Before we get to the top basketball games of this weekend, we pay homage to one of the state’s best football coaches.
Irwin County head coach Buddy Nobles passed away on Wednesday. He had been diagnosed with Stage-4 stomach cancer this summer. I had the pleasure of being one of the last reporters to cover Nobles when he led his team to the Class A public state title back in December with an emphatic 56-14 win over Marion County. It was the fifth time in six seasons Nobles had the Indians in the finals, but the first time since 1975 that they won the championship. He was 67-13 in those six seasons at the helm.
A native of Florida, Nobles came to love “The O,” Ocilla, where Irwin County high school is located and where his wife Tammy teaches algebra. The school and community of nearly 4,000 loved him back, as illustrated by the fact that students built for him a raised platform where he could sit comfortably near the sideline and continue to help coach as the team even as the disease continued to take its toll.
And Nobles loved his coaches and players, always lauding praise upon them, complementing them on how hard they worked. Even in previous years when the Indians came up a bit short. When I spoke to Nobles right after the championship win, he said of this undefeated team (13-0): “This is a team of destiny. If there is a better Class A team in the history of Georgia high school football, I want to see them.”
It was a pleasure getting to know Nobles, one of the best coaches and men in Georgia high school football. My thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and everyone in The O. Coach Nobles will be missed.
Top games of the weekend
BOYS
(Friday) No. 1 (Private) St. Francis vs. No. 3 (Private) Mount Pisgah
The Knights, who are also at the top of the Class A private power ratings, won the first meeting this season in a romp, 64-49. The Patriots jumped out to a 19-9 lead after the first quarter but St. Francis (18-3, 12-0 in Region 6) clamped down and led 27-25 at the half, then put the game away with a 20-10 third quarter. Since then Mt. Pisgah (17-4, 10-3 in Region 6)as won five of six, a stint that includes a 59-56 loss to No. 10 Pinecrest last week, and a 69-48 win over No. 4 Walker on Tuesday. St. Francis’ only losses this season are to Class AAAAAAA No. 6 Wheeler, and the No. 1 teams from South Carolina (Dorman) and New York (Long Island Lutheran).
(Friday) No. 4 (Public) Calhoun County vs. Georgia Military College
This is a key non-region contest late in the regular season. Though unranked, GMC (12-4, 8-3 in Region 7) appears to be a solid lock for the public playoffs, sitting at No. 19 in the power ratings. Before a stunning 69-67 upset loss at Greene County last week – the Tigers No. 34 in the public school power ratings – GMC’s only defeats had come at the hands of No. 8 Hancock Central, No. 9 Warren County and Class AAA Groves. Calhoun County (16-2, 12-1 in Region 2), last season’s undefeated (32-0) state champions, is a serious contender to repeat. The Cougars’ only loses were close ones to No. 3 Terrell County (67-61, December 7) and to No. 2 Wilcox County (66-63, December 13).
(Saturday) No. 7 (Private) Wesleyan at No. 6 (Public) Drew Charter
Drew (13-7, 4-0 in Region 5 South) won Round 1 of this public vs. private battle, 62-55, back on December 10. That was the last time Wesleyan (13-5, 6-0 in Region 5 North) lost to a team from Class A. The Eagles’ have only been defeated by one Class A team all season – solid but unranked Galloway (55-49 on December 17), which pushed Wesleyan to the brink on Tuesday before the Wolves finally prevailed, 39-37.
(Saturday) No. 5 (Public) Wilkinson County at Class AA No. 10 Dublin
The Warriors can pick up some valuable power rating points with a win over a top 10 team in Class AA. Dublin (19-2) won the early season match up, 56-55, on December 23. Since then Wilkinson County (15-7, 8-0 in Region 7) has gone 9-2, with the only losses coming at the hands of No. 1 Treutlen (84-73, December 27) and Class AA No. 2 Swainsboro (74-59, January 18).
GIRLS
(Friday) No. 1 (Private) St. Francis vs. No. 5 (Private) Mount Paran
St. Francis (17-3, 8-0 in Region 6) won the first matchup between the top two teams in Region 6, 67-54 on December 14. The Knights have not lost to a team from Georgia this season, and are led by senior wing Savannah Samuels, an Oregon State commit, senior forward Amirah Abdur-Rahim, a Notre Dame commit, and junior guard Mia Moore. Mount Paran (17-2, 9-1) has lost to only Class AAAAAA Stephenson (61-58, November 23) and the Knights.
(Friday) No. 1 (Public) Central-Talbotton at No. 8 (Public) Macon County
Central-Talbotton’s (18-1, 11-1 in Region 4) lone loss this season was to No. 6 Greenville, 72-65 on December 14, but the Hawks avenged that defeat in a major way on January 4, with a 60-34 win over the Patriots. Central-Talbotton is led by senior Shakemia Marshall (14 points, 10 rebounds per game), junior Bernyla Sparks (23 points, 12 rebounds) and sophomore Renijua Johnson (10 points, 5 rebounds). Macon County is led by a senior guard Seniya Williams (13 points), junior guard Titeuna Raines (16 points) and freshman guard Deziya McClendon (12 points).
