Class AAA blog: Road gets longer for some of the top playoff teams

We have reached the quarterfinal round of the state basketball playoffs, and for some AAA programs that means travel.

Lots of travel.

Savannah girls teams at Johnson and Beach will face nearly 24 hours and roughly 1,300 miles of combined round-trip travel to try to win semifinal berths. Johnson travels to Sonoraville (320 miles and nearly six hours one way), and Beach heads to Ringgold (348 miles and nearly six hours one way).

Fill 'er up.

Johnson's girls won the 2017-18 AAA championship with a 62-50 victory against Greater Atlanta Christian to capture the first girls basketball title for the Savannah program. Last season, the Atomsmashers defeated Hart County 54-50 for its second title. And now, it appears to be Johnson's tournament to lose.

Sonoraville, the No. 1 seed from Region 6, presents a rematch of last season's semifinal game, which Johnson won 64-62. Johnson is riding momentum from a 92-45 second-round victory against Fannin County. Four players – senior Jaida Burgess, sophomore Amani Hamilton, senior Antalazia Baker and sophomore K'yla Hankserson – average double-figures in scoring for Johnson. Senior Marylashia Westbrook (9 points), junior Tiana Williams (8.3 points) and sophomore Zoriah Mobley (8 points) also factor for the Atomsmashers.

Sonoraville, on a 12-game winning streak, has not lost since Jan. 10 (56-49 vs. Ringgold). The Phoenix defeated Jackson County 61-42 in the first round and Jackson 81-63 in the second round. Maliyah Parks is the only senior on the Sonoraville roster.

The winner of Johnson/Sonoraville game will meet the winner of a matchup -- Greater Atlanta Christian vs. Jefferson. Jefferson's Dragons, who lost in the quarterfinals to Johnson last season, will enjoy a home-court advantage. Jefferson defeated Coahulla Creek 62-55 and Pierce County 64-33 in the first two rounds. GAC had victories against Stone Mountain, 79-31, and Monroe, 50-42. GAC sophomore Kaleigh Addie averages 21 points, five rebounds and three steals per game, and sophomore Jaci Bolden averages 12 points and three rebounds. 

Ringgold, the No. 2 seed from Region 6, will host Beach, the No. 2 seed from Region 2, in its quarterfinal game. Beach has tournament victories against Crisp County, 56-36, and Cedar Grove, 50-43. The team is led by junior guard Kaila Rougier and senior guard Madison Evans. Ringgold advanced with victories against Hart County, 68-53, and Rutland, 64-40.

On the other side of the draw, Morgan County, the No. 2 seed from Region 8, will travel to North Hall, Region 7's No. 1 seed. Morgan County defeated Calhoun 43-40 and Tattnall County 57-51 to advance. North Hall defeated Pace Academy 58-46 and Savannah 55-33 in the first two rounds.

Girls quarterfinals (Feb. 25-26)

R3 #2 Beach at R6 #2 Ringgold

R8 #2 Morgan County at R7 #1 North Hall

R7 #2 Greater Atlanta Christian at R8 #1 Jefferson

R3 #1 Johnson-Savannah at R6 #1 Sonoraville

Boys

No. 1 Pace Academy is three victories away from its third state championship and first since winning the AA title in 2016 and a AAA championship in 2017. Monroe Area, the No. 3 seed from Region 8, stands in its way. Pace advanced to the quarters after victories against North Hall, 80-37, and Beach, 61-32. Monroe Area outlasted North Murray, 49-47, and Westside-Macon, 71-67.

The bottom half of that draw has Central-Macon traveling down I-16 to Windsor Forest. The Knights are led by junior Shamar Norman, who averages 17 points and four assists per game. Sophomore D'ante Bass is scoring 13 points a game with eight rebounds and two assists. Central-Macon is coming off a 55-43 victory against Hart County in the second round.

Long County, the No. 1 seed from Region 2, will host Johnson-Savannah, the No. 3 team from Region 3. Long advanced with victories against Rutland, 61-44, and Franklin County, 66-57. Johnson beat Crisp County 52-44 and Cedar Grove 71-57 in the first two rounds. Johnson last lost to Beach 67-62 in the Region 3 tournament. Long County is riding a 10-game winning streak, last losing to Liberty County 66-55 Jan. 14.

Lower in that draw, Monroe will travel 4-plus hours to Jefferson. The Dragons defeated Adairsville 75-46 and Pierce County 65-57 to advance. Monroe outlasted Benedictine 64-42 and Greater Atlanta Christian 59-52 to get to the quarterfinals. Jefferson lost out in the first round to Westminster, 53-50, last season. Monroe did not reach to the playoffs.

Boys quarterfinals (Feb. 25-26)

R8 #3 Monroe Area at R5 #1 Pace Academy

R3 #3 Johnson-Savannah at R2 #1 Long County

R1 #1 Monroe at R8 #1 Jefferson

R4 #2 Central-Macon at R3 #1 Windsor Forest