Later today the Georgia High School Association Wildcard Selection Committee (yes, that’s a thing!) will meet to set up the playoff pairings, based on region tournament champions and GHSA/MaxPreps Power Ratings.
Schools have until noon today (Wednesday) to appeal their power rating. The committee will review all appeals, make rulings and then move forward with setting up the playoff brackets, which should become official by this afternoon.
Here are the final power ratings with the region tournament champions in bold. Keep in mind that region champions will be seeded first, according to power rating. A few tournament items of note:
-- Public schools ruled, winning 9 (5 boys, 4 girls) of the possible 16 region tournament championships (8 boys, 8 girls). Of note, Treutlen County’s boys, who are 25-1 and ranked No. 8 in the AJC Top 10, beat Calvary Day, 56-54 in the Region 3 final.
-- The school that made the most of their appearance in the region tournament last week was the Commerce girls. The Tigers (16-12) began the season 4-11 and were No. 19 in the power ratings after the regular season ended. However, they ran through three private schools in the Region 8 tournament, en route to winning their first title since 1989 in dramatic fashion. In the first round against host Prince Avenue Christian, Commerce trailed by 15 in the third quarter before rallying for a 52-50 overtime win. In the next round, Commerce gutted out a 49-45 win over Athens Christian. Then in the title game Commerce led favored George Walton Academy 36-33 with just a few second left in regulation after a layup by freshman and Region 8 Player of the Year Mya Jones. But GWA appeared to have tied the game with a three pointer at the buzzer. However, at the behest of Commerce head coach Brad Puckett, who is in his first season at the helm, the referees discussed the shot attempt and ruled that the shooter’s foot was on the three-point line. Consequently, the shot was ruled a two-pointer which gave Commerce a 36-35 win. So after starting the tournament on the outside of the Top 16, Commerce will now host a first round state playoff game next week.
-- The Athens Christian boys, led by UGA signee Will Jackson, and the Taylor County girls are the only teams entering the state playoffs undefeated, both at 27-0. Athens Christian won the Region 8 title and will be the No. 3 seed in the boys private school bracket. Taylor County won the Region 4 crown and sits at the top of the girls public school bracket.
PRIVATE
Boys
Girls
PUBLIC
Boys
Girls
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