The four boys quarterfinal games this week were decided by combined total of just 11 points as Woodward Academy (58-56 over Sandy Creek), Denmark (71-68 over Upson Lee), St. Pius (73-70 2OT over Americus-Sumter) and Cross Creek (58-55 over LaFayette) each scored dramatic victories to set the semifinal stage. Woodward Academy’s 7-foot North Carolina signee Walker Kessler is one of the country’s top prospects and posted 33 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in Wednesday’s win over Sandy Creek. Second-year program Denmark has reached the quarterfinals in each of its two seasons and its win over Upson-Lee results in the program’s first-ever semifinal berth. Across the bracket, St. Pius served Americus-Sumter its only loss of the season in Tuesday’s double-overtime thriller. The Golden Lions will take on a talented Cross Creek team that opened the playoffs with a 58-51 win over defending state champion Carver-Columbus before scoring a 34-32 win over Marist and overcoming a 31-15 deficit on the road to defeat top seed LaFayette this past Tuesday—resulting in the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance.
Defending girls state champion Carver-Columbus will take on 26-1 Troup in Friday’s opener in what will be a Tiger vs. Tiger semifinal. Carver jumped out to a 23-16 lead at the end of the first quarter and took a 40-31 lead into the half of its 70-63 win over Woodward Academy in the quarterfinals. McDonald’s All-American Olivia Cochran picked up her second technical foul of the game with 2:41 to play. By rule, Cochran will have to sit out the semifinal game. Troup’s Aniya Palmer is averaging 10 ppg and eight rebounds per game this postseason and Amber Gilbert is scoring 13 points per game to go with her 11 rebounds per game average. Luella enters the semifinals after three dominant rounds of victories. The Lions opened the playoffs with a 72-18 win over Upson-Lee, defeated Gilmer 56-31 and then topped Sandy Creek 66-48 on Tuesday. Americus-Sumter is 27-2 with its only two losses coming to Carver-Columbus. Those losses resulted in a No. 2 seed and the Panthers had to battle past Marist 33-32 on the road in the Sweet Sixteen to keep their season alive.
SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 28
At Fort Valley State
GIRLS: R5#2 Troup vs. R1#1 Carver-Columbus (2 p.m.)
BOYS: R4#4 Woodward Academy vs. R7#1 Denmark (4 p.m.)
GIRLS: R1#2 Americus-Sumter vs. R4#1 Luella (6 p.m.)
BOYS: R8#1 St. Pius vs. R3#1 Cross Creek (8 p.m.)
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