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Sunday, March 8, 2009
Basketball final fours: Who do you have?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re down to the Final Four in the state basketball tournament. That’s 40 teams in 10 boys and girls classifications starting Wednesday at the Gwinnett Arena and Macon Centreplex.
My pre-tournament picks were correct for 24 of the 40 teams. Granted, a blind chimp could’ve picked several of these, such as South Atlanta’s boys and Wesleyan’s girls. But nine of the 10 teams I picked to win it all are still alive, all but Wilkinson County’s boys in A.
Here’s how my predictions went, with a few comments on each:
BOYS
AAAAA (2) - Wheeler, Westlake (correct). Newnan, Milton (missed). It’s Milton’s first semifinal since 1958, Newnan’s first since 1955. Newnan joins 2006-07 Tift County as the only schools to make the boys basketball and football semis in the same academic year since Class AAAAA was created in 2000-01. Milton coach David Boyd will be in his seventh Final Four with his fourth team. I agree w/ Boyd’s assessment prior to the tournament, “Wheeler is far and away the favorite.’’ That’s even without starting guard Tahj Tate, who apparently left the team for personal reasons last week. But Westlake is no joke. Could be a trap for Wheeler after the emotional win over Norcross.
AAAA (3) - Miller Grove, Richmond Academy, Bainbridge (correct), Tucker (missed). I sensed Tucker was the best team in that quarter but wimped out and picked Marist because Marist had the better draw, not having to play No. 2 Hillgrove on the road as Tucker did. Tucker’s Manny Atkins is fun to watch. Miller Grove is still the team to beat, of course. Is MG the best team in the state?
AAA (2) - South Atlanta, Columbia (correct), Gainesville, Westover (missed). It’s going to be hard for the South Atlanta-Columbia winner Friday night in Macon to be in peak form one night later, but most are saying that semifinal is really the championship, although I’ve heard there is some basketball tradition in Gainesville and Albany, as well. Is SA the best team in the state?
AA (2) - GAC, Dublin (correct), Henry County, Blessed Trinity (missed). Another case of the favorites - Dublin and GAC - playing in the semifinals. GAC coach Eddie Martin has won 18 straight state playoff games, the first 15 at Norcross.
A (2) - Turner County, Whitefield (correct), Wilcox County, Athens Christian (missed). Isn’t Whitefield’s Brandon Reed better than Arkansas State? He’s one of the best scorers I’ve seen lately. He’s got all the shots. Looks like Whitefield vs. Turner for the title.
GIRLS
AAAAA (2) - Redan, Parkview (correct), Beach, Marietta (missed). The Redan-Parkview semifinal is probably the championship. Redan is undefeated. The only high-class team of the last 10 years to go unbeaten is Maya Moore’s last Collins Hill state champ in 2007.
AAAA (2) - Jonesboro, Fayette County (correct), Bainbridge, SWD (missed). Bainbridge’s boys and girls are in the semis. Fayette County is also trying to go undefeated with a slick guard named Tessah Holt.
AAA (3) - Rutland, Baldwin, Lakeview (correct), Carrollton (missed). Baldwin has won six state titles, the rest none. Lakeview and Rutland are playing in their first semifinals.
AA (3) - Model, Buford, Laney (correct), Greene County (missed). Buford (and Wesleyan below) can become the first schools since Parkview in 2002-03 to win a football and basketball state title in the same academic year. That’s probably more significant if it’s football & boys basketball, but I’m just saying.
A (3) - Wesleyan, Savannah Day, Randolph-Clay (correct), SW Atlanta Christian (missed). If SACA can reach the final vs. Wesleyan, you’d have SACA’s Mariah Chandler (Baylor signee) against Wesleyan’s Anne Marie Armstrong (UGA).
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