Here’s a look back at some of the top stories from the week in Class AAAAA basketball:
*Breaking a slump: The Lanier boys team had lost six of its previous seven games heading into Friday night's game at ninth-ranked Apalachee, but the Longhorns picked up their most impressive victory of the season, knocking off the Wildcats 67-61. Lanier, which lost to fourth-ranked Gainesville 71-52 in its most recent game, improved to 8-11 for the season. Apalachee's Kamar Baldwin was the high scorer with 25 points. The Wildcats (16-6) are battling with Gainesville, Cedar Shoals and Heritage-Conyers for high seeding in the upcoming Region 8-AAAAA tournament.
*First-time champion: The Grovetown boys team (16-61, 8-1) defeated Lakeside-Evans 77-62 on Friday to clinch the regular-season championship in 2-AAAAA Division A, giving the Warriors their first subregion title in the program's six-year history. Grovetown's Solomon Gause scored 13 points to surpass 1,000 for his career. On the girls' side, No. 7 Cross Creek, No. 10 Greenbrier and Grovetown all won their games on Friday to remain in a three-way tie for first place in the subregion.
*Top 10 upsets: The bottom four teams in the most recent boys top 10 lost at least once during the past week. In addition to Apalachee, No. 7 Southwest DeKalb lost to top-ranked Miller Grove 71-49 on Tuesday, and No. 8 LaGrange lost to Carver-Columbus 62-59 the same night. No. 10 Stockbridge lost twice, to No. 2 McIntosh 83-78 on Tuesday and to Luella 59-50 on Friday. Stockbridge played Union Grove at home on Saturday.
*Retirement party: Warner Robins coach Tom Mobley announced his retirement last week after 30 years leading the program, and the Demons celebrated his tenure with a 50-39 victory Friday against Houston County in front of his friends and former players. Warner Robins is chasing Northside-Warner Robins and Jones County for the top spot in 2-AAAAA Division B. "I kind of put [the retirement news] out there on Facebook and let a few people know, and God has already opened a lot of doors of possibilities," Mobley told the Macon Telegraph.
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