All eight No. 1 teams remained the same in this week’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution high school girls basketball rankings, including Class AAAAAA Lovejoy, which again retained the top spot despite losing a game during the week.
Lovejoy (21-4) remained No. 1 last week after losing two of three games against highly regarded out-of-state opponents. The Wildcats extended the slump to three losses in four games when they opened the past week with a 46-43 loss to third-ranked Forest Park (20-5), which earned a split of their two-regular season meetings. Lovejoy played the game without guard Genesis Bryant, who shared Region 4 player of the year honors with Forest Park’s Sania Feagin.
The teams are expected to meet again this week in the region tournament final, and the winner will have a strong case for the No. 1 ranking heading into the state tournament, although No. 2 Valdosta (23-2) also remains in the mix for top billing.
Class AAAAA Kell (25-0) was one of four teams in the state to finish the regular season undefeated but is the only one ranked No. 1. The other undefeated teams are Collins Hill (25-0, Class AAAAAAA No. 2), Troup (22-0, AAAA No. 4) and Hebron Christian (25-0, A Private No. 2).
The other No. 1 teams heading into the region tournaments are Westlake (AAAAAAA), Carver-Columbus (AAAA), Johnson-Savannah (AAA), Laney (AA), St. Francis (A Private) and Central-Talbotton (A-Public).
The most intriguing newcomer to the rankings this week is defending state champion Lanier, which replaced Stephenson in the Class AAAAAA top 10. The Longhorns (16-9) have gone 11-1 in 2020 after starting the season 5-8 and finished in a tie with fourth-ranked Dacula for first place in Region 8, earning the No. 1 seed in this week’s region tournament by virtue of a coin flip. Lanier lost two of three games against Dacula this season, one of which came in an out-of-state holiday tournament, but beat the Falcons in their most recent meeting, 46-27 on Jan. 24.
Five other new teams moved into the top 10s. McEachern and West Forsyth replaced Tift County and Pebblebrook in Class AAAAAAA; Eagle’s Landing replaced Villa Rica in AAAAA; Cross Creek replaced Baldwin in AAAA; and Emanuel County Institute replaced Georgia Military in Class A Public.
Class AAAAAAA
1. Westlake (23-2)
2. Collins Hill (25-0)
3. Cherokee (23-2)
4. North Forsyth (23-2)
5. Woodstock (22-3)
6. Colquitt County (21-4)
7. Campbell (19-6)
8. Grayson (17-8)
9. McEachern (15-9)
10. West Forsyth (20-5)
Class AAAAAA
1. Lovejoy (21-4)
2. Valdosta (23-2)
3. Forest Park (20-5)
4. Dacula (22-3)
5. Glynn Academy (20-4)
6. Harrison (21-4)
7. Hughes (19-5)
8. Alexander (21-4)
9. Lanier (16-9)
10. Bradwell Institute (18-7)
Class AAAAA
1. Kell (25-0)
2. Buford (24-1)
3. Veterans (23-2)
4. Wayne County (22-1)
5. Jones County (22-3)
6. Statesboro (20-5)
7. Southwest DeKalb (19-6)
8. Starr's Mill (21-3)
9. Carrollton (16-9)
10. Eagle's Landing (17-8)
Class AAAA
1. Carver-Columbus (20-4)
2. Americus-Sumter (23-1)
3. Spalding (19-4)
4. Troup (22-0)
5. Woodward Academy (23-2)
6. Luella (19-5)
7. Marist (23-1)
8. Stephens County (20-5)
9. Central-Carrollton (20-5)
10. Cross Creek (16-6)
Class AAA
1. Johnson-Savannah (20-1)
2. Jefferson (21-4)
3. Beach (17-8)
4. Greater Atlanta Christian (14-11)
5. Ringgold (17-7)
6. Westminster (19-6)
7. Cedar Grove (15-5)
8. Pierce County (21-4)
9. Sonoraville (19-6)
10. North Hall (17-8)
Class AA
1. Laney (23-2)
2. Early County (21-4)
3. Rabun County (23-1)
4. Southwest-Macon (20-2)
5. Douglass (18-5)
6. Vidalia (20-4)
7. Putnam County (21-3)
8. Josey (21-4)
9. Washington County (19-4)
10. Bryan County (21-4)
Class A (Private)
1. St. Francis (22-3)
2. Hebron Christian (25-0)
3. Holy Innocents' (19-5)
4. Wesleyan (18-4)
5. Mount Paran Christian (18-4)
6. Greenforest (20-4)
7. Darlington (21-3)
8. Calvary Day (20-5)
9. Trinity Christian (17-5)
10. Galloway (17-6)
Class A (Public)
1. Central-Talbotton (22-1)
2. Wheeler County (24-1)
3. Calhoun County (19-4)
4. Clinch County (20-2)
5. Greenville (19-6)
6. Bowdon (20-5)
7. Pelham (20-2)
8. Macon County (16-5)
9. Turner County (17-8)
10. Emanuel Co. Institute (14-7)
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