We’re down to the quarterfinals, with two rounds being played between Tuesday and Saturday. This time next week, we’ll know the finalists.
As for my predictions, they’re hanging by a thread and both of my championship picks are still alive. Below is a look at the brackets and a preview of the quarters.
(For my predictions made before the tournament started, go here.)
Boys
(For the updated official GHSA bracket, go here.)
So, yeah. I completely whiffed on the right side of my bracket. Of the four possible teams that could have emerged from that side, I picked exactly zero. Defending champs Therrell is still alive, eliminating a Laney team I picked to reach the finals. Chattooga knocked off Thomasville, the champions from two seasons ago. Washington County beat a Model team I didn’t have getting out of the second round. No. 9 Banks County edged Butler.
I managed to correctly pick three of the four teams on the left side, missing out on Spencer beating Dublin.
Quarters previews
Spencer Green Wave Owls (23-3) at Glenn Hills Spartans (22-7)
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Rankings, seeds: Spencer is unranked and the No. 1 seed from Region 5; Glenn Hills is No. 2 and the No. 1 seed from Region 4.
Krohn's pick: Glenn Hills
Notes: The Green Wave Owls are in the quarters for the second time in three seasons and seeking their first trip to the semis since 2006. In their 60-57 win against Dublin last week, they were led Jaylin Sellers' game-high 25 points, according to WTVM. The Spartans are also in the quarters for the second time in the last the years and reached the semis in 2018. Emmanuel Jones (24 points) and John Whitehead III (20) led the Spartans in their 74-62 win over Douglass in Round 2.
Rockmart Yellow Jackets (18-10) at Swainsboro Tigers (27-2)
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Rankings, seeds: Rockmart is unranked and the No. 1 seed from Region 7; Swainsboro is No. 1 and the No. 1 seed from Region 2.
Krohn's pick: Swainsboro
Notes: The Jackets are in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1969, which is also the last time they reached the semis. In their 55-50 win over Northeast, they were led by Jakari Clark's 13 points, according to Jeremy Stewart of the Rome News-Tribune. The Tigers return to the quarters for the first time since 2017, when they went on a storybook run to the state title game. In Round 2 they knocked off the team that beat them in the '17 championship, South Atlanta, by the score of 74-56.
Chattooga Indians (23-6) at Banks County Leopards (25-4)
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Rankings, seeds: Chattooga is unranked and the No. 2 seed from Region 7; Banks County is No. 9 and the No. 1 seed from Region 8.
Krohn's pick: Banks County
Notes: The Indians knocked off No. 10 Thomasville 66-60 in Round 2 — led by Jatorrian Williams' 17 points, according to the Thomasville Times-Enterprise — to advance to the quarters for the first time since 2017. They've never made it to the semis, but neither have the Leopards, who are in the quarters for the first time since 1995.
Washington County Golden Hawks (20-6) at Therrell Panthers (23-7)
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Rankings, seeds: Washington County is No. 6 and the No. 1 seed from Region 3; Therrell is No. 3 and the No. 1 seed from Region 6.
Krohn's pick: Therrell
Notes: The Golden Hawks are in the quarters for the first time since 2017 and seeking a trip to the semis for the first time since 2014. Kejuan Bloodshaw (22 points) and Jarden Maze (21) led the Golden Hawks. The Panthers are in a title-defense quest and have gotten this far without their best player, Robbie Armbrester, who has been nursing a wrist injury. He's is still awaiting medical clearance and it's unclear if he'll receive it in time for Tuesday's game. The Panthers beat Laney 65-56 in the second round, with Roman Son's 16 points leading the way.
Girls
(For the updated official GHSA bracket, go here.)
I did a better job predicting the girls’ bracket, correctly picking all but two teams — Douglass and Union County. No. 3 Douglass, the defending state champs, beat No. 7 Josey 53-43 to advance and Union County breezed past Butler in a battle of unranked teams, 61-37.
Quarters previews
Southwest Lady Patriots (23-3) at Laney Lady Wildcats (27-2)
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Rankings, seeds: Southwest is No. 5 and the No. 2 seed from Region 3; Laney is No. 1 and the No. 1 seed from Region 4.
Krohn's pick: Laney
Notes: The Lady Wildcats are my pick to win it all for the fourth time in six years. They're in the quarters for a eye-opening 14th consecutive season and looking to reach the semis for the fourth year in a row and 11th time since 2007. They beat No. 8 Putnam County 61-53 last week, with Rocquana Drayton (20 points) leading the way. The Lady Patriots are in the quarters for the first time since 2013 — the last time they reached the semis. In Round 2 they beat Bremen 62-36 behind Avrie Grayer's 19 points.
Rockmart Lady Jackets (22-6) at Vidalia Lady Indians (24-4)
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Rankings, seeds: Rockmart is unranked and the No. 1 seed from Region 7; Vidalia is No. 4 and the No. 1 seed from Region 2.
Krohn's pick: Rockmart
Notes: The Lady Jackets are in the quarters for the second year in a row but before that they hadn't advanced this far since 1961. They've never reached a semifinal. They're led by one of the best players in the state, Keyarah Berry, who scored 41 points in their 64-58 Round 2 win over East Laurens. The Lady Indians are in the quarters for the first time since 2015, hoping to reach the semis for the first time since 2010, the year they advanced to their only title game. Last week they beat Banks County 55-36, led by Jashiyah Jones (21 points), according to Southeast Georgia Today.
Early County Lady Bobcats (25-4) at Union County Lady Panthers (23-6)
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Rankings, seeds: Early County is No. 2 and the No. 1 seed from Region 1; Union County is unranked and the No. 1 seed from Region 8.
Krohn's pick: Early County
Notes: The Lady Bobcats are looking to advance to the semis for a second year in a row. Last week they beat Chattooga 64-45, led by Ashontay Henderson's 17 points. The Lady Panthers are in the quarters for the first time since 2001, when they advanced to the title game. They beat Butler 61-37 last week, led by Ava Hunter's 20 points, according to AccessWDUN.
Washington County Lady Golden Hawks (23-4) at Douglass Lady Astros (23-5)
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday
Rankings, seeds: The Lady Golden Hawks are No. 3 and the No. 1 seed from Region 3; Douglass is No. 3 and the No. 1 seed from Region 6.
Krohn's pick: Washington County
Notes: The Lady Golden Hawks are in the quarters for the first time since 2014 and looking to advance to the semis for the first time since 2012, when they reached the championship but were unsuccessful in defending their 2011 title. They beat Lamar County 59-42 in Round 2, led by Miracle Parker's 23 points. The Lady Astros are the defending state champions and have played a ranked opponent every round. Last week they beat No. 7 Josey 53-43.
Some historical information was gathered from Georgia High School Basketball Project.
Follow the AJC’s Class AA coverage on Twitter.
About the Author
