The second round of the state playoffs will be played Wednesday and Thursday. Here’s a look at each of the 16 boys and girls games in Class AAAAAAA.
Boys:
Westlake at Newton: In a rebuilding year, Westlake (10-19) woke up the echoes and upset No. 7-ranked Cherokee 61-55 last week. Newton (20-9) also won on the road, beating Collins Hill, but Newton is ranked No. 9, so it wasn't so big a surprise. Both teams play in deep regions against murderous schedules. They've also met in the state playoffs a few times, with Newton winning in three overtimes in 2017 and Westlake winning in the semifinals in 2016 on the way to a state title.
North Cobb at Milton: No. 3 Milton (24-4) is well-positioned to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2014. The Eagles have won eight straight games and lost to only one Georgia opponent, No. 1 Grayson, 81-80 in November. North Cobb (15-12) beat Tift County in the first round and is a decided underdog here.
Shiloh at Wheeler: Shiloh (24-3) is ranked No. 2 with losses only to No. 1 Grayson (three times). That meant getting a No. 2 seed and a trip to sixth-ranked Wheeler (20-7), the Region 2 champion. This is probably the best second-round game in any classification.
Kennesaw Mountain at Berkmar: No. 8 Berkmar (17-9) has won eight straight and upset No. 4 Norcross (then No. 2) in the Region 7 tournament final. The Patriots are heavily favored against Kennesaw Mountain (10-16), which won its first state-playoff game since 2005 last week at Colquitt County.
Pebblebrook at Grayson: Grayson (27-1) is ranked No. 2 nationally by MaxPreps. Its coach, Geoffrey Pierce, was just named a finalist for the Naismith national high school basketball coach of the year award. But round two won't be easy. The Rams have played Pebblebrook (16-13) and won 78-71 in December. Pebblebrook, a product of one of the state's toughest schedules, has reached the quarterfinals or better six straight seasons, but that streak is on the line.
Hillgrove at Norcross: Norcross (25-3) – a semifinalist last season and runner-up the previous two - is ranked No. 4 and hadn't lost to a Georgia opponent until falling to Berkmar in the Region 7 championship game. Hillgrove (11-16) has made the state playoffs each season since 2008, but this is not one of its stronger entries.
East Coweta at North Gwinnett: East Coweta (19-9) won a state-playoff game for the first time since 1964 last week. Region 6 champion North Gwinnett (17-11) beat 10th-ranked Archer 64-59 in overtime last week. Neither is ranked, but both are capable.
South Forsyth at McEachern: Led by reigning state player-of-the-year Sharife Cooper (Auburn signee), Region 3 champion McEachern (20-5) is the defending champion and ranked No. 5. South Forsyth (18-11) won its first state-playoff game since 2008 last week, beating Parkview.
Girls:
Grayson at Cherokee: Cherokee, the Region 4 champion, is 26-2 and ranked No. 3. The Warriors made the semifinals last season, their best finish since 1987. But they struggled with Grayson in January at the Krossover Classic, winning only 52-49, so this could be a good one. Grayson (19-9) has reached the second round for the third straight season but never gone further.
North Cobb at North Forsyth: North Forsyth, the Region 5 champion, is ranked No. 4. The Raiders are 25-2 with losses to West Forsyth (avenged) and Buford. North Cobb (20-8) is in the second round for the first time since 2014. These two have one interesting common opponent – No. 3 Cherokee. North Forsyth won 68-60 while North Cobb lost 51-43 in overtime.
Archer at Westlake: Westlake (26-2) is the two-time defending AAAAAAA champion with losses only to out-of-state opponents. MaxPreps ranks the Lions No. 21 nationally. No Georgia AAAAAAA team has come within 25 points of them. Archer (17-10) just missed winning Region 8, losing in overtime to Rockdale County, then edged Duluth 39-38 in the first round.
North Paulding at Norcross: North Paulding's girls (18-9) are in the state tournament for the first time and advanced with a 55-54 win over Camden County. The school opened in 2007. Their best this season win came against No. 5 McEachern. Norcross (19-9) is unranked despite its Region 7 championship and making the quarterfinals or better the past three seasons.
Campbell at Rockdale County: Both of these teams made the quarterfinals last season. Campbell (21-7) is ranked No. 6 and beat No. 8 Woodstock in the first round this year Three of Campbell's seven losses are to No. 1 Westlake. Rockdale (22-7) won its region tournament in overtime against Archer, then beat Mill Creek 35-14 in a defensive battle. It's notable that Rockdale lost to Pebblebrook 55-40 while Pebblebrook is 1-2 vs. Campbell, all close games.
Brookwood at Tift County: Tift County (21-6) has a fair shot to become the first Region 1 team to reach the semifinals since Lowndes in 2014. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 7. (Campbell at No. 6 is the highest-ranked team remaining in this quarter of the draw.) Brookwood (16-12) is trying to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in history.
Pebblebrook at Collins Hill: The 2019 state runner-up, Collins Hill (28-0) has beaten each of its opponents by 17 points or more, but none of its Georgia victims is ranked in the highest class. Pebblebrook (22-8) comes in at No. 9. No. 1 Westlake has beaten Pebblebrook by 20-plus points twice, so this might be a measure for Collins Hill.
Parkview at McEachern: These two played in November, and McEachern won 42-38 on Parkview's home floor. McEachern (18-9) is the Region 3 champion and ranked No. 5. Parkview (17-11) wound up with a third seed but finished tied for first in the Region 7 regular season.
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