Here are the first Georgia High School Association/MaxPreps basketball power ratings for 2014. As is the case with football, the top 16 teams advance to the state tournament. The Atlanta Journal Constitution ranking is in parenthesis:
BOYS PUBLIC
1. Seminole County (9)
2. Portal
3. Wilkinson County (8)
4. Trion
5. Calhoun County (6)
6. Dooly County (10)
6. Turner County
8. Randolph-Clay
9. Treutlen
10. Stewart County
11. Montgomery County
12. Greenville
13. Wheeler County
14. Emanuel County Institute
15. Claxton
16. Georgia Military College
BOYS PRIVATE
1. Whitefield Academy (4)
2. Holy Innocents’
3. Athens Christian (2)
4. North Cobb Christian (3)
5. Mt. Vernon Presbyterian
6. Landmark Christian
7. Calvary Day School
8. Aquinas (1)
9. Mt. Pisgah Christian
10. Greenforest Christian (7)
11. St. Francis (5)
12. King’s Ridge
13. Darlington
14. Fellowship Christian
15. Pace Academy
16. W.D. Mohammed
GIRLS PUBLIC
1. Claxton (7)
2. Randolph-Clay (4)
3. Turner County (8)
4. Clinch County
5. Gordon Lee (9)
5. Mitchell County
7. Portal
8. Central-Talbotton
9. Schley County
10. Wilkinson County
11. Miller County
12. Mt. Zion-Carroll
13. Treutlen
14. Greenville
15. Quitman County
16. Charlton County
GIRLS PRIVATE
1. St. Francis (1)
2. Holy Innocents’ (2)
3. Darlington (6)
4. George Walton Academy (5)
5. Brookstone
6. Eagle’s Landing Christian (10)
7. Mt. Paran Christian
8. Lakeview Academy
9. Atlanta International
9. Paideia
11. Calvary Day School
12. Athens Christian
13. Prince Avenue Christian
14. Fellowship Christian
15. Hebron Christian Academy
16. Savannah Country Day
*Southwest Atlanta Christian, No. 3 in the Atlanta Journal Constitution poll, is not listed with the private school power ratings in an apparent oversight by the Georgia High Schools Association and MaxPreps.
On Tap This Weekend
Here are some of the marquee matchups to watch this weekend.
BOYS
Saturday
No. 3 North Cobb Christian at Fellowship Christian. The Eagles (11-3), No. 4 in the Georgia High School Association/MaxPreps power ratings, are trying to shake their reputation for winning big during the regular season but falling short in the playoffs. Fellowship Christian (10-5), led by senior guard Roger Rickman (15 points, 5 rebounds per game) is looking to break into the conversation of state title contenders. North Cobb Christian is paced by senior guard Stephon Jelks (15 points, 8 rebounds per game) and 6-10 junior center Trey Kalina.
GIRLS
Friday
No. 6 Darlington at No. 3 Southwest Atlanta Christian. This is the first of a three-game gauntlet for SACA. After hosting the Tigers, the first team from Georgia to defeat the Warriors midway through last season, SACA will host No. 9 Gordon Lee, the defending public school champions, on Saturday. Then next Friday, SACA will travel north to Alpharetta to face defending private school champion St. Francis, currently ranked No. 1.
Saturday
Paideia at No. 2 Holy Innocents. The Bears will look to continue their march toward a private school state title when they host and always tough squad from Paideia, which sits at No. 9 in the power ratings. Holy Innocents is undefeated (12-0) and has been impressive thus far, with one if its wins coming at the expense of Wesleyan (74-57), the defending Class AA champs, currently ranked No. 1. The Bears are led by dynamic freshman Khayla Pointer, who leads the team in scoring (14 points per game), assists (5), steals (5).
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