The new year is right around the corner, and with 2020 comes a heavy dose of region play in Class AA basketball. As the coming weeks and months determine playoff seeding, here’s a look at some of the teams to keep an eye on from both the boys’ and girls’ side.
Boys
Therrell Panthers
2018-19 finish: 26-8, defeated Vidalia 51-49 in the AA title game
2019-20 update: The defending state champions are 11-3, 7-0 in Region 6 and maintain their No. 1 ranking from last season. Their three losses thus far are to ranked teams: AAAAAAA's No. 8 East Coweta, and Alabama's Fairfield (No. 3 in AAAAA) and AAAAAAA's No. 7 Huntsville. They've beaten AAAAA's No. 9 Southwest DeKalb, North Carolina's Durham Academy (No. 9 overall according to MaxPreps) and A-Private's No. 4 Trinity Christian. Their next game is against AAAA's No. 4 Sandy Creek on Saturday, in the EYA Showcase at Clayton State. They are led by guards Ra'Sean Frederick, Roman Son and Cameron Fortson, all of whom are seniors, and junior guard Robbie Armbrester.
Banks County Leopards
2018-19 finish: 19-10, lost 86-83 to Callaway in the first round of the AA playoffs.
2019-20 update: The Leopards are ranked No. 2 and own a 9-1 record, 3-0 in Region 8. They've yet to play a ranked team and their only loss was by 18 to a Lumpkin County team they beat earlier in the season by 19. They are led by juniors Pierce Martin and Dakota Orr, and seniors Carl Cleveland and Sawyer Pace. They'll be in Panama City for the Marlin Christmas Classic, where they'll begin on Friday with Seminole County.
Swainsboro Tigers
2018-19 finish: 14-12, missed the AA playoffs.
2019-20 update: The Tigers, who are two years removed from an AA title game appearance, are 9-1, 4-1 in Region 2 and own the No. 3 ranking. Their only loss was 71-68 to No. 4 Jeff Davis on Dec. 13, which they rebounded from to beat No. 9 Vidalia 53-30 the next day. They also beat No. 8 Woodville-Tompkins 73-55. The Tigers are led by twin brothers Fredrick Seabrough and Cedric Seabrough, who are 6-foot-4 juniors and three-star recruits as tight ends in football, both with a D-I offer. Senior AJ Kingsbury, junior Tyler Kelley and senior Immanuel Hackett, who transferred in from Metter, also lead the way.
Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets
2018-19 finish: 16-10, missed the AA playoffs.
2019-20 update: The Yellow Jackets are off to a 7-4 start, 3-1 in Region 2 and ranked No. 4. They beat No. 3 Swainsboro 71-68 but lost the next day, 70-68 to unranked Truetlen. That was their second loss after No. 9 Vidalia beat them 51-47. They're currently on a two-game skid with losses to unranked Pierce County and Long County in the Gator Christmas Classic at Ware County. They'll look to get back on track Monday at home against unranked Coffee. The Jackets are led by senior wing Jaqueze Kirby, junior wing Ti King and sophomore guard CJ Parker.
Spencer Green Wave Owls
2018-19 finish: 23-5, lost 81-71 to South Atlanta in the second round of the AA playoffs.
2019-20 update: The Green Wave Owls are 9-2, 2-0 in Region 5 and ranked No. 5. They opened on a five-game win streak but have yet to play a ranked opponent. They dropped two in a row to Central (Phoenix City, Ala.) and Heritage, but have since won another four straight. Up next is Harris County on Saturday in the Muscogee County Showcase at Columbus. They are led by team captains Malachi Morris, a senior, and juniors Jaquez Holt and Jaylin Sellers.
Girls
Douglass Lady Astros
2018-19 finish: 27-6, defeated Early County 57-51 in the AA title game.
2019-20 update: The defending champion Lady Astros are 8-4, 7-0 in Region 6 and ranked No. 8. They started 0-2 with losses to AAAAAAA's No. 5 McEachern and AAAAA's unranked Columbia and later lost to AAAAA's No. 7 Southwest DeKalb and AAAAAAA's Colquitt County. Wins include AAAAA's No. 10 Griffin and all of Region 6, where they're still the team to beat. They're led by two senior team captains in guard Ashley McKee and post Ikenya King. Up next is Woodland on Monday in the Peach State Christmas Tournament and then they'll take a long break, resuming with region play on Jan. 10.
Early County Lady Bobcats
2018-19 finish: 27-5, lost 57-51 to Douglass in the AA title game.
2019-20 update: The Lady Bobcats are 7-2, ranked No. 1 and have yet to play a Region 1 contest. Junior Makayla Timpson, whom I profiled last season, is off to another dominating start as one of the country's top prospects, averaging 23.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.6 blocks and 3.6 steals. Senior Ta'Ziaya is scoring 11.5 points and sophomore Jordan Eafford is averaging 11.6 points. Their losses came to AAAAAA's Valdosta and AAAAAAA's Colquitt County. Their signature win thus far is 64-43 over A-Public's No. 5 Calhoun County. Up next is the Colquitt County Christmas Shootout on Friday.
Laney Lady Wildcats
2018-19 finish: 28-3, lost 66-60 to Douglass in the AA semifinals.
2019-20 update: Laney is 9-1, 6-0 in Region 4 and ranked No. 2. Senior Rocquana Drayton leads the team in scoring with 12.9 points, adding 6.8 rebounds, 3.6 steals and 2.5 assists. Senior Whitney Anderson averages 12 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals. Senior Nekiyah Booker leads the team with 4.4 assists and 4.8 steals to go with 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds, and junior Alteona Collier leads the team with eight rebounds to go with 8.3 points and 2.6 steals.
Rabun County Lady Wildcats
2018-19 finish: 28-2, lost 73-60 to Early County in the AA quarterfinals.
2019-20 update: The Lady Wildcats are 11-0, 3-0 in Region 8 and ranked No. 3. Though they've yet to play a ranked team, they've beaten all but three opponents by double digits, and they're coming off a 51-47 home win over Franklin (N.C.), whom they'll play again on Saturday at Franklin in a rematch. Sophomore Gracie Deetz led the team with 16 points in in a 73-63 win over Stephens County on Dec. 10. Their last non-region game is Dec. 30 at Smoky Mountain (N.C.).
Southwest-Macon Lady Patriots
2018-19 finish: 18-8, lost 59-50 to Woodville-Tompkins in the first round of the AA playoffs.
2019-20 update: The Lady Patriots are 11-1, 3-0 in Region 3 and ranked No. 4. They opened on a 10-game win streak before falling 63-46 to AAAA's unranked Baldwin — a team they beat 69-59 earlier in the season. Their 64-21 win over Taylor County in the Legend Classic at Northeast on Dec. 21 was their final game of the calendar year. They'll resume with region play on Jan. 3, beginning with No. 7 Washington County. Senior Ja'Khyla Johnson leads the team in scoring with 15.5 points, adding 5.5 boards, 4.3 assists and a whopping 6.2 steals. Senior Avrie Grayer has 11.6 points, a team-high 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.
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