Four defending state champions are No. 1 in their classifications in the first AJC girls basketball rankings of 2020.
One of those teams – three-time defending Class AAAAA champion Buford – is perfect through the first two months of the season. The Wolves are 14-0 overall (2-0 in Region 8-AAAAA) and have five victories against ranked opponents and four wins against teams from the highest classification.
Another No. 1 team – two-time defending Class AAAAAAA champ Westlake – is undefeated against Georgia teams. The Lions’ only loss came on Dec. 7 against Paul VI, the top-rated team in Maryland and a top-15 team nationally, according to MaxPreps.
The other No. 1-ranked defending champions are Carver-Columbus (AAAA) and Johnson-Savannah (AAA). Carver is 11-3 with losses to Westlake, St. Francis and McEachern. Johnson is 10-1, its only loss coming against Glynn Academy 52-44 on Nov. 25.
The No. 1 teams in the other four classifications are Lovejoy (AAAAAA), Rabun County (AA), St. Francis (A Private) and Central-Talbotton (A Public). Rabun County, at 15-0, is the only undefeated No. 1 team besides Buford. Lovejoy’s only loss came against Westlake, 55-52 on Dec. 14.
Three of the other four defending state champions remain in the top 10. Class AA Douglass is ranked No. 7 and has a 10-5 record against a schedule made up almost entirely of region opponents and higher-classification teams. Holy Innocents’ is No. 4 in Class A Private with a 10-5 record against a rugged schedule. Marion County is No. 8 in Class A Public sporting a 4-3 record as it prepares to enter the bulk of its schedule.
Class AAAAAA Lanier is the only unranked defending champion. The Longhorns started the season 3-6 but have since won four of six games and have a chance to move into first place in Region 8-AAAAAA with a victory against Dacula this week.
Class AAAAAAA
1. Westlake (14-1)
2. Collins Hill (17-0)
3. Cherokee (14-2)
4. West Forsyth (14-1)
5. Campbell (14-3)
6. North Forsyth (14-2)
7. Pebblebrook (13-3)
8. Woodstock (15-2)
9. North Paulding (13-3)
10. Tift County (10-4)
Class AAAAAA
1. Lovejoy (14-1)
2. Valdosta (13-2)
3. Dacula (14-2)
4. Harrison (14-3)
5. Forest Park (12-5)
6. Glynn Academy (13-4)
7. Stephenson (13-4)
8. Alexander (13-2)
9. Brunswick (10-5)
10. Northside-Warner Robins (9-3)
Class AAAAA
1. Buford (14-0)
2. Kell (16-0)
3. Villa Rica (15-2)
4. Wayne County (13-0)
5. Statesboro (12-3)
6. Veterans (13-2)
7. Rome (13-3)
8. Arabia Mountain (14-1)
9. Jones County (14-3)
10. Southwest DeKalb (11-6)
Class AAAA
1. Carver Columbus (11-3)
2. Americus-Sumter (12-0)
3. Woodward Academy (14-1)
4. Marist (14-0)
5. Spalding (11-4)
6. Luella (12-4)
7. Troup (11-0)
8. St. Pius (12-2)
9. West Laurens (10-4)
10. Central-Carrollton (13-2)
Class AAA
1. Johnson-Savannah (11-1)
2. Jefferson (14-3)
3. Beach (11-5)
4. Fannin County (12-3)
5. Cedar Grove (8-3)
6. Greater Atlanta Christian (7-9)
7. Dawson County (10-6)
8. Sonoraville (11-5)
9. Coahulla Creek (13-2)
10. Pierce County (11-2)
Class AA
1. Rabun County (15-0)
2. Early County (9-4)
3. Laney (12-2)
4. Southwest-Macon (12-1)
5. Washington County (12-2)
6. Union County (11-3)
7. Douglass (10-5)
8. Josey (11-3)
9. Vidalia (12-3)
10. Rockmart (10-5)
Class A (Private)
1. St. Francis (11-3)
2. Hebron Christian (17-0)
3. Wesleyan (11-2)
4. Holy Innocents' (10-5)
5. Mount Paran Christian (12-2)
6. Greenforest (10-4)
7. Calvary Day (12-3)
8. Galloway (12-3)
9. Stratford Academy (11-2)
10. Trinity Christian (12-4)
Class A (Public)
1. Central-Talbotton (12-1)
2. Wheeler County (15-1)
3. Greenville (11-3)
4. Clinch County (8-1)
5. Calhoun County (9-4)
6. Pelham (8-1)
7. Macon County (9-3)
8. Marion County (4-3)
9. Bowdon (9-4)
10. Turner County (8-5)
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