AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia high school basketball: The AJC Top 10 Metro Atlanta all-classification poll
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Fayette County girls are becoming difficult to ignore as one of the best teams — if not the best team — in the state. The Tigers are 19-0 and John Strickland’s team is beginning to show up on some national polls. You’ll find Fayette County No. 2 here, up one spot after two losses by Mill Creek.
The Tigers were runner-up in Class AAAA last season.
“We’ve really been playing well, but that’s because our girls understand what it takes to be a champion,” Strickland said. “You have to understand the work and sacrifices it takes to get there. They don’t just hand out it out for free.” The Tigers are playing well enough to warrant consideration for the top spot, but Parkview is holding strong. Marietta is back in the poll this week after beating Mill Creek and Campbell. Redan also may be a darkhorse. The Raiders handled defending state champion Stephenson this week.
Things are a bit more confused on the boys side. Three of the state’s top teams — South Atlanta, McEachern and Wheeler— had breakdowns, going a combined 1-5 in out-of-state games.
South Atlanta’s two losses were to the nation’s No. 2 team, Oak Hill (Va.), and No. 7 LeFlore (Ala.). Wheeler’s loss was to No. 3 St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.), and one of McEachern’s defeats was to No. 21 Olympia (Fla.).
Metro Atlanta Basketball Rankings
A look at the top 10 metro teams from all classifications:
Boys
1: South Atlanta (14-3) — The Hornets look to bounce back by beginning Region 4-AAA in earnest with a Saturday visit by second place Spalding (13-1).
2: McEachern (12-3) — The Class AAAAA Indians look to bounce back from a tough week on the road by playing host to 5-AAAAA contender Cherokee County on Friday.
3: Norcross (14-1) — The three-time defending Class AAAAA champions face a challenging week beginning by hosting Region 7-AAAAA rival Collins Hill tonight.
4: Miller Grove (14-2) — The Wolverines reaffirmed their status as Class AAAA’s best by running past Centennial Monday at the Tribute to a King Holiday Hardwood Classic.
5: Centennial (14-2) — The Class AAAAA Knights had their 14-game winning streak end with the loss to Miller Grove. Eyes are now on 6-AAAAA that cranks up again Friday at Roswell.
6: Wheeler (11-6) — The Class AAAAA Wildcats face yet another challenge by traveling to Milton Friday and hosting Walton Saturday.
7: Milton (12-4) — The Class AAAAA Eagles have broken out of a midseason slump with a victory against talented Columbia at Monday’s Tribute to a King Holiday Hardwood Classic.
8: Columbia (15-2) — The youthful Class AAA Eagles begin the teeth of Region 5-AAA play by visiting dangerous Dunwoody tonight.
9: Walton (12-5) — The Raiders dropped their fourth last-minute loss of the season — the latest a 91-90 loss to Region 6-AAAAA foe Centennial.
10: Hillgrove (16-1) — The Hawks take over the spot from Westlake by going 5-0 versus Class AAAAA teams and a 20-point victory against fellow AAAA contender Marist.
— Rob Morton
Girls
1: Parkview (17-0) — The Panthers continue to roll, even scoring 80 points, a season high, last week against Meadowcreek.
2: Fayette County (19-0) — Junior forward Anma Onyeuku had 34 points against Banneker last week. She has been playing like that all season.
3: Redan (11-0) — The Raiders defeated Stephenson 86-42, meaning Rhonda Malone’s squad is a legitimate title contender.
4: Norcross (13-4) — The Blue Devils have won five in a row, including Angie Hembree’s 300th game in Georgia.
5: Wesleyan (15-3) — The Wolves handled a good Milton team 76-54 and look to continue their domination of Class A.
6: Mays (18-0) — The Raiders get a solid test with Sandy Creek at home this week.
7: Westlake (13-1) — Watch out for the Lions on defense. Westlake has held four straight opponents to less than 30 points and scored 71 and 84 points in its last two victories.
8: Marietta (13-3) — Telia McCall had 19 points against Mill Creek and 21 against Campbell to guide the Blue Devils to two big victories.
9: Marist (15-2) — The War Eagles downed rival St. Pius X a week ago and built their winning streak to seven games.
10: Mill Creek (13-3) — Tough week for the Hawks, losing back-to-back close games against Duluth and Marietta after winning 11 in a row.
— Glenn LaFollette
Rank the rankings: How do our Metro top 10 stack up against yours? Which teams are we overlooking? Who’s really got game and who’s got lame?
More hoops talk: Ga. Sports Writers Statewide Poll • Take 10: Ga. hoops stars who never won state titles
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: Fastbreak
Comments
By hammer
January 20, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this
Redan Lady Raiders look very impressive against the defending 5a champs Stephenson. I can see a another title run this year.
By Proud Norcross Mom
January 20, 2009 3:08 PM | Link to this
I’m happy with the rankings! With Coach Martin leaving I think people gave up on our boys team but Coach McMillan has done great! Our girls team even surprised me…I though it would be one more year before we were so competitive but Coach Hembree is a great motivator! At this point in the season I am very happy!!! Go Blue Devils!
By vanguard
January 20, 2009 3:14 PM | Link to this
Is the ajc not capable of a poll for each classification?
By Come On Already!
January 20, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this
Rob, are we going to go through this every week? Are yall not capable of doing a poll in each classification? I mean, will South Atlanta ever get to play McEachern for the state title? No! So why should they be in the same ranking together. That goes for all the whole poll. I know you guys at the AJC may not know this because yall are so busy researching stats and fun little trivia for football that you can’t even go to a bball game, but these teams who are in different classifications WILL NOT be playing each other for the state title.
By Devil Lover
January 20, 2009 9:44 PM | Link to this
Hey Rob and thanks for trying to rank all teams together because otherwise they would not be ranked together. Of course if you want to see how teams are ranked by class then you go to gasports.com where coaches rank the teams by class. We don’t need two group trying to rank by class so keep up the good work and maybe some of your reader might finally understand.
By IRA MANNING
January 20, 2009 10:35 PM | Link to this
I think you are overlooking the Joneseboro Lady Cardinals. I will put these outstanding ladies up against any of the teams you mention as your top ten. The Jonesboro Lady Cardinals will be in the 4AAAA final four this year.
By dback16
January 20, 2009 11:54 PM | Link to this
Maxpreps.com, rise, even scoreatl has a better overall ranking of teams who wouldn’t play one another. Why do we need the ajc doing the same thing? Somebody is just happy both their boys and girls are ranked in this one, what ya’ll think?!!!DL
By Jusahfan
January 21, 2009 8:15 AM | Link to this
Last week I gave The AJC a really hard time for their all classification rankings.This weeks polls have one different twist…it’s called,”METRO ATLANTA”.I can accept that.No beef here.
By Johnny
January 21, 2009 10:11 AM | Link to this
Parkview was pretty impressive Sat. night againt th NC nationally ranked team. The refuse to lose. Who do they have?
By Harts Mill Howard
January 21, 2009 11:03 AM | Link to this
Friday night’s showdown between Marist and Chamblee will go a long way in determining who is a contender, or just a pretender, in the toughest 4-A Region in the state (4 schools in gasports’ Top Ten) Both have defeated Tucker, and Chamblee took Miller Grove to the wire 10 days ago (Marist has yet to play MG)
By Ernest
January 21, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this
Last year’s AAAA girls state champion Southwest DeKalb should be mentioned also. They have only lost one game to a team in the state (Marist). Their margin of victory has been 30+ points against most teams. Though they lack a post presence this year, they have some of the best wing players in the state. Coach Kathy Richey-Walton will always have her teams prepared to compete. They will at least be a final four team again this year.
By Titletown King
January 21, 2009 12:15 PM | Link to this
AAA South Atlanta has the country’s top player & the 5A ppl are mad they dont rank at the top of the AJC poll… hilarious
By Samuel Jenkins
January 22, 2009 12:06 AM | Link to this
Why even post this poll? The AJC is so clueless that it is funny. You embarass your publication with these lame attempts to cover high school basketball. Just take a couple of months off until spring football practice….oh wait, that is essentially what you are doing.
By 34dookie
January 22, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this
if you haven’t seen Onyeuku (FCHS) play, just turn on the TV next fall…may be the top player we faced all year. w/ offseason shooing workouts at a college, she’ll be a force.
By Edgar
January 22, 2009 10:29 AM | Link to this
34dookie: Anma Onyeuku is a junior. So is her fellow post producer Sasha Sims. Onyeuku will be back.
And for all those hating on the AJC, please continue, although do realize that this ain’t Rob Morton’s fault. The reason AJC high school hoops coverage sucks is because the AJC is a corporate owned paper that has done almost nothing besides lay people off and cut back over the past decade.
Luckily, my local paper on the southside (Fayettedailynews.com) does a good job actually covering the local teams.
And Rob, the girls rankings should read: 1. Fayette, 2. Mays, 3. Westlake.
By Destiny
January 22, 2009 9:23 PM | Link to this
Kendra Long, a junior, from Mays High School scored 1,000 points in the win over Sandy Creek on Tuesday, which makes them 19-0. How would AJC know on Wednesday know the scores to the game, but not know something of this magnitude! I guess we will have to watch “OPERATION BASKETBALL” on 11 Alive news tomorrow. AJC did a write up about Southwest Dekalb and their 9 game winning streak (no disrespect)…. give me a break!
By edgar
January 23, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this
Destiny, I was at that game. The Sandy Creek girls almost pulled the upset, but they are a very good team as well. This is going to be a heck of a 5-AAAA region tournament. And the Mays v. Fayette girls game at the end of the season could be one for the ages.
Congrats to Kendra. Her 1,000th point did get some coverage in the Fayette Daily News, which covers 5-AAAA hoops.
By cassius miles
January 23, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this
AJC ATL METRO HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HATERS BUT NOW I KNOW WHY BECAUSE ALL OF ITS WRITERS FOR YEARS HACE LIVE OUTSIDE THE METRO AREA.THAT FIGURES .OR ITS A LONG HATER THING THATS DEEP ROOTED PASS THE LESTER MADDOX VEARS .OPEN YOUR EYES ATL THEY DO EXTENSIVE CORVERAGE ON NEGATIVE NEWS ABOUT ATL S SPORT S PLAYERS AMONGST OTHER THINGS.PS CROSS COUNTRY FAN WATCHING YOU GUYS STAY ASLEEP FOR YEARS NOW .WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP.
By 34dookie
January 23, 2009 11:22 PM | Link to this
Edgar: thanks for the correction. I found that out earlier today. thats bad news for the rest of us…she’s a mismatch every nite!!
By dback16
January 24, 2009 12:20 AM | Link to this
Hey edgar, the team didn’t almost pull off an upset, it was one girl. You know who it was! She was not pressured the whole night which allowed others to add what little they could.
By HouseOfBlue
January 24, 2009 7:53 AM | Link to this
Norcross Blue Devils beat Choice Learning Academy from Miami, FL last night 65-45 and are 16-1. Here we come again wheeler.
By Viking Defender
January 24, 2009 4:14 PM | Link to this
Rob Morton’s article this morning (Sat.) on Miller Grove’s outstanding team took 12 paragraphs before getting around to “oh, by the way, Lakeside beat them pretty good last night…” A great example of a reporter not letting reality get in the way of a pre-conceived story line. Also, the name on the front of the school is Lakeside High School. If you need to keep reminding your staff that it is in DeKalb, maybe you don’t need to be sports reporters. Your readers are not confused. The only “other” Lakeside high is over 120 miles away in Evans County where essentially no one reads your paper.
By Tasha
January 26, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this
It’s a shame that we have to hear about Mays High junior Kendra Long scoring 1000 points in the FAYETTE DAILY NEWS PAPER!!!! You mentioned you was at that game, was that not important enough to post the following day with the high school basketball scores? Also Mays beat Douglas County Friday night by 33 with Long scoring 27 points and AJC didn’t even post the score at all.
By newss03
February 4, 2009 9:38 AM | Link to this
I can’t understand how the Newnan Cougars aren’t ranked you guys only know who you know get out off that office get in your car and come see us play we are 18-1 Westlake has been ranked all year when they came to Max Bass we spanked them show us some respect we got ballers Football and Basketball wake up AJC RESPECT US and get off that ATLANTA Hype. WE WANT IN
By big chris
February 10, 2009 10:40 AM | Link to this
south atlanta beat spalding but spaling is state championship material