No. 3 in this week’s Pound for Pound Top 10, placed 22nd at the Ironman, getting solid performances from Ryan and Alex Medved, who were both one match from placing. Ryan (135 pounds) fell to Brecksville-Broadview Heights (OH) junior Kyle Lang in an early-second period pin and Alex (140) lost a 1-0 decision to Chris Burns of Troy Christian (OH).
It was a good weekend for the other two teams in the PFP Top 3. New No. 1 Union Grove dominated the field at the South Metro Invitational, sending eight to the finals and winning five individual crowns. Titlists Justin Crozier (125); Joey Lazor (130); Jacob Vinson (140); Tyler Floyd (145) and Bradley Banks (160) all won individual titles.
“We wanted to try and send a statement,” said Dinino. “We’ve still got some work to do (but) overall we had a good tournament.”
Tuesday, the Wolverines handed Eastside its first loss, 48-24.
No. 2 Collins Hill followed a 35-21 dual meet win over Baylor (TN) with a sweep of five matches at the Cleveland (TN) Duals. The Eagles have five unbeaten wrestlers, led by Taylor Knapp (14-0 at 145 and 152 pounds); T.J. Mitchell (14-0 at 119); Nick Smith (14-0 at 171); David Coffey (12-0 at 285); and Will Collins (10-0 at 215).
Rounding out the top 10
Nothing new at Jefferson where the No. 4 Dragons have competed in two tournaments — the Lumpkin County Duals and the Jackson County Invitational — and won both. Jefferson also tripped up Woodward Academy and Flowery Branch in dual No. 5 Eastside is 15-1, claiming a 39-35 victory in its first meeting with Stockbridge to aid in a strong start. The Eagles also own wins over Cass and Hardaway and finished second to Union Grove at South Metro before Tuesday’s loss to the Wolverines in a dual meet.
Stockbridge slipped to No. 6 with the loss to Eastside but finished sixth at South Metro despite missing three wrestlers, including 2006 state runner-up Nathan Allen.
Lafayette, an omission in the pre-season poll, checks in at No. 7. The defending Class AA traditional champions are 9-1 in duals, collecting wins over Class AAAAA teams Kennesaw Mountain, Kell and Peachtree Ridge and Class AAAA’s Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. Lafayette also won the Carpet Classic at Dalton High School.
Another team missing from the preseason rankings, No. 8 Pope, actually won eight of 14 matches in a dual with No. 3 Harrison but the Greyhounds came up with just one pin and lost a 30-28 decision. Coach Jim Haskin’s bunch also fell to No. 2 Collins Hill but holds wins over Walton, McEachern, Valdosta and Cass. No. 9 Gilmer is 12-2 and led by David Snider (Outstanding Wrestler at Jackson Invitational and Peachtree Ridge Duals), who helped his father, Sam, pick up dual meet win No. 200.
Centennial makes its debut in the poll at No. 10 after an 13-0 start. The Knights have picked up wins over defending Class AAAAA champion McEachern, Walton, Grayson and Murray County.
Coming Up: Tiger Invitational — Friday and Saturday
Stockbridge hosts its annual Tiger Invitational and like in years past, plenty of top teams will compete. The defending Class AAAA champion Tigers, Eastside, Cass, Dublin, Henry County, Union Grove and South Carolina champion Ft. Dorchester High School highlight a 36-team field.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Permalink | | Categories: Pound For Pound
Take 10: Top games of ‘07 (so far)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s almost Finals weekend. Heroes will be made. State football titles will be decided. Legends will be cemented. World peace will be declared.
OK, so maybe we went a little overboard, but we’re an excitable bunch at Take Ten. We can’t wait to see the sure-fire classics on Friday and Saturday to find out which ones we’ll all be talking about decades from now when we can’t remember much else.
But before we dive head-first into the finals, we thought we’d take a look back at the games that got us here. These are the games that didn’t have a state title on the line but might as well have. These are the 10 most memorable games of 2007.
10. Mays 23, Marist 17 OT (Week 10)
The game was memorable enough for its finish: going into overtime after a frantic first quarter turned into a stalemate for much of the game. Finally the Raiders secured the school’s first win over Marist.
When the game ended, Mays’ midfield celebration turned into a near-fight. It was tense for a few moments but didn’t amount to too much. The game did, though, giving Mays the No. 2 seed and a home playoff game.
9. Walton 13, Roswell 10 (Week 4)
The jury was still out on Walton at this point, and Roswell was the reigning champ, top ranked in the state, undefeated and expected to make a run at another title. Adam Shreiner’s 58-yard field goal in the first half was spectacle enough before Walton’s defense shut down the potent Hornets for much of the game. This game also set off the string of upsets No. 1 teams suffered in a crazy season for the top teams.
8. Wilcox County 34, Lincoln County 24 (Class A quarterfinals)
It looked like it might be over for Wilcox early. The team that appeared capable of delivering the school its first state title was behind 21-0 at home to Lincoln County and legendary coach Larry Campbell. But the Patriots came roaring back, closing the deficit to two at the half and pulling in front in the second half to move into the semis.
7. Walton 20, M.L. King 19 (Class AAAAA quarterfinals)
Shreiner strikes again. This time, he had actually missed two field goals before he lined up for a last-second shot to send the Raiders to the Dome. If he can hit one from 58, that last 36-yarder was nothing. It was the first loss for MLK, the highest classification’s last undefeated team. And it kept Walton’s dream alive to finally break Cobb County’s state title drought.
6. Our Lady of Mercy 63, Mt. Pisgah 62 (Week 8)
For any game, that’s an amazing score. For one that ended in regulation, it’s mind-boggling. Neither of these teams made the playoffs, so all eyes definitely weren’t on this one. But those who were there witnessed a shootout the likes of which this state has rarely seen. The big star of the game was Mt. Pisgah’s Fedale Hall, who rushed for 357 yards and four touchdowns, tossing in a 98-yard kickoff return for good measure.
5. Lovett 20, Thomasville 16 (Class AA quarterfinals)
It was a pretty good game even before the stupefying ending. Lovett falls behind 13-0 on the road and comes back despite struggling on offense most of the night before Thomasville quarterback Kendrick Dixon leads his team on an impressive 75-yard drive that ends with a 33-yard field goal and a 16-14 lead with 23.7 seconds left. Game over. Right? Lovett’s Andre Hicks had other ideas, taking the ensuing kickoff back 71 yards for a touchdown to stun the Bulldogs on their home field.
4. Chamblee 58, Stephens County 57 OT (Class AAA second round)
Chamblee didn’t get much attention most of the season, despite losing just one game. So when the Bulldogs entered their second-round game at Stephens County, most people figured this was the end of the road. But this turned into a pinball game, as the offenses combined for more than 1,100 yards. Chamblee’s Warren Norman ran for 291 yards and four touchdowns, and Chamblee eventually made it all the way to the Dome. The Dogs ended up scoring 170 points in their four playoff games.
3. Northside-Warner Robins 31, Tucker 28 (Class AAAA semifinals)
The Tigers were ready to slay the Northside dragon, which was riding a 28-game winning streak and had a second consecutive state title in its sights. Tucker used a suffocating defense and efficient offense to jump out to a 28-7 halftime lead and were 24 minutes away from the school’s first state finals appearance since 1963. But into the game walked Northside quarterback Marques Ivory, and everything changed. The Eagles charged back in the second half, and a late field goal did Tucker in.
2. Carver-Columbus 26, Chamblee 24 (Class AAA semifinals)
This one was over. Chamblee was dominating the game, up 24-6 with six minutes left. But Carver and its quarterback-receiver duo of DeRon Furr and Jarmon Fortson weren’t nearly done, scoring 20 points in the final 5:52. Fortson ended up with 222 receiving yards and two touchdowns, keying what was arguably the most stunning comeback in Dome semifinal history.
1. Roswell 23, Peachtree Ridge 20 OT (Class AAAAA second round)
The rematch of last year’s tied state final lived up to the advance billing. Roswell fell behind early and came back to force overtime, but the play that had everyone buzzing was the final one of the game. That was when the CSS telecast appeared to many viewers to show Roswell running back Alex Daniel fumbling the ball before he broke the plane of the end zone. But officials ruled it a score, one that gave the Hornets the victory and ended Peachtree Ridge’s season.
Go on. Take Ten. Were you at any of these games? Were they as memorable as we’re making them out to be? What else would you put on this list? Tell us all about it.
Permalink | Comments (54) | Categories: Take Ten
Defense, ha! Playoffs reward playmakers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Forget defense. In high school football, playmakers win championships.
That’s what I carried away from the latest Georgia Dome semifinals.
By Dec. 9, everybody that’s left plays good defense. But how do you score against these defenses that get off blocks and chase runners and quarterbacks faster than I can ever remember it? Playmakers.
What was the difference between Northside and Tucker? Marques Ivory.
The difference between North Gwinnett and Walton? Mike Tamburo and his sure-handed receivers.
ECI and Clinch County? Washaun Ealey.
Wilcox County and Athens Academy? The Dennard twins.
Carver and Chamblee? DeRon Furr and Jarmon Fortson.
There’s only one team left that can win the title primarily with defense, and that’s Lowndes, and I’m curious to see that matchup — North Gwinnett’s spread offense and the pinpoint passing of Tamburo against the state’s best defense.
My picks: Lowndes, Northside, Carver, Buford, Wilcox County. Not exactly going out on a limb.
I’m 27-of-30 since the quarterfinals, and I still can’t win my office pool, which must be rigged.
Talking points: Is Ivory the best quarterback in Georgia? … Is Northside with Ivory the best team in Georgia? … Or is it Buford? … Is Washaun Ealey another Garrison Hearst? … Did South Georgia dominate the Dome? Three schools on the Florida border and four others from middle/south Georgia are in the finals, while North Georgia outside metro Atlanta got shut out. I’m sure somebody noticed that.
And finally, remember that the final rankings are due in one week, and not all semifinalists will be in the AJC’s top four, nor will all quarterfinal teams be in the Top 10. The brackets tell you how far teams advanced, and the rankings will tell you how good they really are. So how would you rank them? How would you handle North Cobb, AAAAA’s No. 1-ranked team that lost in the first round?
Why Buford’s back for semis ‘seconds’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Buford High principal Steve Miller gives us his top five reasons the Wolves are headed back to the Georgia Dome for the football semifinals. Buford fans, what do YOU say?
1: Talented athletes that make a commitment to year-round development.
2: Superior coaching that provides leadership beyond the Xs and Os.
3: True community support. From city commissioners to the maintenance workers, our focus is excellence.
4: Because of our small-town atmosphere, the entire school system is focused on building our tradition of excellence in academics, athletics and fine arts.
5: We have the best cheerleading signs in the state.
Give us five: Got someone you’d like to see us go after? E-mail list ideas to Jeff D’Alessio.
Mad Maxie’s Dome Predictions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The beautiful thing about spewing foolishness on the state high school football playoff scene is this: No matter how bloody stupid it sounds — I am not looking for an amen here, by the way — nothing I say will inexplicably leapfrog one team five spots over another and they’ll end up playing for the state championship.
So, for those of you keeping score of such things, that’s GHSA 1, BCS 0.
This is not to say crazy things won’t happen, but we can at least be thankful the players are generating it and not some 11th-hour monkeying with the polls.
Thus dawns the last weekend in which the Georgia Dome will be a means to an end and not the end of the road itself. Next year, the semifinals will be like all the other rounds of the playoffs and only the last two teams standing in each class will go to the Dome for the crown.
On to the craziness. We have ECI’s Washaun Ealey, the only member of Georgia’s 50-touchdown club, in town. We have Cook, carrying the banner for No. 4 seeds everywhere, trying to take another step against the Lovett team that only now is playing the way I expected at the beginning of the year.
We have Buford, with the rare chance to unify the Class AA title by beating both defending co-champions — Charlton County last week, Dublin this.
We have Northside’s Marques Ivory trying to make a heroic, Willis Reed-type comeback, perhaps sensing the best Tucker team in years on the other side.
We have Wilcox County, one of the rare teams that can spot Lincoln County 21 points and then put the “Wood” to them. If you don’t know what that means, get a load of Deauntay Legrier this week, because Athens Academy will.
FRIDAY
Class Winner Loser
A Wilcox County Athens Academy
A ECI Clinch County
AAA Carver-Columbus Chamblee
AAAA Northside-W.R. Tucker
AAAA Thomas Co. Cent. Ware County
SATURDAY
Class Winner Loser
AA Buford Dublin
AA Cook Lovett
AAA Cairo North Hall
AAAAA North Gwinnett Walton
AAAAA Lowndes Camden County
Brackets, schmackets! It’s PCS time!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As we watched the BCS madness unfold last weekend, using computers, polls and tea leaves to sort out who gets to play for the national title, we at Take Ten gave thanks for the high school playoffs that settle things on the field. But we couldn’t help but think: “How different would Georgia high school football look if we scrapped the brackets and used a BCS-style formula to set up the matchups?”
So through the magic of alternate-reality technology, we have used an unnecessarily complex computer model (not really) to determine who would be playing in the 10 Dome games this weekend if the PCS (Preps Championship Series) and its incomprehensible ranking system ran the Georgia high school postseason, combining the AJC and Associated Press polls to determine the PCS rankings and matchups.
10: Class A — No. 1 Emanuel Co. Institute vs. No. 4 Clinch Co.
This one works out perfectly. ECI running back Washaun Ealey has set the single-season state touchdown record at 50, and Clinch puts up 30 points a game. Largely because of Ealey, the Bulldogs haven’t scored fewer than 28 points in a game this season, and he should be the difference in this one. Winner: ECI.
9: Class A — No. 2 Lincoln Co. vs. No. 3 Wilcox Co.
Again, not too bad. This game actually happened last week, as Wilcox eliminated Lincoln County 34-24. The Red Devils are a good team, but they’ve proven they can give up some points to good teams (32 to Wilkinson County, 34 to Wilcox County). Wilcox already has proven it can beat the Devils in reality; there’s little reason to think the Pats couldn’t get it done in the imaginary world as well. Winner: Wilcox County.
8: Class AA — No. 1 Buford vs. No. 4 Calhoun
Here, we’ve got a Calhoun team that couldn’t get much going against Greater Atlanta Christian in a 26-7 second-round loss, against seemingly unbeatable Buford. Calhoun piled up plenty of points this year, but much of it was against inferior competition. Since GAC wouldn’t have gotten the chance, Buford would have exposed Calhoun in this one. Winner: Buford.
7: Class AA — No. 2 Charlton Co. vs. No. 3 Thomasville
With this system, it looks like the Bulldogs and their fans would have been spared the heartbreak of losing on a miraculous kickoff return with less than 20 seconds left, as they did last week against Lovett. They would have gotten an automatic bye to the semifinals. That’s the good news. The bad news is they’d have to play the three-time defending champs, and Charlton wasn’t going to lose to anybody but Buford. Winner: Charlton County.
6: Class AAA — No. 1 Carver (Col.) vs. No. 4 Shaw
The Tigers have been pretty dominant this year but struggled last week to get rid of Carrollton, 14-7. Shaw couldn’t get by Cairo in the second round, falling 21-14. Shaw’s only loss of the season would have been to Carver in Week 2, 29-7. The Raiders may be better now than they were then, but it’s doubtful they’re that much better. Winner: Carver.
5: Class AAA — No. 2 North Hall vs. No. 3 Stephens Co.
This would have been a matchup of undefeated teams. North Hall will be at the Dome, but Chamblee took out Stephens 58-57 in the second round. Stephens is a talented team, but the Indians can give up points (28 to Habersham Central, 27 to Dublin, 28 to Oconee and, of course, 58 to Chamblee). Meanwhile, North Hall averages almost 45 points per game. Winner: North Hall.
4: Class AAAA — No. 1 Northside-Warner Robins vs. No. 4 Baldwin
Baldwin may have been the No. 4 seed out of Region 4 and may have lost in the first round, but the Braves make it to the Dome in this scenario. Of course, they’ve got to play Northside, who beat them 31-0 earlier in the year and hasn’t lost since the 2005 state final. Tough to bet against the Eagles. Winner: Northside.
3: Class AAAA — No. 2 Thomas Co. Central vs. No. 3 Tucker
This one would have been interesting and would have given the winner a shot at Northside. Tucker doesn’t have an especially explosive offense, but the Tigers’ defense is as dynamic as it is disciplined. And if you can’t score against them, you can’t beat them. But with the backfield duo of quarterback P.J. Williams and running back Debrale Smiley, the Yellow Jackets might just be potent enough to get into the end zone. Winner: Thomas County Central.
2: Class AAAAA — No. 1 North Cobb vs. No. 4 Lowndes
North Cobb was No. 1 and undefeated headed into the playoffs but couldn’t get past Peachtree Ridge in the first round. Lowndes has made its way to the Dome with some impressive postseason play so far. While the Warriors’ offense is nice, Lowndes’ is almost as good, and the Vikings’ defense is better. Winner: Lowndes.
1: Class AAAAA — No. 2 M.L. King vs. No. 3 Norcross Neither of these teams will be in the Dome this weekend. MLK went down last week 20-19 on a last-second Walton field goal, while Norcross had little success against Grayson in the second round, losing 34-16. Both of these teams can throw the ball, and both play solid defense. The difference might be MLK running back Cordellaro Jones, who gives the Lions a big-time playmaker out of the backfield. Given Norcross’ struggles with Etowah and Grayson in the playoffs, it doesn’t look like the Blue Devils would have gotten through this one. Winner: MLK.
Taking this one step further, the projected PCS champions would have been as follows:
Class A: ECI
Class AA: Buford
Class AAA: North Hall
Class AAAA: Northside-Warner Robins
Class AAAAA: Lowndes
Go on. Take Ten. How does the PCS look to you? If it’s good enough for the NCAA, could it be good enough for high school ball? Should we scrap the brackets? Are we way off on these projections? Let us know.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: Take Ten
Hoyas top first PFP poll
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Dec. 2 (last season’s final ranking in parenthesis).
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
A new wrestling season is underway and you know what that means — Pound for Pound’s first Top 10 poll.
1: Harrison (10) — Over the summer, the rich got richer in Cobb County. The Hoyas, 6th at Traditional, return two-time defending state champion Josh Condon (ranked 19th nationally amongst 160-pounders by Wrestling USA Magazine) and added Cass transfers Lucas and Peter Mosher, both Class AAA state placers. Ryan Medved (53-5 and third place state finish); Alex Medved (two-time placer) and K.J. Bell (4th at 119) form a fantastic top 6, while two-time kids state champion Nick Christakis and GISA state champion and Riverside Military transfer Matt Whittenburg make Harrison the team to beat in Class AAAAA.
2: Union Grove (7) — After finishing 10th in 2005, 11th in 2006 and 5th last season, the Wolverines might finally be ready to take the next step to a traditional state title. Defending state champion Justin Crozier leads a talented group that includes state runners-up Joey Lazor and Jack Roberts and NHSCA national runner-up Jacob Vinson. Carrington Banks graduated and is at Iowa Central but his brother, Bradley, returns after finishing third last season and former McEachern wrestler Tyler Floyd (2006 runner-up) will join area champions Stephen Bodiford and Wesley Mena and kids state placers Alex Lazor and Tyson Krantz to form one of the deeper lineups in Class AAAAA.
3: Collins Hill (T-2) — The Eagles finished in the top 3 at the Traditional tournament for the 8th consecutive season and 2008 has the possibility of being even better. Wesleyan transfer T.J. Mitchell, last year’s Class AA 103-pound champion, joins a lineup already packed with Class AAAAA 135-pound titlist Taylor Knapp and state placers Nick Smith (3rd at 1710; Joel Smith (4th at 1300; and David Coffey (5th at 285). Collins Hill was already a dangerous dual meet team (45-2 a year ago) but the addition of Mitchell helps the Eagles complete a short list of AAAAA favorites.
4: Stockbridge (5) — The defending duals and traditional champions in Class AAAA, Stockbridge returns every significant starter from last year’s team. 215-pound state champion Jose Paz will once again be favored in the weight class and state runner-up Nathan Allen moves to 130 pounds and will be on a short list of favorites there. Six other starters are back, including state placers Shane McGraw (3rd at 103); Ben Jones (5th at 160); and Randy Salmon (4th at 285).
5: Jefferson (8) — The Class A juggernaut lost four-time state champion Kyle Baird (now at Gardner-Webb) and 2006 champion Casey Winkle, but 10 state placers return. Leading the pack will be defending titlists Cam Thurmond, Jed Gurley and Jay Fowler, as well as runner-up Lucas Redd. The return of Andy Ledbetter is a question mark at 189 pounds following an off-season neck injury, but Patrick Allen (5th at 171) is ready to take his place if needed.
6: Gilmer (11) — Despite residing in the deepest classification in the state, AAA, the Bobcats appear to be the early front-runner with five state placers back, led by 171-pound runner-up David Snider. Throw in kids state champions Hunter Barnes, Sawyer Pettit and Wesley Nestor, and Gilmer has the goods to keep its state duals title and challenge for the traditional crown.
7: Walton (T-2) — Walton lost Andy Olsen and Dylan Temple, but state champion Phil Holloway returns along with placers Nolan Legg, Kevin D’Anna, Amdrew Lanham and Jeff Olsen. Perhaps a repeat of their 2nd place finish at Class AAAAA Traditional is a bit of a stretch, but coach Peter Murphy’s crew is always near the top of the highest classification.
8: Cass (9) — Losing Peter and Lucas Mosher to Harrison and Nick Cordell to Sonoraville won’t be easy to deal with. Still, don’t feel too bad for the Colonels. Defending Class AAA 130-pouind titlist Damon Cadle returns along with Justin Martin, whose won two state titles and finished third last season, and four other placers. Kids state champion Mason Martin and Jason Evans, a state runner-up with Woodland two years ago, should help solidify a solid group.
9: Eastside (NR) — Many thought Eastside would win the duals and traditional state titles in Class AAAA last season but the Eagles fell short in both, finishing in a tie for second at traditional and third at state duals. While 130-pound champion Joey Montgomery is gone, 103-pound champ Joel Stafford returns along with six other state qualifiers that should keep Eastside among AAAA’s favorites.
10: McEachern (1) — It’s a long fall from No. 1 to No. 10 for the defending Class AAAAA Duals and Traditional champs, but 11 senior starters have departed, including 140-pound champion Raleigh Abbott (now at Newberry College) and 215-pound titlist Brooks Pendelton. Two-time state champion Brandon Westerman will lead the way along with 112-pound runner-up Matt Smith. Tom Mcgee, who backed up 215-pounder Keith Parker last season, will get the nod at heavyweight after placing 5th at Super 32.
On the cusp — Hardaway, South Effingham, Whitewater, Lafayette, Ringgold
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: Pound For Pound
Surprised at semis? I’m not.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Poll Talk Predix: Todd predicts the team-by-team semifinals winners and losers in every class. He also offers Todd’s Odds on who’ll take home a title.
We shouldn’t be surprised.
Most people would say this has been a year of upsets, but on closer inspection there have been only a half-dozen real shockers this playoff season.
The only big surprise in the semifinals is Chamblee. This is a team that lost its best player, the all-time DeKalb County rushing king, Roddy Jones, from a team that missed the playoffs last season. Nobody saw that coming, but for the rest?
Cook is a fourth seed, but the Hornets were ranked No. 7 after their opening-night victory over Colquitt County and got as high as No. 6 for four weeks. All three of their losses are to ranked teams.
Anyone paying attention knew Cook was a dangerous team and that defending champs Charlton County, Lincoln County and Roswell were up against it last week.
The other 18 teams (besides Chamblee and Cook) were ranked in preseason or after the regular season. Some were known to be very talented in preseason but perhaps hadn’t lived up to potential until now (Athens Academy, Lovett, Ware County, Camden County), and others were unranked early but very much on the radar (North Gwinnett, Walton, Cairo).
In fact, the only semifinal team that hasn’t been in the top six at some point is Camden County (peaked at No. 7 after beating Warner Robins), and everybody knows Camden is no Cinderella.
Poll Talk Predix: Todd predicts the team-by-team semifinals winners and losers in every class. He also offers Todd’s Odds on who’ll take home a title.
Todd talks back: Holcomb mixes it up with you all week long. Catch his running commentary in Poll Talk Monday-Friday. Leave comments, questions, etc., here and return to talk about the latest playoff predix.
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
