The basketball state quarterfinals are Tuesday and Wednesday. Here’s a look at all eight games.
Boys
R8 #3 Newton at R5 #1 Milton: No. 3 Milton (24-4) is one win from its first semifinal since 2014. The Eagles have won nine straight games and lost to only one Georgia opponent, No. 1 Grayson, 81-80 in November. Milton's best player is point guard Bruce Thornton, the Region 5 player of the year and son of a former Georgia football star. He's a top-50 national recruit among sophomores. Newton (21-9) is the only team that's beaten Grayson, but Grayson has avenged that defeat decisively twice. Newton, ranked No. 9 despite its third-place finish in Region 8, is trying to reach the semifinals for the third time in five seasons. Newton's best player is point guard Caleb Byrd, who is committed to Georgia Southern.
R7 #1 Berkmar at R2 #1 Wheeler: No. 8 Berkmar (18-9) has won nine straight and upset No. 4 Norcross (then No. 2) in the Region 7 tournament final. Berkmar is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2014. Berkmar's last semifinal occurred during the 2001 Class AAAAA championship season under coach David Boyd. Berkmar's best player is 6-8 power forward Jalen Deloach, a three-star recruit and senior.
Wheeler (21-7) beat No. 2 Shiloh 65-64 in overtime in what was probably the best game of the second round. This is Wheeler’s third quarterfinal since its 2015 Class AAAAAA championship. Wheeler’s best player is Region 2 player of the year Sam Hines, a 6-6 forward committed to the University of Denver.
R7 #2 Norcross at R8 #1 Grayson: Grayson (28-1) and Norcross (26-3) spent much of the season ranked 1-2, but Norcross dropped to No. 4 after losing to Berkmar in the region tournament final. That is Norcross' only in-state loss. Norcross has lost to the eventual state champion each of the past four seasons (2016 Westlake, 2017 Tift County, 2018 Meadowcreek, 2019 McEachern). Norcross' best player is Region 7 player of the year J.T. Thor, a 6-8 power forward rated the consensus No. 51 senior nationally. He's uncommitted. Grayson is ranked No. 1 in state and No. 2 nationally by MaxPreps. Grayson's best player is point guard Deivon Smith, a Mississippi State signee. Caleb Murphy, a 6-2 guard, has signed with South Florida.
R3 #1 McEachern at R6 #1 North Gwinnett: McEachern (21-5) is the defending champion and ranked No. 5. Its best player is reigning state player-of-the-year Sharife Cooper, an Auburn signee and point guard. North Gwinnett (18-11) is the only unranked team still playing in AAAAAAA. The Bulldogs beat 10th-ranked Archer 64-59 in overtime in the first round. North Gwinnett is 0-6 all-time in the quarterfinals. North Gwinnett's best player is Jared Ivey, a 6-6 forward better known as a four-star football recruit and all-state defensive end.
Girls
R5 #1 North Forsyth at R4 #1 Cherokee: North Forsyth is ranked No. 3, Cherokee No. 4, although North Forsyth won their regular-season meeting 68-60 on Nov. 26. The rematch is at Cherokee, however, as the Warriors won the coin flip that decides such things when region champions meet in the quarters. Both lost in the semifinals last season. Cherokee's best players are 5-7 senior Ashlyn Andrus (scored 30 points in the second round) and 6-1 senior Sydne Watts (committed to Navy). North's best player is 5-9 guard Caroline Martin, a North Georgia signee and the Region 5 player of the year.
R7 #1 Norcross at R2 #1 Westlake: Norcross (20-9) is unranked despite its Region 7 championship and making the quarterfinals or better the past four seasons. Westlake (27-2) is the two-time defending champion and nationally ranked. Norcross' best players is 6-1 senior forward Yamani Paul, who has signed with Kennesaw State. Westlke's best is junior point guard Raven Johnson, a five-star recruit.
R7 #2 Brookwood at R2 #2 Campbell: Brookwood (17-12) is the only unranked girls team in the quarters. This also is Brookwood's first quarterfinal in girls basketball. The school opened in 1981. Campbell (22-7) is ranked No. 6. Three of Campbell's seven losses are to No. 1 Westlake. Campbell is eyeing its first semifinal since 2011. Brookwood's best players is senior Selma Kulo. Freshman Diana Collins was first-team all-region. Campbell's best is Jameah Alston, a 5-8 guard/forward.
R3 #1 McEachern at R6 #1 Collins Hill: McEachern (19-9) is ranked No. 5. The Indians have won five state titles since 2012, the most recent in2017. McEachern's best player is junior Denim DeShields, sister of WNBA star Diamond DeShields, who led Norcross to three state titles awhile back. Collins Hill (29-0), the 2019 runner-up to Westlake, has beaten each of its opponents by 17 points or more. Collins Hill's best player is Sacha Washington, a 6-1 forward committed to Purdue.
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