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January 2008
Which underdogs will make noise?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the better part of the season, all the polls and talk have been about the frontrunners. As the tournaments near, polls don’t matter — just the brackets. This is the time of year that the underdogs live for.
Will the favorites survive or will the underdogs come through?
The Marist boys have been playing in the shadows of the highly ranked girls team the last couple years. The War Eagles have been battle-tested in Region 6-AAAA while competing with Stone Mountain, Miller Grove, Tucker and a solid nonregion schedule. Saturday, Marist will try to hand Class AAA No. 3 Blessed Trinity its first loss.
Riverdale is starting to peak and having us believe it can make another final four run. Mundy’s Mill just knocked off previously unbeaten Savannah last week. They have the guns in seniors Todd Salter and LSU signee Dennis Harris, and Adam Smith might be the most poised freshman in the state.
Newnan is new to the rankings this week and could be a force in the south brackets with Russell Powell, a superb athlete at the point. Lack of height is probably the only negative about Benny Gibbs’ Pebblebrook squad. The Falcons are looking to make another run in the state playoffs.
Again Lovett has started the season slow after a deep playoff run from its football team. Wesleyan and Greater Atlanta Christian have overshadowed the Lions in their region, but they figure to make some noise in the tournament.
Post up: Who are the sleepers? Which teams that have been overshadowed this season will make some noise in the upcoming tournaments?
Georgia Sports Writers Association Poll — Girls
Class AAAAA
1. Mill Creek (10) 100 points
2. Stephenson 87
3. McEachern 73
4. Marietta 64
5. Douglass 60
6. Beach 52
7. Parkview 41
8. Mundy’s Mill 32
9. Berkmar 16
10. Etowah 13
Others receiving votes: Coffee, Morrow, Groves, Luella
Class AAAA
1. SW DeKalb (10) 100
2. Marist 90
3. Westlake 68
4. St. Pius 59
5. Greenbrier 49
6. Madison Co. 48
7. Americus-Sumter 42
8. Hillgrove 31
9. Rome 27
10. Mays 21
Others receiving votes: Cherokee, Jones Co.
Class AAA
1. Hephzibah (8) 98
2. Carrollton 86
3. Kendrick (2) 85
4. SW-Macon 69
5. Franklin Co. 48
6. East Hall 47
7. Sandy Creek 32
8. Gainesville 24
9. Mary Persons 16
10. Butler 15
Others receiving votes: Gilmer, Southside, Westminster
Class AA
1. Wesleyan (10) 100
2. Greater Atlanta Chr. 89
3. Randolph-Clay 80
4. Vidalia 65
5. Laney 52
6. Rutland and Coosa (tie) 47
8. Model and Buford (tie) 20
10. Paideia 18
Others receiving votes: Union Co.
Class A
1. Terrell Co. (9) 99
2. Landmark Chr. (1) 89
3. Sav. Country Day 78
4. Taylor Co. 68
5. Hancock Cent. 61
6. Towns Co. 48
7. Gordon Lee 33
8. Calvary Day 29
9. SW Atlanta Chr. 28
10. Trion 21
Others receiving votes: Seminole Co.
Georgia Sports Writers Association Poll — Boys
Class AAAAA
1. Norcross (9) 99
2. Wheeler (1) 91
3. Marietta 80
4. M.L. King 58
5. Centennial 52
6. Savannah 51
7. Harrison 49
8. Parkview 22
9. McEachern 20
10. Newnan
Others receiving votes: Douglass, Coffee, Mundy’s Mill, Johnson-Sav.
Class AAAA
1. Westlake (9) 99
2. Columbia (1) 91
3. Miller Grove 79
4. Rome 53
5. Tucker 50
6. Dacula and Stone Mountain (tie) 44
8. Pebblebrook 42
9. Lithia Springs 17
10. Fayette Co., Thomas Co. Cent. and Riverdale (tie) 8
Others receiving votes: Cherokee, Ridgeland
Class AAA
1. Jordan (9) 99
2. South Atlanta (1) 90
3. Blessed Trinity 79
4. Dunwoody 65
5. Glenn Hills 60
6. Cent.-Macon 36
7. Westover 34
8. East Hall 23
9. Liberty Co. 17
10. Sandy Creek 15
Others receiving votes: Northeast-Macon, Mary Persons, Dougherty, Franklin Co., Flowery Branch
Class AA
1. Randolph-Clay (9) 98
2. East Laurens (1) 84
3. Wesleyan 77
4. Greater Atlanta Chr. 71
5. Appling Co. 50
6. Fannin Co. 48
7. Josey 30
8. Lovett 29
9. Calhoun 20
10. Darlington 14
Others receiving votes: Decatur, Long Co., Avondale, Dublin
Class A
1. Wilkinson Co. (9) 99
2. Whitefield Acad. (1) 84
3. Hancock Cent. 81
4. Portal 64
5. Turner Co. 63
6. Terrell Co. 53
7. Atkinson Co. 29
8. SW Atlanta Chr. 16
9. Gordon Lee 15
10. Eagle’s Landing Chr. 14
Others receiving votes: Greenforest Chr., Athens Acad., Wilcox Co.
Post up: Now YOU rank the rankings. Who rightfully made the list, who should have made the list and who didn’t and got dissed?
Permalink | Comments (37) | Post your comment | Categories: Fastbreak
Take Todd’s Super 11 to task
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This week, the AJC’s Todd Holcomb offers an extra special Extra Point in advance of national signing day, Feb. 6.
It’s about a week before signing day, when all the attention will be on seniors, but I’m looking ahead. Who are the best juniors? This summer, we’ll be choosing our 24th annual Super 11 team. I decided to choose my own ahead of time.
I’m sure I’ll change my mind before then, probably a lot, but I wanted to get some names on computer before the hype of recruiting services and 4-star designations cloud my judgment. Your job is to tell me who I missed and where I went wrong. Here goes:
• QB Zach Mettenberger, Oconee County — I’ve never seen Mettenberger play, but I know that Georgia has offered him a scholarship and that he attends my old high school. Shouldn’t that count for something?
• QB/DB Rashard Smith, Dublin — Impressive all-around athlete. Was the AP’s defensive player of the year in Class AA. Now, he’s the leading scorer on his basketball team.
• QB Michael Tamburo, North Gwinnett — His friends call him Mikey. He lost out in a close vote to Brookwood’s Kenny Miles as Class AAAAA offensive player of the year in 2007. He can throw it.
• RB Washaun Ealey, ECI — He’s a lock. Ealey was the AJC’s first junior to be named the all-class player of the year, and he’s likely to break the state’s career touchdown record (105, held by Robert Toomer).
• WR Danny Madison, Westside-Macon — Made all-state as a junior. Is he the top WR in Georgia, or is it Sandy Creek’s Brandon Lane? HoCo’s Craig Presley and Newnan’s Alan Bonner also made all-state as juniors.
• OL Andre Harris, Lovejoy — Rivals rates him the top offensive lineman in Georgia. Is he better than Ware’s Jimmy Staten or Pepperell’s Michael Ozment? On linemen, it’s hard to ignore the stars because nobody really watches linemen.
• DT Abry Jones, Northside-Warner Robins — Recruiting services list him at 250. Northside lists him at 297. Who do we believe? I also hear good things about Buford’s Dallas Lee at this position. Is Lee be better than Jones? Or even Omar Hunter?
• LB/RB Jonathan Davis, Tucker — I like guys who are stars on both sides of the ball. Davis, Smith (above) and Greg Reid (below) are perhaps the state’s best at that.
• LB Jarvis Jones, Carver-Columbus — Might be another Super 11 lock. He’s highly regarded by recruitniks but also the top defender on a state championship team. He’s a big dude, too — 6-3, 205.
• LB Joel Kight, M.L. King — The Class AAAAA defensive player of the year as a junior. He sheds blocks and gets to the ball-carrier quicker than any linebacker I saw last season. Recruiting services seem to like Peachtree Ridge’s Kevin Minter ahead of Kight, Carver’s Jones and Tucker’s Davis.
• DB/RB Greg Reid, Lowndes — Best player on state’s best team last year. Well, Lowndes was the best team in Class AAAAA, anyway. (Thought I’d throw that in there for those who’d rather argue Northside vs. Lowndes instead of Super 11.)
Kick off the debate: Tell Todd which of his pre-Super 11 selections you like and which you’d change. Or just blog in complete agreement. You decide.
Permalink | Comments (69) | Post your comment | Categories: Extra Point
Hoops houses we [heart]
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Take 10 sees a lot of basketball games during the season. We’re constantly in gyms, listening to students chant and shoes squeak. In our travels, we see the best gyms the state has to offer, along with the ones that aren’t up to snuff. These are our 10 favorite gyms to duck in out of the cold and catch a game.
10: Centennial — Nice setup with the stands encircling the court. They’ve also got a large area just outside the gym with plenty of food options for the hungry reporter/fan.
9: Johnson-Savannah — We don’t think we need any reason other than its name: The Reaction Chamber. Doesn’t hurt that they’ve got a top-10 team.
8: Kell — Plenty of parking and a new gym makes this a good place to catch a game. Really gets loud.
7: Tift County — Very fun place to watch a game, and the student section is one of the most animated in the state.
6: Decatur — They’ll get their nice new gym next year at the school, but the Bulldogs have been playing at the Rec Center for about 45 years now. While the place shows its age, it reminds us of what gyms looked like a generation ago.
5: Whitefield Academy — It’s another balcony-style gym with a great look to it. As good as the team has been in recent years, the place is often packed, and plenty of people hang over the railing around the top of the gym to catch the game.
4: Richmond Academy — This place has an old feel to it with football-style stands on one side and bleachers on the other, while the gym is built on the side of a hill. It’s a unique experience.
3: Norcross — With the team becoming a state power, the Norcross gym has gotten louder and more fun. You’re also likely to see a college coach or two while you’re there.
2: Marietta — The old gym had more history, but the new one has tons of seating and gives the Blue Devils one of the nicest spots to play in the state. The art on the walls, depicting the old Marietta High School, adds to the feel.
1: Westlake — Like Decatur, this is the last year Westlake will be here before moving into a new gym next season. This one is one of the best, though. The retired jerseys. The dim lighting that messes with opponents’ shots. The small size that adds to the decibel level. Nothing like catching a game at the Lions’ Den.
Go on. Take Ten. What’s your favorite place to watch a game? Where would you drive a couple of hours to catch a big matchup? Weigh in with your thoughts.
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Surprise! Dragons win Sham Slam
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Jan. 28.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Scoring slipup at Sham Slam
All the way up in Mt. Airy, some of the state’s finest teams got together for the Sham Slam at Habersham Central. Jefferson and Lafayette were so close that when the two teams left Habersham Saturday evening it was believed they had tied for the team title. Sunday, two scoring errors were found, giving the Class A Dragons a three-point tournament title.
Jefferson had 10 placers and four champions: lightweight outstanding wrestler Cam Thurmond (119), Jed Gurley (125), Jay Fowler (152) and Zac Crosby (160). Lafayette, the Class AA Duals champs, also placed 10 and had three champs: Preston McCalmon (103) Derek Murdock (135); and Derek Thompson (189). Northwest Whitfield (3rd), Wesleyan (4th) and Brookwood (5th) rounded out the top 5.
Pound for Pound Top 10 (last week’s ranking in parenthesis)
1. Collins Hill (1): Lost one match in three duals at Woodward Academy Duals
2. Union Grove (2): Unbeaten at Effingham County Duals
3. Jefferson (3): Continued fine season with win at Sham Slam
4. Harrison (4): Five champs in Whitewater Invitational romp
5. Cass (5): Bartow County champions again
6. Pope (6): Cruised to four wins at Classic Duals
7. Lafayette (8): Finished three points back of Jefferson at Sham Slam
8. Eastside (7): The Eagles remain AAAA’s Traditional favorites
9. Gilmer (9): Bobcats took weekend off; head back to dual competition Tuesday
10. Ringgold (10): Do they have enough to make a run at Class AAAA Traditional?
Did we do something wrong?
Despite coming off a Class AAAAA State Duals title and three dominant wins over Groves, Woodward Academy and Northview, Collins Hill dropped eight spots to No. 28 in this week’s Amateur Wrestling News Prep 40. The Eagles (35-2) only two losses are to AWN No. 12 Colonial Forge (Va.) and No. 27 Christiansburg (Va.) at the Battlefield Duals.
Dacula enjoying success
Got to hand it to Dacula, which continued one of the finest seasons in the program’s history. The Falcons, who already set the school record for dual wins in a season and reached the state duals for the first time, nipped Lovett by a 1/2 points to win the first Titan Cup at Blessed Trinity.
Dacula’s lower weights are as solid as any in Class AAAA and it showed this past weekend: 103-pound freshman Brandon Bullock and 119-pounder Noah Hunt won individual titles, while Frankie Miller dropped a three-OT thriller to Lovett’s Matthew Hines in the 112-pound final. J.C. Hall also picked up a title at 145 pounds.
“That’s the key for us is the lower weights,” said Dacula coach Jason Holcombe. “You get to our middle weights and we’ve got solid kids.
Dacula wasn’t the only story at the Titan Cup. The Pound for Pound editors followed a number of great storylines at Blessed Trinity. In the 140-pound final, Lovett’s Daniel Domanico won a 5-4 decision over Matt Bridges of Cherokee, although Domanico’s winning takedown was controversial. Either way, both wrestlers showed they’re the favorites at 140 pounds in Class AA and AAA.
West Hall’s Colby Yates not only cruised to the 130-pound final with three pins and a 14-0 major, but picked up his 200th career win in his first match of the tournament, a 57-second pin over Holy Innocents’ Alex Jesperson.
There weren’t any Outstanding Wrestler awards but PFP handed out its own set of medals:
• Lightweight — Michael Parker (Blessed Trinity) and Yates. Neither allowed a point all tournament in winning the 125 and 130-pound titles, respectively.
• Middleweight — Alex Maus (Kennesaw Mountain). Was a machine all weekend — collected three pins in a total of 2:33, then capped his 135-pound title and improved to 53-3 on the year with a dominant, 16-1 tech fall in the final.
• Heavyweight — Lee McMahon (Pickens County). Pinned his way to the 189-pound title.
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 (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Pound For Pound
Best 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
Stockbridge grapplers top Tucker (twice)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Stockbridge wrestling team’s bid for a top-five finish at the state duals meet was cut short because of the winter storm that hit North Georgia over the weekend, so the Tigers didn’t get a chance at Tucker in Macon. Had the event continued, Stockbridge and Tucker would have met in the next round.
“We felt that we had a great opportunity to wrestleback and finish third in the state,” said Stockbridge coach Don Williams.
So it can easily be viewed as serendipitous that Stockbridge had scheduled a dual meet with Tucker on Wednesday. What happened on the mat, though had little to do with luck. Stockbridge won 41-24 despite shifting wrestlers around in three different weight classes, getting five pins in the process, leaving little doubt how things might have gone at the state meet. Jesse Davis (160), Ben Jones (171), Marcus Morman (189), Jose Paz (215) and Randy Salmon (285) all pinned their Tucker opponents.
The truncated state duals tournament also thwarted Union Grove’s quest to finish in the top three. The Wolverines suffered their first duals loss in the second round to eventual champion Collins Hill and worked their way to the consolation semifinals before competition was halted.
Six Union Grove wrestlers went unbeaten for the weekend, led by Joey Lazor, who ran his record to 38-0 …
Comeback kids
The Eagle’s Landing boys basketball team fell behind early at Jackson Tuesday, but outscored the Red Devils 40-20 over the second and third quarters to improve to 11-8 and 5-2 in Region 4-AAA Division A. Jamie Vaughn scored 28 points and Bryan Gray 21 for Eagle’s Landing.
Long-range lethal
Ola’s Thomas Werner has twice hit six 3-pointers in a game. The sophomore buried six in a win over Henry County as the Mustangs, in their second year of varsity play, beat Henry for the first time, and he also made six threes in a loss to Jackson.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Henry
Fayette swim championships… where?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This afternoon, the high school swimming event of the year in Fayette County will convene with state qualifiers from multiple schools hitting the pool.
It’s the Fayette County championships because only county schools will be present, which is just a little weird, since the meet will be held at the Lundquist pool in Jonesboro. There is no place in Fayette that is suitable for hosting a six-team meet. The Kedron pool has its place in the county’s recreation community, but the community has long since outgrown what that facility was intended to do. Attempts have been made to bring a competition-worthy pool to the county, but they’ve been fruitless thus far.
So, like some computer help desk operation, the county championships are outsourced. Good thing they don’t have to go to India.
What you’ll miss if you find the drive to Jonesboro too daunting is state-class head-to-head competition, primarily between Starr’s Mill and McIntosh, who have both qualified for state in most events. (Starr’s Mill has finished first or second in every meet it has entered.) No, driving to Clayton County is not that great of an imposition, really, just the dysfunction of holding a county championship somewhere else.
OK, enough rant.
McIntosh brings school record-holders Adam Otaki and Ari Berg to the meet. Otaki has qualified in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke, setting new marks in both events. Berg, a freshman, swims the girls 500 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke, where her best time of 1:08.28 would suggest a hotly contested race with Starr’s Mill’s Kristen Bates (1:07.82).
Bates, and teammates Lauren Beatty, Katie Haycraft, Sarah Larson and Lauren Scot heave each qualified in three events, and the county meet should be a showcase for all of them.
On the court: Boys
The McIntosh boys have gone 3-1 over their past four games, keyed by junior Jeremy Lampkin, who has averaged 16 points per game over that stretch, and Robert Chubb, a 6-foot-8 junior who has committed to Auburn and has averaged triple doubles in those four games … Whitewater’s boys are getting 10 points per game from freshman Renaldo Jenkins … The Sandy Creek boys are 8-0 in Region 6-AAA but 4-7 otherwise … Fayette County’s Brandon Boykin seems to be letting off some steam from the rigors of the football recruiting process by rattling the rims in basketball. He’s averaging two dunks per game according to Fayette coach Andre Flynn, who said Quincy Carruthers’ defensive intensity has sparked the team on a strong run since Christmas.
On the court: Girls
The Starr’s Mill girls hit 88 percent from the free throw line in a 51-33 win over Our Lady of Mercy Tuesday, the Lady Panthers’ third straight win. Melissa Ring made all seven of her shots and scored 14 points … In Sandy Creek’s win over Cartersville, Jaquaye Okai scored 21 points, collected eight rebounds, made eight steals and shot 44 percent from the field.
Permalink | | Categories: Fayette
N. Clayton girls face identity crisis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With questions surrounding the calf injury suffered by North Clayton’s Latia Williams — specifically, whether she will be back to contribute to a playoff run — one of the county’s best teams is having to adjust its identity on the fly.
But there are others ready to step into the void.
Jonesboro has assumed first place in Region 4-AAAA Division A. Overall the Lady Cardinals, led by junior guard Dramecka Griggs, are 16-5 and they’re 8-1 in region play after throttling Riverdale Tuesday.
And then there’s Mundy’s Mill. The Lady Tigers have 17 wins — the same number they had last year, coach Lonnie Farmer said — and they have six games left in the regular season. In wins over Tri-Cities and Hiram last week they allowed a combined 49 points.
On the mat
Having turned their attention to individual competition after missing the state duals tournament, two Lovejoy wrestlers are feeling confident after strong performances at the area duals two weeks ago. Senior Quintin McKee went 6-0 in the 125-pound weight class, while Tobias Harris, wrestling at 160, lost only to Stockbridge’s Ben Jones, that defeat coming in overtime. Harris had beaten Jones at the South Metro Tournament, and the two could square off two more times at the area and state individual tournaments.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Clayton
Be confident (but not TOO confident)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the regular season heads into the last couple of weeks, confidence will be a big intangible as the region and state tournaments begin. Those teams that have the confidence and talent and coaching will be playing when March arrives. Besides overconfidence, the worst thing to have a false sense of security.
McEachern left Centennial High after the Tribute to a King Classic with some renewed confidence after defeating top-ranked Columbia. The Indians had lost three of their last four games, but have now won two straight.
Columbia rebounded with a win over Cedar Grove the next day and are still the team to beat in Class AAAA. The Eagles still have the confidence it takes to win a second title in three years, plus the motivation from losing last year’s championship game.
Miller Grove played poorly and lost to state contender and nationally-ranked Wheeler by only five points. The Wolverines turned around the next day and beat state-ranked Stone Mountain 65-46 on the road.
Obviously, Miller Grove still has confidence.
Talk about confidence, perhaps no large-school team is playing with more than Marietta. The Blue Devils have shaken off two earlier season losses to lower-class teams and have won 15 in a row.
All the teams that lost in the Classic at Centennial won the next day in a big region game. The teams that won continued the next day with a win.
Post up: There were some shakeups in the poll this week, but not many. Which teams do you feel are playing with the greatest confidence right now? Which team is not a big confidence booster before the region tournaments begin?
Georgia Sportswriters Association Poll — Girls
Class AAAAA
1. Mill Creek (10) 90 points
2. Stephenson 78
3. McEachern 75
4. Marietta 63
5. Parkview 48
6. Douglass 36
7. Berkmar 33
8. Beach 30
9. Mundy’s Mill 16
10. Redan 12
Others receiving votes: Tift County, Etowah.
Class AAAA
1. Southwest DeKalb (10) 90
2. Marist 81
3. Greenbrier 66
4. St. Pius 49
5. Westlake 44
6. Rome 39
7. Madison County 32
8. Mays 30
9. Americus-Sumter 22
10. Hillgrove 12
Others receiving votes: Dalton, Fayette County, Jones County, Cherokee, North Clayton, Clarke Central, Loganville.
Class AAA
1. Hephizbah (6) 87
2. Carrollton (1) 70
3. Kendrick (2) 69
4. Franklin County 66
5. Southwest-Macon 53
6. Gainesville 39
7. Sandy Creek 32
8. Gilmer 23
9. Westminster 22
10. East Hall 19
Others receiving votes: Columbus, Glenn Hills, Butler, Mary Persons.
Class AA
1. Wesleyan (9) 90
2. Greater Atlanta Christian 80
3. Randolph-Clay 70
4. Vidalia 57
5. Laney 57
6. Rutland 37
7. Coosa 32
8. Buford and Paideia (tie) 28
10. Model 20
Others receiving votes: Dodge County, Union County.
Class A
1. Terrell County (8) 89
2. Landmark Christian 79
3. Savannah Country Day (1) 72
4. Taylor County 62
5. Hancock Central 52
6. Gordon Lee 44
7. Towns County 31
8. Calvary Day 28
9. Southwest Atlanta Christian 21
10. Trion 11
Others receiving votes: Providence Christian, Seminole County, Greenville.
Georgia Sportswriters Association Poll — Boys
Class AAAAA
1. Norcross (8) 89
2. Wheeler 80
3. Savanna (1) 74
4. Marietta 63
5. Harrison 44
6. M.L. King 38
7. McEachern 32
8. Centennial 25
9. Meadowcreek 20
10. Johnson-Savannah 10
Others receiving votes: Coffee, Parkview, Douglass, Mundy’s Mill, Berkmar.
Class AAAA
1. Westlake (8) 89
2. Columbia (1) 68
3. Tucker 66
4. Dacula 60
5. Miller Grove 56
6. Stone Mountain 39
7. Rome 38
8. Lithia Springs 34
9. Fayette County 24
10. Jonesboro 10
Others receiving votes: Pebblebrook, Ridgeland, Loganville, Thomas County Central.
Class AAA
1. Jordan (8) 89
2. South Atlanta (1) 70
3. Blessed Trinity 61
4. Dunwoody 57
5. Glenn Hills 47
6. Central-Macon 27
7. Westover 23
8. East Hall 22
9. Flowery Branch 21
10. Liberty County 10
Others receiving votes: North Hall, Washington County, Dougherty, Sandy Creek, Franklin County, Perry, Mary Persons, Northeast-Macon.
Class AA
1. Randolph-Clay (8) 88
2. East Laurens (1) 73
3. Greater Atlanta Christian 70
4. Wesleyan 68
5. Appling County 43
6. Fannin County 34
7. Lovett 31
8. Josey 24
9. Calhoun and Decatur (tie) 13
Others receiving votes: Darlington, Avondale, Dublin, Swainsboro, Long County, Dawson County.
Class A
1. Wilkinson County (8) 89
2. Whitefield Academy (1) 78
3. Hancock Central 65
4. Turner County 63
5. Portal 51
6. Terrell County 46
7. Southwest Atlanta Christian 43
8. Atkinson County 24
9. Wilcox County 17
10. Greenforest 7
Others receiving votes: Athens Academy, Gordon Lee, Our Lady of Mercy, Dooly County.
Rank the rankings: There were some shakeups in the poll this week, but not many. Tell us what you think of this week’s AJC/GSWA rankings.
Permalink | Comments (46) | Categories: Fastbreak
Mulling over Macon results
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Jan. 22.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
What a weekend in Macon. Well, what a half of a weekend in Macon. Despite Mother Nature cutting the State Duals short about 10 hours, we still got a chance to see some excellent wrestling.
Some of the highlights:
• Henry County made a remarkable run to the Class AAA final, then split the state crown with Cass after the two teams couldn’t agree on a proper finish when the weather threatened early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the Colonels exacted some revenge for last season’s Class AAA championship by nipping defending champion Gilmer in the semifinals.
• Northwest Whitefield’s stunning upset of defending state champion Stockbridge in the Class AAAA quarterfinals, which led to the Bruins having little left in the tank in a semifinal loss to Eastside.
• Ringgold pushing aside favorites Tucker and Eastside in the semifinals and final in Class AAAA, winning the Catoosa school’s third state duals title.
• The Collins Hill machine marching through three top teams, including Harrison (47-10) in the title bout to win its second Class AAAAA duals championship. The Eagles not only beat every other top 4 team on their way to the title (Union Grove and Pope were the other two) but beat them handily. A few close calls in the quarterfinals against the Wolverines … and that was it.
• Mighty, mighty Jefferson. A seventh consecutive state duals title was there for the taking, and the Dragons took it by a combined score of 183-37.
• Lafayette turning the tables on Wesleyan and cruising to the Class AA title a year after Wesleyan won on criteria. Revenge, thy name is Ramblers.
Pound for Pound Top 10 (last week’s rankings in parenthesis)
1: Collins Hill (1) — Eagles add a Class AAAAA duals title to an impressive list of accomplishments.
2: Union Grove (2) — Hurt by having to wrestle Collins Hill in the quarterfinals and by the cancellation of wrestlebacks.
3: Jefferson (3) — Seven-for-seven in Class A Duals tournaments.
4: Harrison (4) — Hoyas impressive in three dual wins to reach the Class AAAAA final.
5: Cass (6) — Class AAA co-champs also Traditional favorites.
6: Pope (5) — Greyhounds reached the Class AAAAA semis.
7: Eastside (7) — Tight loss in Class AAAA final another state-level disappointment for the Eagles.
8: Lafayette (10) — Ramblers looked great in winning Class AA title.
9: Gilmer (9) — Bobcats still one of top two teams in Class AAA after third-place finish at duals.
10: Ringgold (NR) — Tigers run the table in Class AAAA against four good teams; win third duals crown.
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 (10) | Categories: Pound For Pound
Dream high school hoops matchups
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yeah, we’re all bummed about the Primetime Shootout at Norcross becoming the unfortunate victim of the finicky Atlanta weather.
So as we sat around at Take Ten headquarters lamenting its disappearance and the loss of so many great games, we got to thinking about which games we’d like to put together to make up for the ones we lost. These are games that aren’t on the schedule, but we think the fans deserve to see as just compensation.
10. Miller Grove vs. McEachern: Not only is it a matchup of two very good, underrated teams, but you’d get to see arguably the two best young guards in the state in Miller Grove’s Mfon Udofia and McEachern’s Trae Golden. Worth the price of admission right there.
9. Cherokee vs. Dunwoody: While this would mostly be about seeing Dunwoody’s Chris Singleton take on the team he left after last season, it would also be a good game. The Warriors (13-4, 10-1) are very talented, even without Singleton, and it’d be fun to match Singleton up against his successor in the post, Shawn Kemp Jr.
8. Wesleyan vs. Randolph-Clay: Only one in-state team has come within 15 points of Randolph-Clay this season, and the Red Devils have made it to this point without a loss. Deandre Johnson and Dexter Ellington can shoot the lights out, but Wesleyan’s Howard Thompkins might be able to slow the game down enough to make this one tight.
7. South Atlanta vs. Jordan: Like Randolph-Clay, Jordan is an undefeated team that has mostly dominated the competition. Like Wesleyan, South Atlanta has a big man, Derrick Favors, who nobody seems to be able to stop. Both teams could use a test.
6. Berkmar vs. Norcross: OK, so Berkmar probably would struggle to make this close deep into the second half. But how fun would it be to pit Berkmar’s Wesley Witherspoon against Norcross’ Al-Farouq Aminu? Two long, slashing forwards who will be playing major college ball next year.
5. South Atlanta vs. Wesleyan: It’s easy to be a sucker for an old-school big-man matchup, and Thompkins/Favors are probably the two best in the state. They’re tall, strong and can bang on the inside. Watching these two fight for position would be a basketball nerd’s dream.
4. Savannah vs. Wheeler: Savannah has looked impressive in moving to a 16-0 record, but the Blue Jackets haven’t seen a team yet as talented as Wheeler. Junior guard Kevin Williams has led the Jackets, scoring big-time points and providing a calming influence in the backcourt. Matching Wheeler’s athleticism could be the toughest task here.
3. Westlake vs. Columbia: The Eagles have taken hits from Miller Grove (61-59 victory), Tucker (66-60 victory) and McEachern (79-69 loss) but came away with just one in-state loss. Westlake’s only in-state loss came to No. 1 Norcross. Could Columbia’s suffocating defense shut down Raymond Willis?
2. Columbia vs. Wheeler: Both teams have faced some stern tests lately, and both think they’ve got a good shot at winning the state title in their respective classes. When they played last year, Columbia won by 16. It’s probably fair to say the Wildcats would like another shot.
1. Wheeler vs. Norcross : When these two have played recently in the playoffs, it has been the de facto state title game. The rivalry of sorts grows a bit each time. Chances are it will happen again this year, too, but we don’t want to have to wait until the Finals.
Go on. Take Ten. What do you think about these dream games? Which teams would you like to see face off on the court this year? Make your voice heard.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Categories: Jeff Haws, Take Ten
Weather report: Who’s hot, who’s cold
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The weather on Saturday forced the cancellation of some of the biggest late-season matchups. Some of the games will have to be made up because they were region or subregion games.
Weather aside, here are some interesting things to consider as teams head toward region tournament play:
• The McEachern girls team has won 12 straight and appears to be one of the teams to beat. A 60-55 victory against a talented Marietta squad definitely shows it has some firepower.
• The McEachern boys team has cooled some since a hot start. The Indians have lost three of their last four games going into Monday’s showdown with Class AAAA top-ranked Columbia squad.
• After being the surprise team of Class AAAAA, the Douglass boys suddenly have lost their last two games to unranked Newton and Stephenson. The girls team lost Stephenson on Friday.
• The Ridgeland boys started the season 16-0, but have dropped their last two games.
Now is the time for teams to start and continue to heat up instead of cooling down. When the Georgia Sportswriters Association’s new poll comes out Wednesday, look for a few changes to reflect who’s hot and who’s not around the state.
Post up: Who’s hot and who’s not in your opinion? There are still a handful of unbeaten teams in the state … will they be able to run the table?
Permalink | Comments (49) | Categories: Fastbreak
Field’s wide open for new coaches
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The AJC’s Todd Holcomb discusses important issues in Georgia prep sports and takes your comments.
High school football season is over for players, but for coaches, it’s time to tighten the job application.
SEE IT NOW: Georgia HS football head coaching vacancies
By my count, there have been 51 openings for head coaches among GHSA schools since the season ended, and only nine have been filled officially. A few others have a choice in mind but haven’t made an announcement. Expect another major opening or two shortly. Not all vacancies are official, either.
Since the GHSA and the state board of education doesn’t keeps track of this, any list of job openings is unofficial. This research is mostly the work of Steve Slay, a member of the Georgia High School Historians Association. If you see we’re missing something, let us know.
Here are my questions for you regarding the current vacancies:
• If you were hiring a coach, who would be on your short list?
• What’s the best job out there? Colquitt County? Collins Hill?
• What’s the best rumor out there? If it sounds reasonable, I’ll check it out and report back.
• Are too many schools looking for big names or going out of state for glitter when many good candidates are in their back yard, often assistants just needing a shot?
• And is being a head coach all it’s cracked up to be?
Consider this quote to the Grand Rapids Press from former Kell coach Irv Sigler, who said 14-hour days were common and ultimately not worth it for him:
“Coaching down here [in Georgia] is a much different proposition. Our program [Kell] isn’t funded by the school, so the coaches are responsible for everything … from A to Z, and that includes cutting fields and striping fields. I have a great school and I love my kids and assistant coaches, but it got to the point where I felt I couldn’t do that and be a good husband and father at the same time.”
Sigler has returned to coach a school in Michigan, where the job description is more reasonable, he said.
SEE IT NOW: Georgia HS football head coaching vacancies
Kick off the debate: Talk issues with Todd right here.
Permalink | Comments (40) | Categories: Extra Point
Wesleyan coach’s husband also ‘steps it up’ each year
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Three days ago, Jan Azar won her 250th game as head coach at Wesleyan. She had no idea the milestone was on the horizon. But David Azar, her husband, did.
He assumes many responsibilities most coaches’ spouses do not: everything.
Keeping statistics, managing the Web site (www.wesleyanlady wolves.com), taking care of their two young children: David Azar makes it happen.
And his diligence is a significant reason Azar rates among the best coaches in Georgia, male or female. She’s able to do her job comforted by knowing the off-the-court jobs are handled by her husband.
“That’s very big,” she said.
But here’s the thing: David Azar is secure with himself as a man, so handling responsibilities once (and still, in some archaic circles) considered for women means zilch to him. And that makes him the manliest of men.
“I just don’t see the responsibility as hers only,” he said. “They are both our kids. It’s what I should do. In the summer, when basketball season is over, she assumes most of the taking to doctors, etc. So, in basketball season, I step up. And I’m happy to do it.
“I had no idea our lives would be like this when we met, but I love basketball. It’s my favorite sport.
“And my wife as coach is just a bonus.”
How’s this for a bonus? The Azars got married in 1999 during Wesleyan’s spring break. It was Jan Azar’s second year as coach. Turned out that March date in 2005 was the same as the AA state championship game in Macon.
Neither spouse recalled that it was their sixth wedding anniversary — until David Azar’s mother called to congratulate them. “We were like, ‘For what?’ he recalled. “We were so into the championship game, we didn’t even think about it.”
Of course, the Wolves took the title that day, the second of three consecutive AA championships. Add the 2002 Class A title, and that’s four crowns for Azar, who has lost just 56 games in 11 years.
Furthermore, since 2000, only once has Wesleyan not made it to the championship game (in 2003 it lost in the quarterfinals). If there is a more accomplished coach in Georgia, let him/her please step forward.
“It’s been a great, fun ride,” said Azar, who was seven months pregnant with daughter Nicole during the 2002 championship game and with Andrew during the ‘05 title tilt.
“For a while,” she cracked, “I though we might have a bunch of kids since we won championships while I was pregnant.”
No worries; she’s won titles in nonpregnant years, too. “This job is definitely more difficult for a female, who has to balance family and coaching,” Jan Azar said.
“Most husbands [of women coaches] work full-time jobs, while most men coaches — or many of them — have stay-at-home wives to handle the kids and the house.
“I’ve been blessed with a husband who helps take on some of those ‘motherly duties.’ He’s willing to do it 50-50, and it’s an incredible help.”
Still, she is not disillusioned.
Her kids come first.
“My role is that of a mom first and foremost,” she said.
Indeed, Nicole is a kindergarten student at Wesleyan, and Azar walks from her office daily and picks her up from the car pool line. Nicole attends practice with the Wolves and rides the bus to all the away games.
Saturday, in her YWCA league, she scored her first points on an 8-foot goal.
During Wesleyan games, David Azar sits with his children. Well, Nicole sits and watches and Dad often chases the active Andrew.
It’s a long way from the pre-children days, when Azar worked the Wesleyan game clock or made the pregame announcements.
“This has been great all the way around,” David Azar said. “I love the girls; they’re like our extended family.”
Added Azar: “My girls [players] many times come over and baby-sit for us. That’s a great perk for me and David.”
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Nothing like the dual meets in Macon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When it comes to the competition and intensity of high school sports, there’s no better place to be than the state wrestling duals at the Macon Coliseum. 64 teams whittled down to 10 finalists and a handful of early wake-up calls for those looking to climb back and grab a consolation trophy.
Let’s get right to it.
The first and really only big surprise of the tournament’s first day was Northwest Whitfield’s improbable, 34-33 victory over Stockbridge in the Class AAAA quarterfinals, which ended the Tigers’ bid for consecutive duals titles. Whitfield couldn’t keep the momentum going in the semi finals, falling to Eastside for the second time in two weeks. The Area 8-AAAA champion Eagles get upstart Ringgold in the state final. The Tigers, dual champs in 2002 and 2005, picked up three impressive victories over Cherokee, Woodward Academy and Tucker.
Speaking of surprises, how about those Henry County Warhawks? With 10 first-year wrestlers in the lineup, Henry started the dual season 1-8. Less than two months later, Marty Hutsell’s crew will wrestle for the Class AAA state title after mowing through Hardaway, Blessed Trinity and Benedictine.
“I’m just ecstatic,’ Hutsell said afterwards. “These kids just busted their tales; they’re warriors. We told them is we get past Hardaway, we had a shot.”
Henry County’s latest appearance in the state finals (they won the Class AAAA title in 2006) is as much a credit to Hutsell and his coaching staff as anything. Standing mat side after the quarterfinal win, former Warhawk state runner-up and lay coach Walker Daniel summed up the season:
“(Hutsell) basically went into the hallways and picked some wrestlers,” said Daniel, who was a part of the 2006 title team. “Honestly, I don’t know how he does it. It’s his best coaching job.”
Henry County will face Cass, which needed a Mason Martin decision in the final semis match with Gilmer to reach the Class AAA final for the second consecutive season. The Colonels have never won a duals title.
Class AAAAA produced the best semi final match ups on paper but Collins Hill and Harrison reached the final with relative ease after wins over Pope and Centennial, respectively. Collins Hill, No. 32 nationally in the latest Amateur Wrestling News Prep 40, plowed through Murray County and survived a barn-burner with Union Grove in the quarterfinals before the win over Pope. Harrison took care of its business with wins over Forsyth Central (46-21) and Hiram (50-18) before taking a 40-15 win over the Knights. No shock that the red-hot Peter Mosher and Josh Condon led a group of five who went 3-0 on the day.
The lower classifications produced very little suspense as Class AA favorites Wesleyan and Lafayette reached the dual final, while six-time dual champion Jefferson goes for No. 7 Saturday against Gordon Lee in the Class A title bout.
On the Record
“I told him, ‘go get me my state dual title and I’ll let you kiss my girlfriend.’”
— Cass’ Justin Martin on what he told his younger brother, Mason, before the final match against Gilmer. (Mason won an 8-5 decision)
“We’re definitely ready. Our team’s going to go in their strong; not over-confident but looking forward to it. We want it bad.”
— Eastside’s Joel Stafford on Saturday’s Class AAAA final
“We knew it was going to be close; just like last year it was close. It’s what it’s all about; it’s hard wrestling.”
— Northwest Whitfield coach Allen Tucker after the Bruins’ quarterfinal win over Stockbridge
“I believe; we believe, it doesn’t matter who else does.”
— Ringgold coach Phil Daniel on the Tigers’ somewhat quiet march to the Class AAAA state final
One more thing………
Why I love Georgia high school wrestling, Part 1:
Watched Collins Hill’s T.J. Mitchell wrestle Dexter Bushart of Pope, then turned to the adjacent mat and took in Merle Bolton of Northwest Whitfield against Eastside’s Stafford.
No sport is like it.
Saturday’s Finals
AAAAA
PFP No. 1 Collins Hill vs. No. 4 Harrison
AAAA
No. 7 Eastside vs. Ringgold
AAA
No. 6 Cass vs. Henry County
AA
No. 10 Lafayette vs. Wesleyan
A
No. 3 Jefferson vs. Gordon Lee
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Pound For Pound
Time for some to make statements
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It will be a huge weekend for high school basketball. It’s the final time many teams will play non-region games, and it offers a chance for teams to make big statements about their seasons and programs.
Saturday’s Prime Time Shootout at Norcross will give teams from Georgia a chance to face some of the best competition from around the country.
The Douglass girls will be looking to prove on Friday that its victory against second-ranked Stephenson earlier this season was no fluke. Stephenson will then turn around Saturday and try to put an exclamation point on its claim to be the best in DeKalb County when it travels to Class AAAA top-ranked Southwest DeKalb.
The focus turns to Norcross on Saturday as Greater Atlanta Christian plays host to Wesleyan. This will be big from the boys and girls side. It is the first meeting between the Class AA schools since GAC defeated Wesleyan in the girls’ championship game last season.
GAC has a new coach and lineup, and the Wolves will counter with Player of the Year candidate Anne Marie Armstrong. Both boys’ team are unbeaten in subregion play.
On Monday, Southwest Atlanta Christian will try to make a statement to the rest of Class A that it’s back, when the Warriors host top-ranked Wilkinson County, which upended them in the Class A quarterfinals last season.
Is Miller Grove ready to be counted among the elite teams in the state? Monday at Centennial, the Wolverines can make that statement against powerhouse Wheeler. This game will feature two of the best young guard prospects in the state — Mfon Udofia of Miller Grove and Phil Taylor of Wheeler.
Post up: The rankings are in, but what team or player needs to make a statement heading into the last few weeks of the regular season?
Girls
Class AAAAA
1: Mill Creek (10) 100 points
2: Stephenson and McEachern (tie) 81
4: Douglass 65
5: Marietta 59
6: Parkview 42
7: Tift County 32
8: Berkmar 28
9: Redan 22
10: Beach and Mundy’s Mill (tie) 9
Others receiving votes: Warner Robins, Etowah, Houston County, Collins Hill, North Gwinnett.
Class AAAA
1: Southwest DeKalb (8) 96
2: Marist (1) 89
3: Westlake (1) 71
4: Greenbrier 55
5: St. Pius 47
6: Mays 42
7: Rome 36
8: Madison County 28
9: Americus-Sumter 19
10: Cherokee 18
Others receiving votes: Westside-Macon, Clarke Central, Jones County, Loganville, North Clayton, Hillgrove, Dalton, Fayette County, East Paulding.
Class AAA
1: Hephzibah (4) 88
2: Kendrick (4) 84
3: Carrollton 81
4: Franklin County 79
5: Southwest-Macon 52
6: Westminster 50
7: East Hall 38
8: Gainesville 25
9: Sandy Creek 23
10: Mary Person 16
Others receiving votes: Gilmer, Butler, Jackson, Elbert County.
Class AA
1: Wesleyan (10) 100
2: Greater Atlanta Christian 82
3: Randolph-Clay 77
4: Vidalia 69
5: Buford 61
6: Laney 43
7: Rutland 34
8: Paideia 13
9: Model 12
10: Dodge County 8
Others receiving votes: Coosa, McIntosh County Academy, Union County, Macon County, Fannin County.
Class A
1: Terrell County (9) 99
2: Landmark Christian (1) 89
3: Savannah Country Day 75
4: Taylor County 57
5: Hancock Central 49
6: Gordon Lee 44
7: Towns County 43
8: Calvary Day 40
9: Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy 29
10: Trion 13
Others receiving votes: Providence Christian, Hawkinsville.
Boys
Class AAAAA
1: Norcross (10) 100 points
2: Wheeler 88
3: Savannah 81
4: Marietta 62
5: Centennial 53
6: Douglass 37
7: M.L. King 24
8: Harrison 23
9: Meadowcreek 18
10: McEachern 15
Class AAAA
1: Columbia (10) 100
2: Westlake 89
3: Miller Grove 60
4: Tucker 57
5: Dacula 48
6: Stone Mountain 44
7: Rome 40
8: Lithia Springs 39
9: Fayette County 23
10: Jonesboro 15
Others receiving votes: Americus-Sumter, Loganville, Ridgeland, Cherokee, Stockbridge, Hillgrove.
Class AAA
1: Jordan (7) 97
2: South Atlanta (3) 93
3: Dunwoody 74
4: Blessed Trinity 70
5: Glenn Hills 58
6: East Hall 30
7: Central-Macon 29
8: Westover 28
9: Flowery Branch 24
10: Washington County 13
Others receiving votes: Dougherty, Perry, Mary Persons, Westover, Liberty County, Northeast-Macon, Hart County, Sandy Creek, Northside-Columbus.
Class AA
1: Randolph-Clay (9) 98
2: Wesleyan (1) 90
3: East Laurens 85
4: Greater Atlanta Christian 77
5: Lovett 36
6: Appling County 33
7: Fannin County 29
8: Decatur 27
9: Josey 21
10: Dublin 18
Others receiving votes: Long County, Callaway, Long County, Dodge County.
Class A
1: Wilkinson County (8) 98
2: Whitefield Academy (1) 81
3: Turner County 77
4: Hancock Central 70
5: Terrell County 51
6: Southwest Atlanta Christian 47
7: Portal 43
8: Wilcox County 29
9: Greenforest Christian 27
10: Atkinson County 16
Others receiving votes: Montgomery County, Gordon Lee, Eagle’s Landing Christian, Athens Academy, Hawkinsville.
Permalink | Comments (60) | Categories: Fastbreak
10 dream ‘Time Machine’ matchups
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
All the buzz about the matchup between Greg Monroe from Louisiana and Norcross’ Al-Farouq Aminu in another ESPN fest last week got us to thinking about great all-time matchups. Of course, we’re not satisfied with just looking around at this awesome selection of players we have in the metro area right now because we’re nothing if not greedy. So we’re firing up the Take Ten Time Machine, kidnapping some players from the past and dragging them to the present to match them up against some of today’s best players. Here are the 10 we’d most like to see.
10: Horace Grant (Hancock Central, 1983) vs. Chris Singleton (Dunwoody) — Grant was a skinny, 6-foot-8 forward who rebounded very well and could score around the basket, not too unlike Singleton is today. Grant, of course, eventually bulked up to more than 200 pounds, grew a couple of inches and became an NBA All-Star. How that early version would match up against Singleton would be interesting, though.
9: Tony Flanagan (Southwest Atlanta, 1974) vs. Noel Johnson (Fayette Co.) — Many consider Flanagan the best athlete to come out of Atlanta, leading both the football and basketball teams to state titles during his time at Southwest. Johnson does a lot of things well, working closely with former NBA players to improve his game and using his 6-7 size to create mismatches on the court.
8: Shernard Long (Tucker, 1996) vs. Raymond Willis (Westlake) — This would be a shootout between two tall, high-scoring guards. Long averaged 22 points, seven assists and shot 63 percent from the field in leading the Tigers to the 1996 state title. Willis is 6-7 and is averaging 27 points right now for the No. 2 Lions.
7: Dale Ellis (Marietta, 1979) vs. Trae Golden (McEachern) — More scoring. Ellis was a sharpshooter and one of the best players in the country at Marietta before making his mark at Tennessee and then for many years in the NBA. Golden, only a sophomore, may be the best pure scorer in the state. This one would be fun.
6: James Forrest (Southside, 1991) vs. Tony Woods (Rome) — No, this isn’t just for the Forrest/Woods reference, although that’s clearly a factor. Forrest was an excellent big man for Southside’s 1990 championship team and had 55 in a semifinal victory against Dougherty the following year, a performance that still stands among the state’s best ever in the playoffs. Woods may be the best senior center in the state and would be a good matchup for Forrest’s talent and size.
5: Walt Frazier (Howard, 1963) vs. Mfon Udofia (Miller Grove) — Despite having to play on dirt playgrounds growing up in segregated 1950s Atlanta, Frazier became a premier athlete at Howard, becoming one of the state’s best guards during the early 1960s. Today, Udofia is arguably the best point guard in the state, with many of the same ball-handling and game-savvy skills Frazier brought with him to the game more than 40 years ago.
4: Dwight Howard (SACA, 2004) vs. Howard Thompkins (Wesleyan) — Howard, of course, was a star and a freakish athlete at SACA before the Orlando Magic picked him with the first overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft. He has done nothing to disappoint after that choice. Thompkins has learned some skills from his year at Oak Hill Academy (Va.), and now he’s back at Wesleyan as one of the state’s best big men. Whether he could stand up to Howard or not is questionable, but it’d be interesting as a measuring stick.
3: Joby Wright (Johnson-Savannah, 1968) vs. Al-Farouq Aminu (Norcross) — Wright was a skilled 6-8 big man who led the Atom Smashers to the 1968 state title before starring at Indiana and eventually playing on Bobby Knight’s first team there in 1971-72. Aminu is one of the most versatile 6-8 players in the state and had his breakout game last week in front of a national ESPN audience.
2: Darrin Hancock (Griffin, 1990) vs. Wesley Witherspoon (Berkmar) — At 6-6, Hancock would be giving up two inches to the Berkmar senior, but both of these guys were long, athletic and as explosive as anyone you’ll see on the court. Hancock might have been one of the all-time great high school players this state has seen, and Witherspoon might be one of the most underappreciated.
1: Dontonio Wingfield (Westover, 1993) vs. Derrick Favors (South Atlanta) — Some people say Wingfield is the best player to ever come out of the state. He led Westover to four straight state titles and was an unstoppable force with the ball in his hands. Favors has been dubbed the No. 1 junior in the country and can match Wingfield’s 6-9 frame inch for inch. This would give us an idea just how good Favors is.
Go ahead. Take 10. What historical vs. current matchup would you most like to see? Where would you like to send us in the Take Ten Time Machine? How much would you pay to check some of these matchups out? Let us know.
Permalink | Comments (48) | Categories: Take Ten
Notes from the 5-AAAAA tourney, etc.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Jan. 14.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
So many intriguing area duals, only one used Toyota Corrola. The Pound for Pound front office set up shop at Kennesaw Mountain for Area 5-AAAAA’s tournament and a three-way battle for a crown eventually won by Harrison. But we could’ve landed anywhere on the Georgia wrestling map and enjoyed some fine wrestling. Here’s a taste of what went on and little of what to expect this weekend in Macon.
Who’s overrated?
• Seems silly for Harrison to keep having to prove itself, but the Hoyas did so again last weekend at the Area 5-AAAAA Duals. Talk of a possible Murray Co. or Kennesaw Mountain area title were squashed in Harrison’s 32-22 victory against the Mustangs and 42-24 victory against the Indians in the dual final. No surprise here that 160-pound Josh Condon led the way, but 119-pound Peter Mosher, Alex Medved (140) and 215-pound Brian Floyd all looked good.
• Tucker continued to silence some critics in Class AAAA, clipping the field in Area 6. The Tigers won a 42-22 dual against Marist to claim the area’s top spot and head into the state duals as the favorite to come out of the bottom half of the bracket. Nine wrestlers have 30-plus wins and one, 103-pound Pawlloes Belete, is 40-2.
Pound for Pound Top 10 (Last week’s rankings in parenthesis)
1: Collins Hill (1) — Area 7-AAAAA champs roll into Macon.
2: Union Grove (2) — Wolverines could be without Tyler Floyd, among others, this weekend.
3: Jefferson (3) — Class A juggernaut looks for seventh duals title.
4: Harrison (4) — Hoyas silenced the critics for another weekend with impressive victories against Kennesaw Mountain and Murray Co. in 5-AAAAA.
5: Pope (5) — 6-AAAAA champs a good bet to get to the AAAAA semis and a meeting with No. 1.
6: Cass (6) — Area 6-AAA winners for the fourth consecutive season.
T7: Eastside (7) — Like last season, a front-runner in Class AAAA.
T7:Stockbridge (7) — Defending duals champs go for back-to-back this weekend.
9: Gilmer (9) — Bobcats dominated 7-AAA duals.
10: Lafayette (10) — Ramblers look to reverse last season’s runner-up finish in Class AA duals.
At least we got a pin
Jefferson reached another high in its domination of Class A at Landmark Christian. The Dragons, who will move to Class AA next season, lost one match in three dual victories against Landmark (84-0), Eagles Landing Christian (81-0) and Commerce (75-6). “I’m proud of them; they did real well,” said Jefferson coach Doug Thurmond. “But we’re going to see how [winning Area 2-A handily] fares next week. We try to keep our guys focused making sure they understand that they have a big bulls-eye on their back.”
Warhawks drop name in hat
Henry Co. is a darkhorse in the Class AAA race after an up and down last two months culminated with an Area 4-AAA title. The Warhawks, who have rebuilt around defending state champion Evan Warrington (103) and blossoming Anthony Fretwell (145), clipped local foe Ola, 42-35 in the area final. “Starting 10 first-year wrestlers, I’m real proud,” coach Marty Hutsell said afterward.
Milestones
• At the Area 2-AAAA Duals, Fayette Co. coach Jim Bailey picked up his 300th career dual victory.
• In Peachtree Ridge’s fourth-place finish at the Area 7-AAAAA duals, Kendall Albert won his 200th match, and Andrew Sartain collected career victory No. 150.
On the record
“We just have to prove ourselves. We use it as fuel to the fire.” — Harrison’s Josh Condon on the Hoyas’ being considered overrated
“If we’re the best team, we’re going to win. We wrestled Gilmer earlier this season and they really jumped on us, I think we lost by 24 points; since that weekend we’ve stepped it up. We’re definitely not looking past Oconee Co. or South Effingham.” — Cass coach Jason Faklaris on the Colonels’ path to a possible Class AAA state title
Duals cheat sheet
• Best first-round matchups: Centennial vs. Parkview; Ringgold vs. Cherokee; Woodland vs. Northwest Whitfield; Hardaway vs. Henry Co.
• Upset special: Ola over LaGrange, Class AAA first round
• Finals picks: Class AAAAA — Collins Hill over Harrison; Class AAAA — Eastside over Tucker; Class AAA — Cass over Henry Co.; Class AA — Lafayette over Wesleyan; Class A — Jefferson over Commerce
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 (10) | Categories: Pound For Pound
National rankings overemphasized?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wesleyan forward Trey Thompkins spent last season traveling around the country with powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Thompkins, who has signed with Georgia, played with and against some of the best players in the nation last season as Oak Hill won a national championship.
Now Thompkins is having a solid season for the Wolves, ranked No. 2 in the state and a serious contender for the Class AA championship. But he believes winning a state title in Georgia will be a lot harder than what Oak Hill accomplished last season.
“The competition is Georgia is fierce,” he said Sunday night. “You got some top quality teams. On the national scale, some of those teams had one main guy and they got ranked nationally. There are some good teams here, and it is a different talent level.”
The big lesson is not to get too caught up in what national team your school has beaten, because it won’t matter next month, when the state playoffs begin.
South Atlanta coach Michael Reddick said he is preaching that lesson to his team. The Hornets are idle this week, before flying to Los Angeles Friday to take on Campbell Hall of California. When they return, South Atlanta will finish its region schedule before fighting through what should be an interesting Region 5-AAA tournament.
“Georgia is definitely one of the top states with loads of talent,” Reddick said. “We are trying to stay focused and let none of this go to our head. We respect all our opponents.”
• Post up: Is too much emphasis being put on getting nationally ranked? Do fans value a victory against a supposedly nationally-ranked team better than beating a local team? Should teams just stay home and play each other?
Permalink | Comments (52) | Categories: Fastbreak
Political football: Gold Dome 1, GHSA 0
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The AJC’s Todd Holcomb discusses important issues in Georgia prep sports and takes your comments.
If you don’t like the rules of the Georgia High School Association, should you call your legislator?
It wouldn’t hurt.
Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) deserves the credit for the GHSA’s decision last week to drop seating requirements for the quarterfinals of the state football playoffs.
The GHSA would’ve been better to study the issue and make a more thought-out decision in the spring, but executive director Ralph Swearngin pushed for a quick resolution.
“If we don’t make a decision today, it will be made under the Golden Dome in a matter of weeks,” he said. “I do not like to be threatened, but there comes a time when we’ve got to take some steps to make as informed a decision as we can make right now.”
Later, Skip Yow, the GHSA’s legislative liaison, was equally blunt: “Our problems in the legislature are not going away. It’s typical of how laws are made. One person has a problem, and there’s a new law. That’s called politics.” Yow was talking about Seabaugh, who had sponsored a bill that questioned the GHSA’s authority to require schools to build facilities to a certain level in order to have a home football game.
The General Assembly has influenced several GHSA rules this decade, some for the better, others not.
In the case of Newnan, the GHSA rule didn’t work. Newnan’s stadium could have accommodated the crowd that ended up going 35 miles to Jonesboro to see Newnan play North Gwinnett.
But that doesn’t mean seating requirements are inappropriate in most cases. Lincoln County’s Larry Campbell told horror stories of road playoff games where fans sat on the ground and couldn’t see or didn’t go at all because the visitors side had fewer than 1,000 seats, sometimes as few as 300.
So here are my questions:
• Does a school have a right to host a playoff game, even if all it has is 100 yards of grass and a dozen folding chairs on the sidelines?
• Did the GHSA really care about seating problems? Or were the adjusted stadium seating requirements - which forced the 2006 Class AAAAA championship game to move to a neutral site - simply an end-around to get the state finals moved to the Georgia Dome?
• Should the GHSA give in to the legislature when it would make a better decision on its own?
• If you were a legislator, which GHSA rules would you threaten?
• And why is Ed Pilcher going to Bainbridge? I know that doesn’t have anything to do with the legislature, but I thought I’d ask.
Kick off the debate: Talk issues with Todd right here.
Permalink | Comments (40) | Categories: Extra Point
Dacula boys could be the next to join state’s elite
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What if I told you that Gwinnett County plays the best basketball in the state? Is that something that would surprise you?
All over Georgia, however begrudgingly, people acknowledge the power of football here. Folks from Middle and South Georgia have made their case for gridiron superiority, but it is not debatable what county has achieved more in recent years.
Evidence: Since 2000, Gwinnett County has claimed eight state championships in the eight football seasons — three by Parkview (2000, ‘01, ‘02), four by Buford (‘01, ‘02, ‘03, ‘07) and one shared by Peachtree Ridge and Roswell (‘06).
No county can claim similar success in football.
But here’s the thing: The same can be said about basketball. Some history: Since 2000, basketball teams, boys and girls, in Gwinnett County have captured — get this — 18 state titles. It’s a phenomenal total, one that is unmatched in the state.
Check out the breakdown:
In boys, Berkmar (2000, ‘01), South Gwinnett (‘04) and Norcross (‘06 and ‘07) took championships. In girls, Collins Hill has five (‘01, ‘02, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07), Parkview (‘03) and Central (‘01) one apiece, Greater Atlanta Christian three (‘01, ‘02, ‘07) and Wesleyan three (‘04, ‘05, ‘06).
Eighteen in eight seasons.
And here’s another thing: The next boys AAAA just might be a first-timer, for Dacula has the look of a champion.
At 17-1 and with the top six players returning from last year, the Falcons have impressed even coach Justin Grant. And not just by the record, although he did not anticipate such a stellar ledger.
More meaningful to Grant is that his players have functioned as a team. They share the basketball without hesitation and play with an energy that a coach craves.
“You want your scorers to score, but to not be selfish. It’s one of the toughest things,” said Grant, in his sixth year at Dacula. “We mark down what I consider selfish plays and point them out.
“But this group has been good about being unselfish. And it has worked harder and wanted it more than any group I’ve ever had. We don’t really have a key player. We have depth, kids who can put the ball in the hole and kids who just worry about doing the dirty work — rebounding, taking charges.”
Storm Richardson and Trent Krammerer lead the team in floor burns and hustle plays. Six-foot-9 Brian Cole, averaging close to 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, has a big inside presence on both ends of the floor. Team him with the 6-foot-7 Krammerer and they represent a frontline that is the focal point of the offense.
And then there are Justin Rush and Clay Wages, who shoot it from the perimeter with accuracy.
More than anything, however, Dacula has experience and talent. “It’s the first time I’ve had a nice nucleus of players returning,” Grant said. “And they play so hard because they know if they don’t, they’re coming out.”
With success has come confidence — and the potential for overconfidence. That’s why Grant spends a fair amount of time working on his players’ psyche.
“Every day I humble them,” he said. “I stay on them as hard as I can. We watch a tremendous amount of film to show them their mistakes. … Then before we play again, I build them back up, let them know how good they are.”
And the Falcons are really good, another Gwinnett team with championship potential.
Permalink | | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Tigers hankering for home hoops
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Road trip! That must have been the mindset of the Fayette County boys basketball team entering the holiday break, during which the Tigers played seven games in 11 days.
“We’re ready to get home,” said Fayette coach Andre Flynn. “That’ll help us out a little bit.”
At 11-7 overall and 6-2 in Region 2-AAAA after losing to Whitewater Tuesday, the Tigers are in good position for a high seed in the region tournament, but Flynn acknowledged that his club might be a little road weary, though it’s not apparent in the numbers of leading scorer Noel Johnson, who is scoring 27 points per game.
Double threat — Starr’s Mill’s Alexis Shaffer leads the Lady Panthers in scoring at 9.5 points per game and in rebounds with eight per game.
Getting healthy — The Fayette wrestling team enters the Area Duals this weekend with its full compliment of wrestlers for the first time, coach Jim Bailey said. Ali Khan has not lost since making weight for the 103-pound class two weeks ago, and 189-pounder Patrick Blankenbeker’s only loss was in a 215-pound match. The Tigers are 11-5 in duals competition and figure to be in the mix with McIntosh, Whitewater and Northgate for state playoff spots.
In the water — Starr’s Mill has three swimmers who have qualified for the state meet in three events each. Junior Lauren Beatty has qualifying times in the 200-yard freestyle, the 100 butterfly and the 100 freestyle, while Lauren Scott has qualified in the 50 freestyle, the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Fayette
Unbeaten start not enough for some
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Being unbeaten apparently doesn’t automatically mean being No. 1.
In the latest Georgia Sportswriters Association poll, released Wednesday, only three of the state’s 10 unbeaten teams sit atop the polls. Hancock Central boys in Class A, defending Class AAA champions Jordan and Randolph-Clay boys in AA go into the weekend games unbeaten and top-ranked.
Hancock will get a big test Friday, when it plays at second-ranked and defending Class A champion Wilkinson County.
The majority of the metro teams’ losses have come against other ranked teams in the area or on the road against some stiff nationally ranked teams.
Norcross will again test itself when the two-time defending Class AAAAA champions take on previously nationally ranked Helen Cox of Louisiana in a nationally televised game on ESPN2 Thursday.
Only seven points separated Jordan and second-ranked South Atlanta, which has lost only to St. Benedict’s Prep of New Jersey, the No. 1 team in the nation. The final score was 57-43 Dec. 28 in a Christmas tournament in Charlotte.
One pollster gave the Hornets their No. 1 vote.
Post up: The sportswriters in the state have made their choices. Are these teams you think are the best in the state? Who did we miss? Have any suggestions?
Georgia Sportswriters Association Poll
(Number in parenthesis is first place votes)
Boys
Class AAAAA
1. Norcross (9) 90 points
2. Wheeler 81
3. Savannah 65
4. Centennial 59
5. Marietta 54
6. McEachern 45
7. Douglass 29
8. Mundy’s Mill 21
9. M.L. King 17
10. Parkview 13
Others receiving votes: Tift County, South Gwinnett, Harrison, Meadowcreek.
Class AAAA
1. Columbia (9) 90 points
2. Westlake 75
3. Tucker 63
4. Miller Grove 58
5. Dacula 34
6. Stone Mountain 33
7. Lithia Springs and Fayette County (tie) 19
9. Rome and Cedar Shoals (tie) 18
Others receiving votes: Stockbridge, Ridgeland, Pebblebrook, Americus-Sumter, Jonesboro, Riverdale, Westside-Macon.
Class AAA
1. Jordan (8) 89
2. South Atlanta (1) 82
3. Dunwoody 66
4. Blessed Trinity 55
5. Glenn Hills 26
6. Westover 24
7. Washington County
8. Central-Macon
9. Flowery Branch
10. East Hall
Others receiving votes: Mary Persons, Chestatee, Dougherty, Shaw, Chamblee, Northside-Columbus, West Laurens, Southside, Northeast-Macon, Carrollton.
Class AA
1. Randolph-Clay (8) 89
2. Wesleyan (1) 82
3. Greater Atlanta Christian 65
4. East Laurens 51
5. Josey 48
6. Lovett 33
7. Dodge County 30
8. Avondale 22
9. Appling County 21
10. Long County 16
Others receiving votes: Decatur, Darlington, Dublin, Fannin County, Thomasville.
Class A
1. Hancock Central (6) 82
2. Wilkinson County (2) 73
3. Southwest Atl. Christian (1) 71
4. Turner County 60
5. Whitefield Academy 56
6. Terrell County 47
7. Portal 45
8. Wilcox County 29
9. Greenforest 13
10. Atkinson County and Hawkinsville (tie) 4
Others receiving votes: Gordon Lee, Montgomery County, Taylor County, Athens Academy.
Girls
Class AAAAA
1. Mill Creek (7) 83
2. Stephenson (2) 77
3. McEachern 66
4. Douglass 62
5. Marietta 59
6. Berkmar 35
7. North Cobb and Tift County (tie) 22
9.Parkview 17
10.Redan 11
Others receiving votes: Beach, North Gwinnett, Mundy’s Mill, Duluth, Houston County.
Class AAAA
1. Southwest DeKalb (9) 90
2. Marist 77
3. St. Pius 58
4. Westlake 52
5. Greenbrier 35
6. Mays 31
7. Dalton 23
8. Rome 19
9. Madison County 15
10. Americus-Sumter 13
Others receiving votes: Cherokee, Loganville, Hillgrove, Osborne, Jones County, North Clayton, Bainbridge, Westside-Macon, Clarke Central.
Class AAA
1. Hephzibah (2) 72
2. Carrollton (2) 71
3. Franklin County 65
4. Kendrick (4) 62
5. Southwest-Macon (1) 47
6. Gainesville 36
7. Jackson 32
8. East Hall 31
9. Westminster 29
10. Hardaway 24
Others receiving votes: Hart County, Mary Persons, Gilmer, Northeast-Macon, Dunwoody, Butler.
Class AA
1. Wesleyan (9) 90
2. Randolph-Clay 74
3. Buford 69
4. Greater Atlanta Christian 64
5. Vidalia 46
6. Laney 34
7. Coosa 32
8. Rutland 27
9. Model 14
10. Macon County 12
Others receiving votes: McIntosh County Academy, Dodge County, Paideia, Fannin County.
Class A
1. Terrell County (5) 86
2. Landmark Christian (2) 74
3. Savannah Country Day (1) 65
4. Calvary Day 53
5. Hancock Central (1) 52
6. Taylor County 45
7. Towns County 33
8. Gordon Lee 30
9. Southwest Atl. Christian 19
10. Trion 16
Others receiving votes: Hawkinsville, Providence Christian.
Post up: The sportswriters in the state have made their choices. Are these teams you think are the best in the state? Who did we miss? Have any suggestions?
Permalink | Comments (65) | Categories: Fastbreak
10 reasons we’re hyping HS hoops
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We all need our rest. We know that. And for many of you high school sports fans, winter is a time of hibernation between the Dome and spring practice. But at Take Ten, we don’t play any favorites. If there are high school athletes playing, we’re all over it. The Dome doesn’t mean an end for us, and it shouldn’t for you either. Here’s why you should rise from your winter doldrums and watch some high school basketball in Georgia.
10: It’s indoors — Yeah, yeah. Cold weather is part of the charm of football. Squash all of that. There’s nothing good about the cold, except that you can leave drinks and groceries in the car without them getting warm. Gyms are great places to hide when it’s freezing outside.
9: No band — Before the band parents start firing off e-mails, this isn’t a knock on the bands. But if you think watching a football game — when the band drowns out the crowd the entire time — is like watching an NFL films video with a soundtrack, basketball might be the sport for you.
8: Quick games — Football games start at 7:30 and usually end sometime between 10 and 10:30. With a basketball game, you can be in the gym at 7:30 and out by 9, still early enough to take the wife for a nice night on the town.
7: Girls play, too — Yes, basketball is gender-neutral. You can feel the harmony from here.
6: Squeaky shoes — We brought this up in a Take Ten last year, and some people thought we were crazy. They were right, but squeaky shoes are still a hallmark of basketball. We love that sound.
5: You can watch it from home — That’s right. You don’t even have to leave your couch, and it’s not just for the playoffs. In fact, ESPN will be in town Thursday night, broadcasting Norcross playing Helen Cox (La.).
4: See the next NBA star — Basketball players only have to go to college for one year, and then it’s off to the wonderful world of pro ball. Former Wheeler star J.J. Hickson (with N.C. State) looks like he might be the next in a long line of area players to make that leap. Two years from now, the guys you watch could be holding up an NBA championship trophy.
3: Atmosphere — You can’t get away from the crowd in a gym. There’s not even a pressbox where we can hide. You hear every scream, every foot stomp, every chant.
2: Talent pool — There’s no question Georgia is one of the best states for high school basketball. Right now, Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic) and Josh Smith (Atlanta Hawks) are certainly making that case. Next on the list: Derrick Favors (South Atlanta), Al-Farouq Aminu (Norcross), Chris Singleton (Dunwoody), Mfon Udofia (Miller Grove), among others.
1: Basically, it’s all in metro Atlanta — What you’ll notice about all those names is that they’re all in the metro area. The state of Georgia is filled with good players and teams, but there’s enough in the metro to keep you occupied. You don’t have to drive more than about 30 minutes to see some of the state’s best players.
Go on. Take Ten. Have we disturbed your sleep yet? Are you ready to forego R&R for a little roundball? Are there any good reasons we missed? Let us know. We expect to see you in a gym soon. We’re taking head counts.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Categories: Take Ten
As duals near, teams tune up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wrestling writer Kurt Aschermann Jr. ranks the top wrestling teams in the state, regardless of class: Week of Jan. 7.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s picks.
Battlefield Duals
With state duals around the corner, several schools tuned up this past weekend with dual tournaments throughout the state. Collins Hill continued to make news nationally, finishing third at the Battlefield Duals in Alexandria, Va. On the tournament’s first day, the Eagles defeated Poquoson (Va.), 56-12; Berwick (Pa.), 44-25; Hayfield (Va.); and Maryland No. 1 McDonogh, 37-22. Advancing to the gold pool for the tournament’s final day, Collins Hill dropped two tight matches with Virginia’s No. 1 Colonial Forge, 31-29, and No. 2 Christiansburg, 33-29, before defeating Pennsylvania No. 5 Connellsville, 39-19 and No. 10 Chartiers Valley, 60-13. Thomas Knapp (145) and Joel Smith (135) each went 8-0, while 112-pound T.J. Mitchell went 6-1 with his only loss coming at 119 pounds. James Smithson (130); Nick Smith (171) and David Coffey (heavyweight) finished the tournament 6-2.
Pound For Pound Top 10 (Last week’s rankings in parenthesis)
1: Collins Hill (1) — Eagles impressive at Battlefield Duals, begin assault on Area 7 Friday.
2: Union Grove (2) — Second straight crown in Valdosta keeps Wolverines a solid No. 2.
3: Jefferson (4) — Domination of Chattahoochee Invite field too much to keep Dragons out of No. 3 slot.
4: Harrison (3) — Disappointing stop at Clash but still a dangerous dual team.
5: Pope (5) — Greyhounds took weekend off before hosting Area 6-AAAAA Duals.
6: Cass (6) — Colonels will be heavy favorite heading into Area 6-AAA Duals.
T7: Eastside (8) — Eagles wrestled like the Class AAAA front-runners in winning Brookwood Duals.
T7: Stockbridge (7) — Streaking Tigers get second straight tourney win in Alexander Invitational.
9: Gilmer (8) — Bobcats romp at Dawson County even without 171-pounder David Snider.
10: Lafayette (9) — Rockmart tourney champs heavy favorites in this weekend’s 4-AA Duals.
Brookwood Duals
Eastside solidified itself as a Class AAAA title favorite, winning the Brookwood Duals. The Eagles, who finished tied for second at last year’s Traditional tournament and third at state Duals, won with four undefeated wrestlers: Cody Durden (103), Joel Stafford (119), Jonathan Palmer (171) and Ardest Carter (189). Durden, a transfer and area champion from Newton County, along with Stafford and Jamarkus Griggs (4-1 at 112 pounds), form one of the more potent bottom three weights in Class AAAA. Northwest Whitfield also threw its name into the state-title conversation, finishing second after a 43-36 loss to Eastside in the tournament’s final. Kenny Michael went 5-0 to lead the Bruins, who also lost to Eastside in the third-place match in last year’s state duals. “I’m pleased with the way we wrestled,” Northwest Whitfield coach Allen Tucker said. “Winning this match is not as important as region duals.”
Chattahoochee Invitational
Jefferson blitzed the mostly-AAAA and AAAAA field at the Chattahoochee Invitational, winning the tournament by placing an absurd 13 of 14 wrestlers. Too bad for the Dragons’ only non-placer, 130-pound R.J. Ahearn, who ran into eventual 130-pound champ Ty Nielson in the quarters and a red-hot Gabe Howard of Centennial (five straight wins to finish third) in the wrestle-backs. Nielson of Milton stayed unbeaten at 26-0 with another dominant weekend at Chattahoochee, winning gold at 130 pounds. Nielson’s only blemish is a missed weight at the Dirty South Classic, a tournament he looked poised to win after upsetting defending state champion Phil Holloway.
Wildcat Invitational
The Wildcat Invitational was a star-studded tournament with potential state champions all over the mats at Valdosta High School. Union Grove’s Joey Lazor helped the Wolverines win their second consecutive tournament title, improving to 29-0 with a title at 130 pounds. Effingham County’s Josh Barnhill, in a tuneup to a possible 103-pound title in Class AAAA, blitzed the 103-pound field at Valdosta. Benedictine’s Shane Summerlin won the 119-pound title; defending state champion Justin Crozier (Union Grove) clinched the 125-pound crown; Bradley Banks (Union Grove) won at 160 pounds and Tift County’s Zach Dunn kept his name in the 171-pound discussion with a win over Union Grove’s Jack Roberts in the 171 final.
Takedowns
• Tucker ran away with the DeKalb County title, led by individual champions Pawlloes Belete (103), Melchisedac Lavergne (125), Mister Permenter (130), Nicholas Pegues (140), Carey Cloud (145) and Federico Guzman (152).
• Two counties away, Flowery Branch was wrapping up the Hall County Duals championship. The Falcons went 6-0 and dethroned two-time county champ West Hall with a 39-30 win in the final.
• North Gwinnett’s Travis Sheehy notched his 200th career win at the Brookwood Duals, picking up a second-period pin against Greenbrier.
• Stockbridge placed 12 wrestlers and won the Alexander Invitational. The Tigers got individual titles from Nathan Allen at 130 pounds and Ben Jones at 160 and runner-up finishes from five others, including 145-pound Chris Browning, who lost to the tourney’s outstanding wrestler, Daniel Domanico from Lovett.
• Gilmer had two champs - Dale Becker at 125 pounds and Hunter Barnes at 152 - and three runners-up in a win at Dawson County’s Amicalola Classic.
• McIntosh won the Mark Toomey Invitational at Groves High School thanks to five champs: Jarrod Chamblee (112), Richard Hughes (130), Carl Scheumann (152), Matt Carroll (215) and Sean Carney (285).
• Peachtree Ridge’s four placers at Chattahoochee were all champions, a first in the program’s history. Andrew Sartain won at 112 pounds, Matt Chapman at 160 and Sam Kuntz at 189, while Kendall Albert blew through the 140-pound field, winning an 8-0 major in the final against defending Class AAAA champion Matt Bridges of Cherokee.
• Lovett, trying to crash the party in Class AA and upend favorites Lafayette and Wesleyan next weekend in Macon and a month from now in Gwinnett, finished a strong second at the Alexander Invitational. Daniel Domanico won the 145-pound title and was named outstanding wrestler.
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 (5) | Categories: Pound For Pound
AJC ranks boys top 10
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The 2007 portion of the season has been completed and a lot of the usual suspects are among the elite teams in the state. There were some first-half surprises on the boys’ side — Blessed Trinity, Douglass, Avondale, Dacula and Greater Atlanta Christian. As the second half of the second begins, we offer our all-class rankings. The Georgia Sportswriters Association rankings will be out later this week.
For now, here is the AJC’s all-class boys top 10:
1: Norcross — Hasn’t lost to a Georgia team since last February, and doesn’t appear it will anytime soon.
2: Columbia — Played well in the Arby’s Classic and Travis Leslie might be the most exciting player in the state.
3: Wheeler — Dequan Jones is quickly becoming a player of the year candidate. Wildcats continue to click after losing starting point guard before the season.
4: Westlake — Norcross is only Georgia team to beat them. Oklahoma signee Raymond Willis has really blended with a good returning nucleus.
5: Savannah — Might be the class of the hotbed Savannah area. Seeking first title since 1998.
6: Centennial — Only in-state loss was to powerhouse Wheeler (93-64) early last month. Junior Lorenzo Brown is among best in the state.
7: Miller Grove — The still growing program has one of the state’s best point guards, Mfon Udofia, and Sharman White is a up-and-coming coach.
8: South Atlanta — Junior Derrick Favors finally might have a supporting cast that can get a championship.
9: Marietta — Blue Devils have seemed to recover from two early season losses. A big victory against McEachern on Saturday was impressive.
10: Whitefield Academy — When this team plays to its full potential, it could be in the top five in the state regardless of classification.
Off the court: Beach’s chances of contending took a big blow last week when all-state guard James Fields transferred to nearby Urban Christian, a non-GHSA school. Fields, a Georgia State signee, cited academics reasons for the transfer. At Urban, he will be in the backcourt with Cincinnati signee Cashmere Wright, one of the top point guards in the state.
Milestone: With Randolph-Clay’s 79-73 victory against defending Class A champion Wilkinson County on Dec. 22, Red Devils coach Joe Williams got his 1,000 victory. Randolph-Clay is 15-0.
Post up: How’s your favorite team doing? Who should or shouldn’t be in the top 10? Talk hoops here.
Permalink | Comments (84) | Categories: Fastbreak
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