Boys
St. Francis (9-5) is not close to the 29-3, state title winning juggernaut it was last season. The Knights are breaking in four new starters to play alongside newly minted McDonald’s All American Kobi Simmons, who is averaging 26 points per game. St. Francis survived a test from rival King’s Ridge, 72-71, last week as Simmons led the way with 33 points.
Look out for Our Lady of Mercy (9-3). The Bobcats downed W.D. Mohammed (63-53) and Mt. Vernon Presbyterian (58-49) last week. Their losses have come at the hands of top-ranked Greenforest Christian, Southwest Atlanta Christian – another team ranked in the top five – and Class AAAAA Flowery Branch in overtime.
Treutlen is on a mission. After advancing to the public school Final Four last season, the Vikings (11-1) look ready to take the next step in bringing a title to Soperton. Last week, led by senior guard Titus Benjamin and Elijah Johnson, Treutlen steamrolled Toombs County (102-59), Wheeler County (88-61) and Jenkins County (96-80).
Girls
How good is St. Francis? The defending private school state champs (15-1) remained undefeated in Georgia last week with an 87-26 win over Fellowship Christian. But what is more telling is the fact that newly-named McDonald’s All-American Yasmeen Ratliff does not lead the team in any statistical category. Guard Maya Dodson leads the Knights in scoring (13 points per game) and blocks (three per game), center Kasiyahna Kushkituah leads in rebounding (eight per game) and guard Nichel Tampa leads in assists (five) and steals (four). All three are juniors.
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