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Wishing for an all-class state basketball tournament

By Derrick Mahone | Wednesday, March 12, 2008, 05:09 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Another high school basketball season is in the history books.

We all know the best teams in the five classifications, but which team is best overall?

Too bad we don’t have an overall championship to crown the best all-class champion. Another exciting weekend of high school basketball would help ease the championship hangover.

For now, there are all-star games to look forward to, but there is nothing like the energy generated by students and fans pulling for their favorite teams.

The Georgia Sportswriters Association turned in its final poll of the year, and all the state champions and runner-ups finished No. 1 and 2, respectively.

On the girls side, Stephenson, Southwest DeKalb and Wesleyan all started the season at No. 1 in the preseason poll.

On the boys side, Norcross and Columbia started the season in the top spot in the polls.

• Post up: Did some teams finish too high or low in the final poll? Who has the best basketball team in all classifications?

Georgia Sportswriters Association Final Poll
Girls
Class AAAAA

1. Stephenson (8) 80 points
2. Redan 72
3. Mill Creek 63
4. Duluth 56
5. Parkview 42
6. Douglass 39
7. Marietta 35
8. Luella 27
9. Berkmar 18
10. Chattahoochee 13
Others receiving votes: Beach.

Class AAAA
1. Southwest DeKalb (8) 80
2. Fayette County 72
3. Westlake 58
4. Madison County 54
5. Mays 34
6. Clarke Central 33
7. Northside-Warner Robins 31
8. Hillgrove and Osborne (tie) 16
10. Baldwin 14

Others receiving votes: Glynn Academy, Cherokee, Northwest Whitfield, Statesboro.

Class AAA
1. Kendrick (8) 80
2. Carrollton 72
3. Hephzibah 61
4. Glenn Hills 56
5. Monroe Area 42
6. Franklin County 29
7. Southwest-Macon 28
8. Cairo 17
9. Gainesville 8
10. East Hall 7
Others receiving votes: Westminster, Hardaway, Blessed Trinity, Liberty County.

Class AA
1. Wesleyan (8) 80
2. Paideia 70
3. Randolph-Clay 61
4. Savannah Christian 55
5. Coosa 45
6. Laney 38
7. Josey 29
8. Greater Atlanta Christian and Buford (tie) 23
10. Model 9
Others receiving votes: Vidalia, Rutland, Manchester, Dodge County, Mitchell County.

Class A 1. Calvary Day (8) 80
2. Terrell County 72
3. Southwest Atlanta Christian 62
4. Towns County 50
5. Savannah Country Day 44
6. Hancock Central 40
7. Turner County 37
8. Gordon Lee 26
9. Greenville 19
10. Social Circle and Landmark Christian 7
Others receiving votes: Taylor County, Treutlen.

Boys
Class AAAAA

1. Norcross (8) 80
2. Wheeler 72
3. Savannah 40
4. McEachern 33
5. Berkmar 33
6. Hiram 31
7. Centennial 27
8. Douglass 20
9. Northview 15
10. Stephenson 10
Others receiving votes: Lowndes, Coffee, Mundy’s Mill.

Class AAAA
1. Columbia (8) 80
2. Fayette County 72
3. Miller Grove 53
4. Westlake 51
5. Riverdale and Pebblebrook (tie) 35
7. Rome 33
8. Lithia Springs 31
9. Jonesboro 23
10. Richmond Academy 5
Others receiving votes: Thomas County Central, Bainbridge, Statesboro, Cherokee, Dacula, Stone Mountain.

Class AAA
1. Glenn Hills (8) 80
2. Carver-Columbus 72
3. Dunwoody 62
4. Liberty County 43
5. Jordan 40
6. Hart County 34
7. East Hall 32
8. Washington County 27
9. Flowery Branch 13
10. South Atlanta 11
Others receiving votes: Shaw, Notheast-Macon, Blessed Trinity, Cartersville, Dougherty, Franklin County.

Class AA
1. Wesleyan (8) 80
2. East Laurens 71
3. Dublin 62
4. Lovett 58
5. Randolph-Clay 48
6. Pace 34
7. Coosa 26
8. Long County 14
9. Greater Atlanta Christian 11
10. Josey 13
Others receiving votes: Swainsboro, Laney, Rutland, Manchester, Appling County.

Class A
1. Hancock Central (8) 80
2. Turner County 70
3. Portal 61
4. Wilkinson County 58
5. Whitefield Academy 44
6. Southwest Atlanta Christian 41
7. Terrell County 32
8. Central-Talbotton 21
9. Gordon Lee 11
10. Lakeview Academy 7
Others receiving votes: ECI, Wilcox County, Twiggs County, Chattahoochee County, Atkinson County.

Permalink | Comments (52) | Post your comment | Categories: Fastbreak

Comments

By Devil Lover

March 12, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this

I guess I am a little bias but 5A and 4A are two tuff classes. Of course SouthAltanta in 3A is a hell of a team along with the other good teams in that class. I think that Norcross, Wheeler and Columbia could go toe to toe with any other team in the state. After getting beat so bad by Norcross, Savannah I don’t think should be ranked no. 3 but McEachern who almost beat Wheeler should be no. 3. I understand that most of their good players will be back next year so they should be at the top of region 5.

By Derrick Mahone

March 12, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this

Devil Lover It is just the way the votes fell with Savannah coming out at No. 3. As you can see by the points, it was real close with Savannah, McEachern and Berkmar (which actually should have 32 points).

A note of interest, in boys Turner County (Class A) and East Laurens (AA) and girls Paideia (AA) did not receive the maximum number (72 points) for second place.

By Clubhouse

March 12, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this

Stephenson came in at #10 but thanks to the “no questions asked” transfer rule we have in Georgia, Stephenson should have been #1 because both Howard and Aminu played for Stephenson middle and lived in the area along with Junior phenoms Adrien Coleman and Kevin Dukes who led Stephenson to their #10 ranking.

By yougottobekidding

March 12, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this

Derrick, It is amazing how one team can be ranked in the in the final regular season poll, make it to the Elite 8 in class AAA, beat a team in your latest top 10 and not make the final poll. This is a joke. Who is doing the voting here.

By Devil Lover

March 12, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

Derrick, first of all my comment about Savannah was to answer the blog question, “Did some teams finish too high or low in the final poll?” Secondly the fact that so many writers voted for Savannah is the issue. Why would someone who new that MCEachern, even though they did not make it pass the 2nd round, played Wheeler the 5A no. 2 team in the state in such a good game vote for Savannah over McEachern? Maybe a writer from south Ga who did not understand that McEachern was a good team who beat Columbia, Marietta and took wheeler down to the very last seconds of the game before lossing.

Do I dare ask U who U voted for in the no. 3 position for 5A?

By Devil Lover

March 12, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this

One more point. I think that McEachern and Centennial would have probably played for the state championship if Norcross and Wheeler were in a different class. I am surprised that the writers give more weight to the teams that advance in the tournament without taking into account who had to play who and how difficult each team was. I also think that Berkmar had a much easier road than either Centennial or McEachern.

By Richard Lowe

March 12, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this

After having watched several of the tournament games and games throughot the year my personal philosophy has been strengthened - a “superstar” in a team game is not a positive factor unless the superstar can play within the team concept. It’s the team that enhances the superstar’s status, not the other way around. Everyone must feel that they are a contributing member; the so called superstar’s abilities will rise to the forefront by being a part of the team and not being the team. It’s a hard lesson to learn for young people, even older ones as well. Hopefully it will be a lesson learned and the effects will reveal itself during the next season. As for the all-classification tournament, there use to be one and it was interesting to say the least.

By Don

March 13, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this

We had an all-class tourney for 2 years back in the 70s and it was very poorly attended and anticlimatic to the real state tourneys

By taz

March 13, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

Just hard to justify your polls when in AA girls you have Buford ranked 8th and they beat Paideia twice this season and once by 23 points and their only loses this season was 4 times to #1 Wesleyan, 2 to GAC, and 1 to AAAA Marist. Paideia beats Green County, Coosa and Randolph Clay and jumps up to #2 and came in fourth in our region. This may just show how strong region 6 AA is, but you still don’t give Buford any credit. Does anybody in your department do any research or is your final poll just based on the tournament? Anyway the coaches poll on gasports.com does justice because the coaches are the people who really know the teams. If you are gonna really be serious about finding the best teams and ranking them, then you really need to do some research, it is a little more complicated than looking at the brackets of the tournament and going down the line.

By K-DAWG

March 13, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

I don’t understand why all the teams that made it to the FINAL FOUR, some teams did not receive a TOP FOUR ranking, I think automatically they should, I understand that it is politics, like everthing else.

By b-chat

March 13, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

why doesn’t the ajc follow 1a more closely. there is a lot of talent there. Also the paper does a poor job of following teams that are outside of 285.

By wayne stokes

March 13, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Sandy Creek Girl’s finish the season with a record of 23-6 and lost to Monroe Area in the elite 8. Sandy Creek girl’s defeated Gainsville on the road in the “sweet 16” and they were voted 9th in the final poll. I don’t think the sports writers study these teams very well. Sandy Creek deserves to be in that final poll after being ranked 7th in the last AJC poll and 6th in the last gasports.com poll. What do you think?

By Ernest

March 13, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Hey Derrick, what’s the process for recommending the Coach of the Year for each class/gender? I expected we will see the Players of the Year and All State Teams in the Sunday AJC soon. Would this normally be the coach of the #1 team?

By Devil Lover

March 13, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this

Hey Derrick. I know you don’t think the national polls really matter. However I think it is good to look at them to see how the programs in Georgia stack up against the rest of the country.

Here is how Norcross ended up so far.

1.Hoopsusa consensus-no.3

2.Risemag.com-no.4

3.PrepNational.com-no.6

4.USAToday.com-no.6

5.ESPN.com-no.8

6.Rival.com-no.8

7.SI.com-no.9

8.Maxpreps.com-no.11

By wheeler fan

March 13, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this

ok, i know norcorss won the game and deserve to be number one, i understand, but let me just say that last week, norcorss was not the better team, take away the first quarter and wheeler won that game desisevly (sp?). im not mad because i understand that wheeler should not have been down 17-2 in that game, but to me, the game last friday DID NOT prove who was better, and i gauruntee if wheeler and norcross played 10 times, each would win 5, but anyway that was a hell of a game friday and even though i am a wheeler fan, i was glad to be part of it. GO WILDCATS!

By 4AFan

March 14, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this

Girls’ 4AAA poll is messed up. Cherokee is in same region with Hillgrove and Osborne, had 1-1 record with Hillgrove, beat Osborne twice, were region 5AAAA champions, made it to sweet 16 and lost to #4 Madison Co. by 3 pts.

By Steve

March 14, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

wheelerfan:

Say what you will, but the “better team” is the one that executes down the stretch and wins the big games. Wheeler was powerful, and the AAAAA boys title game was probably the best championship game in any classification. Wheeler didn’t win, and that’s the bottom line.

Yes, you acknowledge that, but please, man, don’t bring out sour grapes. Both teams deserve better.

By Steve

March 14, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

Dewrrick:

Does Indiana still do an all-classification-type tournament? If I recal correctly, The Hoosier state has always has one state tournament for all comers, regardless of school size.

As Don mentioned, I remember Georgia experimenting with a “tournament of champions” thing in the 70s. He’s right - it was a flop, poorly attended and short-lived. I say let the different champions celebrate and chest-thump about who could beat who. That’s part of the fun!! If, say, Columbia wants to challenge Norcross, then let the schools make a spot on their schedules. If not, then just hush up and enjoy your success.

Finally, congratulations to my Monroe Area Lady Hurricanes on a fantastic 25-7 season and a N0. 5 ranking!! You’ve done us all proud.

By Steve

March 14, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

Dewrrick:

Does Indiana still do an all-classification-type tournament? If I recal correctly, The Hoosier state has always has one state tournament for all comers, regardless of school size.

Finally, congratulations to my Monroe Area Lady Hurricanes on a fantastic 25-7 season and a N0. 5 ranking!! You’ve done us all proud.

By fan

March 14, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

Dunwoody would have been #1 if only our all American Singleton played well along with with Delwon and Jordon Pierre the so call leader of a team out of control, he could not lead a team down the side of the road to gather water, a leader takes control and a situation as what happen in Macon They were out of Control “yes they won all games but be for real the only real person of interest they played was Bless Trinity all the others were not good enough. Dunwoody players Singleton, Delwan and Pierre Jordon all season played as if they were playing by themselves in there own little world they played all season as if they were posing for the Camera and as if they were in the NBA, I blamed the coach for not setting some form of discipline amongst the players and for allowing them to play Without any plays also for not tightening the squad so that in a situation like what happen in Macon, someone could have gotten off the bench if the squad was tight and help out Iand exciting and playing defensively like a team should. As a fan I was so disappointed I had so much hope and Faith in Dunwoody players But was Glad that at least one of them Shine the fan favorite GRAYSON, he proved to us all the Fan the public and AJC that hard work, discipline and playing team ball is what Champions are made of. Congratulation to Norcross for an excellent Season.

By Tyrone

March 14, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

I am with you ‘Fan” all the HYpe on Dunwwody winning was over the Top hopefully some how they have learned something from all this, Grayson proved he is the truth ‘younsta” did his thing. Congrat to Weslyann boys and Girls and to Norcross, you all played a hell of game and I guess in the end Congrat to Ben Hill you are the deserving team in class 3 AA no matter what people may say the season to me a was very upsetting to say the least.

By TauEpsilon01

March 14, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

I beleive an all class tournament would eventually detract from the class championships. The same way the Super Bowl takes away from the luster of the AFC and NFC Conference championships. You don’t see anyone having a conference championship party. Nor do you see the big luster of a team winning the pennant in baseball. It is all about the World Series. Basketball is the only sport in which every team will end their season with a loss, except for the champion. Atleast in football if you dont make the playoffs you still have a chance to end your season on a positive note.

Furthermore, if teams want to see what teams are the best then they should do what Carver-Columbus and Northside-Warner Robins are doing next football season. The two teams who both went 15-0 as state champions in their respective divisions have agreed to play each other. I have respect for both of these coaches because both are showing that they are not afraid to play the best in the state. Either way, one of those teams will not have the opportunity to go 30-0. Maybe it will end in a tie (if that is still allowed) and they will go 29-0-1 over two seasons. Either way, I plan on attending that game.

By TauEpsilon01

March 14, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

Hey Derrick, what are your thoughts about the GHSA leaving five slots open on each schedule so that all of the defending champions could play each other the following year in basketball. I know it would be impossible for football since there is only 10 regular season games and each team has to play each other over two years to be fair for home and home.

By TauEpsilon01

March 14, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

By Derrick Mahone

March 14, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Steve Not sure about Indiana. I don’t remember the state’s tournament of champions. Mississippi just started its tournament of champions tournament back this season with its four class champions repeating. It, like the Georgia one, died several years ago because the big schools always won it. I think our Class A teams are a lot strong than Mississippi with the success of SACA, Whitefield and Wilkinson County the last five years. Centennial hosted a tournament on MLK Day that invited the top teams in the state and was highly successful. Before integration of the GHSA, the black schools in the GIA had a tournament of champions that was highly successful with the winner earning a trip to Nashville, TN to compete for the National Black High School Championship.

TauEpsilon01 Schedules are made by each individual school, and I doubt if any coach would not play the maximum amount of games in the season. GHSA bylaws don’t allow for any games after the state championships other than all-star games. I doubt if a measure would pass because other sports would won’t to do a tournament of champions also.

Glad to see Carver-Columbus and Northside-WR playing next season, but several of the players that won the state titles for each will graduate this spring, so that is not same teams.

Anyone going to the Gwinnett All-Star game tomorrow?

By Donny Hopkins

March 14, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

How can Hephzibah girls be rank #3 in the final poll when they didn’t even make to the semi final who every dose the voteing need to give the teams that make the semi final more credit

By Devil Lover

March 14, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Beside AJ Hawkins and the two stars for Wesleyan, what other boys a playing in the All-Star game on Sat?

By Derrick Mahone

March 14, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Gwinnett All-Star Boys Dzman Colquitt Central Gwinnett Antionio Falls Duluth
Carter Rice Providence
Erik Strong Wesleyan Tanner Smith Wesleyan Andre Crittendon Shiloh Nick Gil South Gwinnett Dee Smith Grayson Bryen Pyles Peachtree Ridge Andrew Anderson Collins Hill Yaw Gyawu Parkview Bobby Glover Parkview AJ Hawkins Norcross Ebuka Anyaorah North Gwinnett Nate Hamilton Brookwood Jeramie Moore Buford
Chase Anderson Mill Creek Travis Bollier Mill Creek Teandre Williams Meadowcreek Tyler McDaniels Meadowcreek Trent Kammerer Dacula Justin Rush Dacula Demarion Gordon Berkmar Vantae Rucker Berkmar

Girls Porsha Porter - Mill Creek
Megan Basile - Mill Creek
Whitney Smith - Mill Creek
Jasmine Scott - Central
Ahna Weens - Central
Britt Pecht - Hebron
Sczeny Harty - Parkview
Nikki Urbizo - Collins Hill
Lauren Pace - Collins Hill
Abby Daniel - Dacula
Eve Machovec - Dacula
Mollie Mitchell - GAC
Emily Wortman - Peachtree Ridge Rebecca Westbrook - Grayson Veronica O’Grady - Norcross Taylor Barnett - Norcross Nicole Jones � Norcross Courtney McLane � Brookwood Carter Johnson � Wesleyan Elizabeth Sledge � North Stephanie Schuck � North Aaryn Sells � Meadowcreek Massy Soumahoro � Meadowcreek Genea Williams � Meadowcreek

By HC BULLDOG

March 15, 2008 1:14 AM | Link to this

DERRICK,DO YOU LIVE IN GWINNETT? CAN YOU CONCEIVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS OUT THERE. GWINNETT HAD ONLY 1 TEAM WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, SO WHAT!….

By Devil Lover

March 15, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

HC BULLDOG YOU ARE RIGHT. BUT IT WAS THE BIG ONE!!!

By Devil Lover

March 15, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

HEY DERRICK, SOMEBOBY AT AJC THINKS NATIONAL RANKING ARE IMPORTANT!!

“Rivals: Norcross among nation’s best” - AJC Headline

By lady cardinals fan

March 15, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this

Congrats to Osborne for finishing the season in the top 10. Kinda ironic we have to share it with hillgrove, but those girls worked tremendously hard all year round and deserve every bit of recognition they get regardless of what ANYBODY has to say. Can’t wait to see how much better they will be next season with all the experience gained through this seasons sweet 16 run. Next year,we’ll see AAAA at the Gwinnett Arena!

By oldskool06

March 15, 2008 11:20 PM | Link to this