Prep Zone

By Render Westbrook

January 24, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

DERRICK, IM A BIG FAN OF PREP HOOPS BUT LET ME SHARE MY FEELINGS ON THE RANKINGS. 1ST AND FOREMOST, RANKINGS SHOULD BE BASED ON NOT JUST A TEAMS RECORD, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE TOUGHNESS OF THE TEAMS SCHEDULE. COLUMBIA SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF NUMBER ONE FOR ONE LOSS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE NOT LOST TO AN IN STATE TEAM IN 3 YEARS N THE REGULAR SEASON. TO TOP THAT THEY PLAY A NATIONAL SCHEDULE OF RANKED TEAMS NITE N AND NITE OUT AND WHO DOES WESTLAKE PLAY. THEY HAVE YET TO PLAY OR BEAT A RANKED TEAM. PLENTY OF TEAMS WOULD BE UNDEFEATED WITH THAT POOR SCHEDULE FULL OF SUB 500 TEAMS. MILLER GROVE HAS ALSO PLAYED A NATIONAL AND STATE POWERHOUSE SCHEDULE OF RANKED TEAMS AND HAS YET TO REACH THEIR PEAK. THEY NOR COLUMBIA SHOULD FALL BEHIND A WESTLAKE OR TUCKER WHOM THEY HAVE BOTH BEATEN THIS SEASON ALREADY. A .500 TEAM THAT PLAYS A SCHEDULE THAT IS TOUGH WILL RANK HIGHER THAN A UNDEFEATED TEAM THAT PLAYS NO ONE. MY LIST WOULD LOOK AS FOLLOWS. 1. COLUMBIA 2. MILLER GROVE 3. TUCKER 4. WESTLAKE 5. STONE MOUNTAIN

NOT BEING BIASED ON THAT 6AAAA REGION BUT IT IS 4 THE PAST TWO YEARS THE TOUGHEST REGION THIS STATE HAS EVER OR PROBABLY WILL EVER SEE.

By tcc fan

January 24, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

i told yall at the beginning of the year that not only would the football team be raw for the Thomas County but the basketball team would be the best ever in school history… so far they have not dissapointed!!!! Look for thomas county having 20 plus wins!!! go jackets

By Derrick Mahone

January 24, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

Render Westbrook Thanks for your thoughts. In case you missed it, I did a story last week on how tough Region 6-AAAA has been the last four years with the state champion coming from that on the boys side and five straight on the girls side. I think a lot of people are under the impression that Westlake is a Johnny Come Lately. The school, since its inception in 1987 has been among the top programs in the state. They have won two state titles and played for two others. They have sent several players to the colleges. Every starter and the top reserves will get a basketball scholarship their senior season. In other words, they have quality players and a good coach. In fact, Lakeshore, which consolidated with Westwood to form Westlake, was a Class AA power for years. Enough about the past, this year’s Westlake group is talented and deep. Their only two losses have been to top-ranked Norcross by five and a team from Penn. by five. As I’ve stated before, some of these so-called nationally ranked teams are not as good as people make them out to be. Good Georgia teams consistently beat these nationally ranked teams because they have one player that is a hotshot recruit. I like watching basketball in Region 6-AAAA, and Westlake would definitely compete well in that league. If you get a moment as some of the coaches in Region 6-AAAA, and I’m sure they will tell you the same thing.

By Bill

January 24, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Douglass beat MLK by 22 in their first and only meeting. MLK has a weak schedule and only beat teams like Lithonia who only has 3 wins, by 3. Douglass is better than MLK. King is overrated. Newton and Stephenson are better than King now.

By Go Lions

January 24, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this

Derrick why doesn’t Lithia Spring get no respect the last 5 years they have been: 21-7, 24-7, 19-7, 27-3 and currently and 18-1. They dont recruit like the schools in Region 6AAAA does. They play with kid in the area.

By Derrick Mahone

January 24, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this

Go Lions Actually saw the Lithia Springs vs. Cherokee game on Tuesday. Thought Lithia Springs has a good team. They play really hard and good defense. Look forward to seeing them again this season in the playoffs.

By Robert

January 24, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this

How can you put Meadowcreek ahead of region opponent Berkmar? Berkmar beat them 17 last week on Meadowcreek’s home floor. Berkmar has a better overall and region record. Just curious your reasons for that.

By PAT

January 24, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

I don’t get it…..do the sportswriters look at the scores before voting? Berkmar beats #8 Meadowcreek by almost 20 AT MEADOWCREEK and has only lost to one in-state team (Parkview by 1 pt.). Meadowcreek then goes and struggles and beat South on a last second half-court buzzer beater and still maintains a state ranking? I’m not saying that Berkmar is going to win state but they are a very good group!

By Derrick Mahone

January 24, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this

Robert & Pat The votes for Berkmar and Meadowcreek came from most of the writers out of the area. Not sure in my pre-poll advisory if I had the wrong team winning or not. Look forward to the re-match on Feb. 5.

By Ernest

January 24, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this

Ahh, life is good! The Lady Panthers have assumed their rightful perch as unanimous number one is AAAA. The only potential tough game left on the schedule will be against St. Pius (no disrespect intended to the other opponents). The Lady Panthers almost beat them last year in the region championship (I know, this is not horseshoes) but with Kelly Cain now redshirting at Tennessee and their point guard at a different school, they are a MUCH different team.

HS Basketball fever. I’ve got it!!!

By thegreenpaw

January 24, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this

The Franklin Co. Lady Lions are on a mission to Macon. A win Fri. against Elbert will set all time record. 20-0 in the regular season. They will finish the reg. season undefeated. And probably the tourney too. We should be 27-0 heading into state!

By thegreenpaw

January 24, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this

The Franklin Co. Lady Lions are on a mission to Macon. A win Fri. against Elbert will set all time record. 20-0 in the regular season. They will finish the reg. season undefeated. And probably the tourney too. We should be 27-0 heading into state!

By Marietta Fan

January 24, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this

I appreciate the love for the Devils, we still have rematches with Harrison(4) and McEachern(7). We win those and secure a #1 seed for the region tourney, I think we’ll make the playoffs and maybe surprise Savannah, Wheeler, or Norcross. Well not Norcross, we played them pretty close in the quarterfinals last season until they pulled away late in the third. Do you think that the size differential will be a major factor in any of those potential match-ups?

By Marietta Fan

January 24, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this

I appreciate the love for the Devils, we still have rematches with Harrison(5) and McEachern(7). We win those and secure a #1 seed for the region tourney, I think we’ll make the playoffs and maybe surprise Savannah, Wheeler, or Norcross. Well not Norcross, we played them pretty close in the quarterfinals last season until they pulled away late in the third. Do you think that the size differential will be a major factor in any of those potential match-ups?

By marietta man

January 24, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this

Im not sure why Marietta is not getting a lot of credit. On the ajc front page, it asked Who Will Win the State Championship? and the choices were savannah, wheeler, norcross, or mceachern (and other). Marietta has already swept McEachern in one game, awaiting the second soon. Marietta also was preparing to play Wheeler on saturday (but the game was cancelled due to the Missouri tournament). Marietta was also expected to lose againt Centennial, whom they began shuttng out of the water, only to hold on to the victory in the end, never trailing once in the game. Fourth in state, but will they move up, even with Harrison and McEachern still left to play? Marietta may lack height, but not talent.

By Gtstar

January 24, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this

its easy to say region 5 is the strongest basketball region in the 5A classification,you will play a decent team every night

By Marietta Fan

January 24, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this

Hello again Derrick, so yeah the Devils are confident, the Devils’ fans are confident. I feel that should we win our rematches with Harrison (5) and McEachern (7) that I will honestly be disappointed with anything less than quarterfinals for boys or girls. I think this team really could surprise savannah, but we beat wheeler last season and were up on Norcross early and hung tight until late in the quarters last season. I don’t see those two teams being unprepared. Do you think size will be a significant factor against Marietta in any of those potential match-ups (Savannah, Wheeler, Norcross)?

By Marietta Fan

January 24, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

sorry i Multi-posted… it’s driving me insane

By iggy

January 25, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this

Westlake, they doody man. come. on.

if I had a nickel for every time the Westlake, I’d be in the riches with dimes.

dropping dimes like the PG out of Thomas- they skimp the pappymack baby!

it’s all over unless it continues tomorrow.

check it solid.

• Iggy

By Walter Evins

January 25, 2008 7:24 AM | Link to this

Who votes for the rankings Derrick?

By Rep n South Ga

January 25, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this

Good morning people! I am a Middle Ga born gentleman that enjoys watching High school Basketball. I now reside in the Atlanta area and I get a chance to watch many games a year especially from region 6-AAAA. I have to agree that it is a very strong region. I attended the MLK shootout at Centennial High and was thoroughly impresses with the talent on each and every team. Although I have not seen Westlake this season, I have kept up with the writing on the wall so to speak and I will state that it may well be a toss-up between Westlake and Columbia based upon the factors I have compiled.

I must also state that I do agree with each classifications top-5 schools.

However, being from Macon and watching games between Wilkinson county, Central-Macon, Northeast-Macon, Hancock Central and the like, I have to disagree with Central-Macon being ranked ahead of Northeast-Macon and Northeast-Macon not even being ranked at all.

First, lets do the win-loss thing here: Central-Macon 14-5 with losses to two unranked AA schools with one of those losses being at home. One other loss to an unranked AAA school and 1 out of state loss in their first game of the season. They also possess 1 loss in the region which came at home to unranked Northeast-Macon by the way.

Northeast-Macon 14-3 with losses to a Beach team out of Savannah that plays in what is arguably the second toughest region (3-AAAAA) in the state outside of 6-AAAA in what was the first game of the year and Northeast-Macon had a few players still on lag from a playoff football squad and Baldwin County which was the second game of the year and it was at Baldwin where teams rarely win. Northeast-Macon avenged that win the following week by throttling Baldwin at home. And the third loss was to No.1 ranked (A) Wilkinson county at Wilkinson County where they are tough to beat by any school in any classification.

By the way, in the head-to-head match-up, Northeast-Macon won at Central-Macon by 1 but the game was not nearly that close. And I do know that sounds funny but you had too be there to understand.

I am simple questioning the reasoning behind this ranking!!!!!!!

Feedback would be great….

By the way, I plan on checking out No.3 ranked (AAAAA)Savannah since they are in town this weekend.

By andre

January 25, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

turner county boy’s basketball rank #4 in state by ajc poll.we have one the best basketball programs in the state,but we’re in south ga,we’ll play one of the north team’s in the final four,because ajc so called great team’s in the north are going to have to play one another. the great south team’s terell county and turner county will be in the final four

By Justahfan

January 25, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

No disrespect to MLK because they have nothin’ ta do with tha rankings,but you certainly can’t be ranked 6th in the state and 3rd in your own region.It seems the more Douglas and Stephenson fight to stay on top,the less respect they get.

By Will

January 25, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

What happened at Whitefield Academy to cause the twin bigs to leave the program? Expect Whitefield to have problems guarding other teams front court players. This is a big lost for the Wolfpack.

By Will

January 25, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

Well said Justahfan. These poll voters don’t beleive in the Astros yet. We’ll know tonight as they travel to MLK for the 2nd meeting. The Astros won the 1st game 78-56 on Dec 14th. Stephenson plays Luella at home.

By nysouth

January 25, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this

Derrick: Good game coming up on Saturday night with Dunwoody traveling to Meadowcreek. Should be a good battle between Chris Singelton and Tyler McDaniel.

Singleton has been a beast lately, averaging over 16 boards a game and about 6-8 blocks per game.

Dunwoody’s Delwan Graham went off for 20 last year in Dunwoody’s win against the Creek. Graham has been on fire lately averaging over 25 a game over the last 5 and has two 30+ games in that stretch. He’s playing on a different level right now.

Dunwoody (15-3) has not lost a game since their buzzer beater loss to highly regarded Bishop O’Connell (VA) in the Beach Ball Classic over the Christmas break.

Looming ahead is the big rematch at Blessed Trinity on Feb 5. You should make sure somebody from the AJC is at that game.

By mr cassius

January 25, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this

MY MY MY HOW DID DOUGLASS HIGH GIRL S LOOSE SO EFFORTLESSLY .STEP IT UP GIRLS MY HOUSE DEEDS OR RIDING ON YOUR SEASON. COME ON JENNING AND KHAALIDAH ITS COLD OUT SIDE AND MY OLD BONES CANT STAND IT LIKE THEY USE TO.

By Kate

January 25, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this

Who Will Win Girls AAAAA? Hey, folks, note that WESLEYAN has already beaten two of the three top ranked 5-A teams (Marietta and Etowah) and came close on Mill Creek.

Not bad for a AA team that’s moving down to A next year. You can put Coach Azar’s strategy and her deep team up against any in the state, even schools that have more than 2,000 students to field a team.

Go Wolves.

By KGutta

January 26, 2008 4:06 AM | Link to this

I see that some people feel (as I do) that 3-AAAAA is one of the two toughest regions to come out of. Others say that the region is weak by claiming that Savannah High has “played no one” whenever someone mentions that Da High is unbeaten. I haven’t watched too many other teams in order to make an assumption. So Derrick or anyone else could you help me figure this out. And what do you guys think of Savannah High or Johnson’s chances to win state.

By rob

January 26, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

like i was saying savannh high plays with what they have to put on the court win or lose ,i have wacth those guys a lot. they just go out and play basketball . they have no big man ,but have a big heart. they dont walk around with there chest out. they just play hard. whats up derrick hope to meet you at the game today . rob —savannah,ga

By rob

January 26, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

like i was saying savannh high plays with what they have to put on the court win or lose ,i have wacth those guys a lot. they just go out and play basketball . they have no big man ,but have a big heart. they dont walk around with there chest out. they just play hard. whats up derrick hope to meet you at the game today . rob —savannah,ga

By cross%over

January 26, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

Region # 6, be careful region # 3 is not far behind or they just my be in front. We shall see.

By Devil Lover

January 26, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this

Norcross Poll Ranking as of 1/23/2008

SI 9

HoopsUSA 10

Prep Natl 12 Southeast 1

MaxPreps 93 State 3

RISE 7 Southeast 1

USAtoday 13 South 3

ESPN 19 South 5

Rivals 15

STATE POLLS

AJC-5A 1 Statewide 1

GA Sportswriters 1

GASPORT-5A 2

By Mill Creek Mom

January 27, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

Kate,

A 15 point loss to Mill Creek is not “even” coming close to winning. Mill Creek is the type of team that does not “blow out” their opponent unless of course you are Collins Hill and they have a statement to make. Mill Creek has always beat Wesleyen and always will. Please don’t use Mill Creek as an example of how good your team “could be”.

By Derrick Mahone

January 27, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

What a wild weekend of high school hoops. There should be plenty of movement in the polls this week. When I checked my e-mail this morning, there were plenty from the writers in the GSWA poll advising on teams in their area that were upset victims or pulled off upsets. Made the journey down to Jonesboro to see the Mundy’s Mill vs. Savannah game. Mundy’s Mill guard Adam Smith might be one of the most poised freshmen I seen in a while. Big win for Tu Willingham and his group after a disappointing three-point lost to region-leading Newnan on Tuesday.

By girls basketball fan

January 27, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this

Derrick could you tell me why Osborne’s girls basketball team can’t get any love.They are currently 17-4,have won 5 straight and 14 of their last 16 and are a pretty balanced team with great senior leadership and a great coach. They have tremendous post play and pretty good perimeter offense to go with a sound defensive presents.They were one win away from a state playoff berth last year and missed it by 2 points. Since Hillgrove seems to get so much love and respect,why can’t they? How far do you see them going?

By Wheeler Fan

January 27, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this

An FYI for our friend writing this article. If you have watched Wheeler at all this season you would have realized that it was not as much Miller Grove playing bad, but the fact that Wheeler was in foul trouble the entire game and had 2 of their top 3 players on the bench for half the game with their scrubs winning. I think this point was proven last night when Wheeler went out and laid it on the number 10 team in the country (pending which poll) Wildcats win state this year!!

By Wheeler Fan

January 27, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this

An FYI for our friend writing this article. If you have watched Wheeler at all this season you would have realized that it was not as much Miller Grove playing bad, but the fact that Wheeler was in foul trouble the entire game and had 2 of their top 3 players on the bench for half the game with their scrubs winning. I think this point was proven last night when Wheeler went out and laid it on the number 10 team in the country (pending which poll) Wildcats win state this year!!

By Devil Lover

January 28, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Derrick, where will the 5A quarter finals be played this yr? I heard Ga State.

By Eric Rogers

January 28, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

Who is this clown talking about Westlake!!!! Don’t hate!!!!! Columbia is what we thought they were!!!!!!!! LOL, Garbage!!!!!!!

By Eric Rogers

January 28, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

Westlake deserve to be #1!!!!! Columbia High is who we thought they were!!!!!!!! #2

By Shotgun

January 28, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

Yo D-MO, how can Jonesboro still be ranked in top ten when they got beat by 35 points by Riverdale? Riverdale should at least got some mention. They should have beat Westlake, but they missed a layup at the buzzer. They are real hot right now. They will be extremely dangerous in the playoffs.

By KING BBALL

January 28, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

SHOUT OUT TO THE DOUGLASS FANS WHO FELT LIKE ML KING WAS OVERRATED! THE KING PROGRAM IS A FINE TUNED MACHINE AT 17-4 EVEN IN A DOWN YEAR….PLEASE DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE ABOUT 2-AAAAA BEING A SOFT REGION IN AAAAA…COMPARED TO WHAT? THE REGION TOURNEY WILL ONCE AGAIN BE A WAR…LOOK OUT FOR THE DEFENDING CHAMPS! SEE YOU THERE BILL AND JUSAFAN!!! KING HOOPS.

By Mr. Miller Grove

January 28, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

In response to Wheeler Fan, I will give you credit, Wheeler was the better team and beat Miller Grove, but to say it was not so much Miller Grove playing bad , forgive me if i am incorrect but arent fouls a part of the game of basketball? Maybe Wheeler should work on there debt, maybe Miller Grove exposed a weakness in Wheeler. Good luck the rest of the way, I hope Wheeler wins 5A

By itdoesn'tmatter

January 28, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this

It’s Monday, 10:00 p.m. Where are the updates?????? You say Fastbreak, Mon. and Thurs. Am I in a time warp?

By Harris

January 29, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

As a former referee with 10 years experience in the Atlanta area, I feel that Savannah High got some bad calls in the Mundy Mills game this past weekend. I do feel that Savannah High is for real. They came up here on Saturday morning after a tough game against Johnson that Friday night, and should have won. If I were their coach, my team will be spending a hour each practice foul shooting because that is what cost them the game despite the bad calls against them. I think they will make some noise during the tournament despite being small.