AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 29 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBest basketball, regionally speaking
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s top-ranked Norcross and No. 2 Wheeler and everyone else in the state’s largest class this season. If the two powerhouse programs take care of business as expected, they will meet the first week of March to determine the state Class AAAAA championship.
A slip by either could mean a meeting in the earlier rounds of the state tournament or not at all. Like the saying goes, there is still a lot of basketball left.
Norcross and Wheeler have distinguished themselves as the teams to beat. As the region tournaments are set to begin in a couple weeks, let’s take a look at where the best basketball in the state’s largest class has been played this season.
• 1: Region 6 — Wheeler rarely loses a regular-season game to an in-state opponent. Centennial has been a top 10 team all year, and Northview, with Ralph Sampson III, could play strong in the state tournament.
• 2: Region 5 — Marietta might be the hottest team in the state now that McEachern has coasted of late. Harrison, the leader on its side of the subregion, has been under the radar.
• 3: Region 2 — This might be the most balanced of the Class AAAAA regions in the state. There isn’t a standout team in the league, but Stephenson, M.L. King, Newton, Douglass and Redan are capable of making strong playoff runs.
• 4: Region 3 — Savannah and Johnson-Savannah have been the power teams from the league this season. Beach took a big blow when all-state guard James Fields left at the beginning of the year.
• 5: Region 4 — Much like Region 2, this region also is balanced without a standout team. Other than East Coweta and Paulding County, the rest of the teams could be a tough out in the playoffs.
• 6: Region 8 — Parkview and Berkmar have been battling all season for region supremacy, and Meadowcreek is on their tails. All three have top seniors who are candidates for region player of the year.
• 7: Region 7 — Norcross is cruising through the league with Peachtree Ridge in a rebuilding year. Collins Hill has no big non-region victories. North Gwinnett could be a tough out with Ebuka Anyaorah, who is becoming a household name among major college coaches.
• 8: Region 1 — Tift County, a semifinalist last season, and Coffee have been leading the region known for football. Tift’s biggest non-region victories were against Class AAA Sandy Creek and Class A Turner County. Coffee has no big non-region victories.
Post up: Who has the best Class AAAAA basketball region? Are Norcross and Wheeler on a course to meet for the state finals?
Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Fastbreak
Comments
By tcc fan
January 29, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
I think region 1 in AAAA! Now with Thomas County having a great season, it makes it legit with bainbridge and Americus too.
By Devil Lover
January 29, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
Unlike last year, it appears like we should see wheeler and norcross in the state finals. norcross will win their region and wheeler should win their regions unless centennial plays like they did last year. however it looks like norcross must get by centennial in the 2nd round and harrison or marietta in the quarter finals. wheeler will have to get by savannah who slipped last week.
UNLIKE LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR WHEELER AND NORCROSS SHOULD MAKE IT TO THE FINALS. NORCROSS WILL WIN THEIR REGION AND WHEELER SHOULD WIN THEIR REGION. HOWEVER, IT LOOKS LIKE NORCROSS WILL HAVE TO GET BY CENTENNIAL IN THE 2ND ROUND AND MARIETTA OR HARRISON IN THE QUARTER FINALS. WHEELER WILL HAVE TO GET BY SAVANNAH BUT SHOULD END UP IN THE FINALS.
WHEELER SHOULD HAVE A SLIGHT LEAD HOWEVER IT WILL DEPEND ON HOW NORCROSS’ SUPPORTING PLAYERS PLAY. GET COULD BE A 15-20 PT WIN FOR WHEELER OR A 3-4 PT WIN FOR NORCROSS. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHO SHOWS UP FOR NORCROSS WHO HAS WON THE LAST TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS. AND THIS WILL BE A BIG FACTOR. NORCROSS HAS BEEN THEIR IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND HAS TAKEN CARE OF BUSINESS. WHEELER HAS NOT EVEN GOTTEN TO THE FINAL GAME WITH TWO OUTSTANDING TEAMS.
By Marietta Fan
January 29, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Hey Derrick,
Here is your Marietta update. Last weeks 50+ point win over Woodstock really came at heavy price. Sparkplug point guard Chris Tanzy went down in the first quarter with a high ankle sprain. Fast Forward to Tues. night Harrison walks into the packed arena and Tanzy watched the tip on crutches from the side line. Without a true point guard on the floor the Devils depended heavily on fast break play. Two massive tomahawk dunks, just seconds apart, from senior DeAndre Cannon tied the game at twenty-one moments in to the second quarter. The Devils never trailed again, they rode a 29 point effort by Cannon, and an 18 point night by shooter Stanley Jennnings to a five-point win. Matt Sundberg scored 27 for Harrison but looked extremely frustrated throughout the night. No idea when you can expect to see Tanzy on the floor, but it is exciting to know we can win close games against great competition without him. I’m not convinced that Norcross and Wheeler are that much better than Marietta this year.
By Derrick Mahone
January 30, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
Marietta FanThanks for the update.
By Devil Lover
January 30, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
MARIETTA FAN YOU MUST BE KIDDING. YOU BEAT CENTENNIAL BY 5 AND WHEELER BEAT THEM BY 29. JUST BECAUSE YOUR TEAM IS BEATING TEAMS RATE 1,000-13,000 IN THE COUNTRY DOESN’T MEAN YOU ARE CAPEABLE OF BEATING EITHER NORCROSS WHO IS ON AVERAGE RATED 12TH IN THE COUNTRY AND WHEELER WHO HAS BEATEN JUST ABOUT EVERY NATIONAL TEAM THEY HAVE FACED. BY THE WAY, NEOSHO, MO IS RATED 12,483 AND WHITFIELD ACADEMY WHO BEAT YOU 66-54 IS RATED 1,842.
By miabyrd
January 30, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Why are you guys not focusing on Dunwoody High school they only lost one game in there Region and have D1 players like point Guard#12 Grayson, along with Delwan and Chris Singleton Dunwoody record to-date is 16-1 but no one wants to give them some love ‘WHY” Dunwoody should have made your ranking I feel there are so many teams who over rated and get more press than Dunwoody who will Match up with Bless Trinity next Friday on 2-05-08 Please be watching I guaranteed Dunwoody High School will take home a hugh a win and keep your eyes on there point guard # 12 Grayson AKA Lighting I am outa here Peace.
By Titan 1
January 30, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Blessed Trinity/Dunwoody game is actually 7:30P Tuesday night 2/5/08,get there early!To Marietta Fan,where were all those tomahawk dunks when Blessed Trinity beat Marietta earlier in the year!
By Derrick Mahone
January 30, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
The Blessed Trinity/Dunwoody game looms large, but I’m interested in the Blessed Trinity at Marist tilt on Saturday. Making plans to be at that one.Marist could be the sleeper team in Region 6-AAAA. The War Eagles are a game behind Tucker on its side of the subregion. Otherthan an early season lost to Northview with 6-11 Ralph Sampson III, the War Eagles other three losses have come against ranked teams in its region.
Still think that Norcross and Wheeler are the teams to beat in the large-school class. Marietta has definitely come on strong since losing losing two of its first three games. The Blue Devils have won 17 straight and have shown a lot of progress throughout the year, including winning a tournament on a neutral floor in Missouri and beating a good Centennial team at home. Depending on how soon Chris Tanzy gets back in the lineup will be huge. Marietta is a fun team to watch, and coming through the North bracket is always tough especially when you don’t have a lot of size.
By Marietta Fan
January 30, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
To Titan 1: In that game we were missing our top three point scorers due to the fact that we were in the football playoffs. Blessed Trinity and Whitfield beat us before Stanley Jennings and Chris Tanzy set foot on the court this year.
To Devil Lover: Your right we lost early in the year without our full compliment of players to teams that arent necessarily the best in the state. Since then maybe we haven’t played the schedules that Wheeler and Norcross have, but we beat Wheeler and played Norcross close with a less talented team last year. We haven’t lost to anyone we shouldn’t have this year. We did not dominate Centennial true… but we had 20 point leads in that game as well. I may be a slight homer, but a better Norcross team didnt run a worse Marietta team off the floor last year… I don’t see any reason for them to this year.
By Marietta Fan
January 30, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
To Titan 1: In that game we were missing our top three point scorers due to the fact that we were in the football playoffs. Blessed Trinity and Whitfield beat us before Stanley Jennings and Chris Tanzy set foot on the court this year.
To Devil Lover: Your right we lost early in the year without our full compliment of players to teams that arent necessarily the best in the state. Since then maybe we haven’t played the schedules that Wheeler and Norcross have, but we beat Wheeler and played Norcross close with a less talented team last year. We haven’t lost since November and I am in no way saying that we would beat Norcross 6 out of ten times… But one out of ten isn’t all that ridiculous. We did not dominate Centennial true… but we had 20 point leads in that game as well. I may be a slight homer, but a better Norcross team didnt run a worse Marietta team off the floor last year… I don’t see any reason for them to this year.
By Marietta Fan
January 30, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
To Titan 1: In that game we were missing our top three point scorers due to the fact that we were in the football playoffs. Blessed Trinity and Whitfield beat us before Stanley Jennings and Chris Tanzy set foot on the court this year.
To Devil Lover: Your right we lost early in the year without our full compliment of players to teams that arent necessarily the best in the state. Since then maybe we haven’t played the schedules that Wheeler and Norcross have, but we beat Wheeler and played Norcross close with a less talented team last year. We haven’t lost since November and I am in no way saying that we would beat Norcross 6 out of ten times… But one out of ten isn’t all that ridiculous. We did not dominate Centennial true… but we had 20 point leads in that game as well. I may be a slight homer, but a better Norcross team didnt run a worse Marietta team off the floor last year… I don’t see any reason for them to this year.
By Marietta Fan
January 30, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
sry guys… I clicked it and it said it couldnt find the server so i tried again… and then again… apparently it knew exactly where the server was
By Another Marietta Fan
January 30, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
i dont see WHEELER on the top 10 best places to play in the state, and I dont see NORCROSS at number 2. Take that, booya!
By Titan 1
January 30, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
To Marietta Fan:BTvsMarietta game was played on Tuesday 11/20/08.If I am correct your football team was eliminated 1st round prior to that.Your guys were there on the bench,cant help it if they were rusty!
By Marietta Fan
January 30, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
They were but our school system has a rule that every player must take a week off before participating in another sport. Tough luck for us but in the end that loss isntn going to matter.
By Marietta Fan
January 30, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
Correction I checked it, the rule states that a player must practice with the team for a week before competing in a game. We were eliminated three days before that in particularly humiliating fashion by North Gwinnett… But hey I cant take the win away: Blessed Trinity played outstanding. All the credit in the world to them at the end of the night BT had more points than my Devils period. I’m not trying to change the game I’m just saying that is not the same team we are putting on the floor every night.
By Derrick Mahone
January 30, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
I think both Blessed Trinity and Marietta have taken the path that you like to see in teams throughout the season. In staying unbeaten on the season, Blessed Trinity has been consistent throughout. Marietta has gotten better as the season moved on. In about a week, it won’t matter who you beat in November or December whether its San Antonio Spurs or the church league team, all that will matter is the next opponent if you are fortunate enough to still be playing.
By another marietta fan
January 30, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
I have seen Marietta, Norcross and Wheeler play this year and I have to say that all are very impressive teams when they are on their game. I have not ever heard of that rule for not being able to play for a week but I know both players were unavailable that game. Stanly due to a sprained ankle and Chris due to personal reasons. However, without Tanzy this team is not nearly as good as they can be. Let me remind you that Marietta did beat the number 6 team in the country out of San Diego in a Christmas tournament without our first team all-county center, so we can obviously play with good teams. Without Chris though, we are not the same team. I am really close to him and he is still 3-4 weeks away from being game ready.
By Always Overlooked
January 30, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
There is always talk about AAAAA, but what about AAAA basketball?
By Mia Byrd
January 31, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
Mr Mahone this is definition below of looms large. I am hoping that you are not trying to dis Dunwoody high school.Maybe in your distorted mind you feel that Dunwoody cant match up against Bless Trinity well you are wrong.Hope to see you in the place and you make sure you get there real early Hater” DEFINITION/Loom threatening appearance of something, as through fog or darkness.
Peace out”
By MIGHTY TITAN
February 1, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
You all need to give the Titans there due. Regardless of what happens against Marist. They have defied all odds. No transfers, No scholarships, No All Americans. Just 5 to guys that can really play, and understand the meaning of the word team!!!! Marist should be tough, they are a 4 A team! I think we will beat them in a close one. Dunwoody, we got some for you A - -! The gym is expecting 1,700 fans if you aren’t in the gym by 6:45pm you ain’t getting in. We are going to shock the world! If your there early for watch the girls game. Riley Cerone, the BT junior Point guard is going big time…!
By Derrick Mahone
February 1, 2008 11:52 PM | Link to this
Mia Byrd Not sure how you come to the conclusion that I was dissing Dunwoody with this line “The Blessed Trinity/Dunwoody game looms large, but I’m interested in the Blessed Trinity at Marist tilt on Saturday.” You must explain because my mind might be too “distorted” to understand. In making the reference to “loom large” meaning it is a big game. Loom as defined by the thesaurus is: become visible; be about to happen. I’m sure will agree the Blessed Trinity/Dunwoody game is big because it will help determine seeding for the all important Region 5-AAA, which will decide the four boys and four girls team that will represent the region in the upcoming state tournament.
By MIGHTY TITAN
February 2, 2008 2:56 AM | Link to this
Mr.Mahone, You are correct. The only game that matters right now is the Marist/Blessed Trinity game. We,BT, have been successful to this point because we focus on each opponent as they present themselves. We respect Marist, and know they will be tough. I think we will a close game. Don’t forget our girls team. They are on a quick rise to the top of the region. They have the two best guards in the Region in Junior Riley Cerone, and Senior Coleen Bauer.
By J
February 4, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Wheeler and Norcross recruit players, offering to buy them houses and move them into the region. The funny thing is, they think nobody realizes it. They’ll get theirs.
By MIGHTY TITAN
February 5, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
Well The BT/Dunwoody rematch was all it was advertised to be. They turned 500 fans away, and Dunwoody came out strong with a couple of three’s and a Monster Dunk by Delwan Graham. But the Titans came charging back and it was nip and tuck the whole way. Singleton and Pierre played huge. The Titans where led by Tyler Cerone-22 and Ryan Acquino-24. They played huge and earned there respect tonight. Can’t wait for the rematch. BT has the best brother/Sister combo in the State. Riley Cerone laid 23 points on the Lady Wildcats tonight.!
By mariettaho
February 8, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
Marietta is the best team in the state without a doubt and all yall are hatin. Chris Tanzy is the best point guard in the state and even without him we can still beat teams like Harrison. Chris is my boy and he will definitely be game ready a good week before they said he will because he is a soldier. Our team is straight thug and the only other team we give a damn about is Norcross and I think we’ll be meeting them real soon and we’ll see what happens then. As far as Wheeler goes, our starting 5 were all playing varsity last year when Wheeler came to Marietta and got dey asses stomped in front of a full house. Our starting 5 are all D-1 prospects and most are dual-sport. Stanley Jennings will go pro in either basketball or football or both and Deandre has NBA hopes right out of high school. Basically all I am really tryin to say is, We from Marietta, F*** wit us.
By mariettaho
February 8, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this
yall dont want none