The only remaining undefeated girls basketball team in Class AA has finally made it to the front of the pack, just in time for the start of the postseason.
Fitzgerald, which improved to 23-0 with victories against Berrien (72-24) and Thomasville (77-64) last week, is the new No. 1 team in Class AA heading into this week’s Region 1-AA tournament. The Purple Hurricane moved up from No. 2 after previous No. 1 Dodge County lost to 70-66 last week. Dodge County fell to No. 3 behind Rabun County. Wheeler County is No. 4 in the Class A public-school division.
Fitzgerald, a semifinalist last season, has never won a state championship in girls basketball.
Fitzgerald is one of five teams in the state that completed the regular season without a loss, and four of them are ranked No. 1.
Defending champion Westlake (23-0) is the top team in Class AAAAAAA. The Lions will begin the postseason Thursday in the 2-AAAAAAA tournament semifinals against East Coweta or Newnan. Only one of Westlake’s 10 region victories this season – a 59-53 win over Campbell on Jan. 15 – was decided by fewer than 25 points.
Carver-Columbus, the No. 1 team in Class AAAA, completed a 25-0 regular season with a 75-26 victory over Westover, which was ranked No. 9 last week but fell out of the top 10 after the loss. Carver, which is seeking its first state title, was the runner-up in 2017 and a semifinalist last year.
Class A public-school No. 1 Marion County is 23-0 after beating Manchester 72-35 Saturday. The Eagles lost to Region 4-A rival Greenville in the state final last year but have won both regular-season meetings against the No. 3-ranked Patriots this season by a total of 11 points.
The only undefeated team not ranked No. 1 is Villa Rica (25-0), which hold the No. 2 spot in Class AAAAA. Top-ranked Buford finished the regular season 22-2 against more difficult schedule, with the Wolves’ losses coming against Westlake (58-51 on Jan. 19) and Class AAAAAAA No. 8 Norcross (63-56 on Dec. 14).
Seven new teams broke into the rankings this week. New Manchester replaced Stephenson in Class AAAAAA; Wayne County replaced Statesboro in AAAAA; Marist replaced Westover in AAAA; Greater Atlanta Christian and Ringgold replaced North Murray and Pace Academy in AAA; Washington County replaced Southwest-Macon in AA; and Clinch County replaced Wilcox County in Class A public.
Class AAAAAAA
1. Westlake (23-0)
2. Collins Hill (24-1)
3. Grayson (23-2)
4. Cherokee (22-3)
5. North Cobb (23-2)
6. North Forsyth (21-4)
7. Brookwood (18-6)
8. Norcross (16-9)
9. Pebblebrook (20-4)
10. Colquitt County (20-3)
Class AAAAAA
1. Lovejoy (22-3)
2. Forest Park (22-3)
3. Northview (21-4)
4. Douglas County (21-4)
5. Lanier (22-3)
6. Valdosta (21-3)
7. Creekview (21-4)
8. Sequoyah (19-6)
9. New Manchester (22-3)
10. Glynn Academy (21-4)
Class AAAAA
1. Buford (22-2)
2. Villa Rica (25-0)
3. Veterans (22-3)
4. Harris County (19-5)
5. Southwest DeKalb (19-6)
6. Eagle's Landing (19-5)
7. Arabia Mountain (17-4)
8. Carrollton (19-6)
9. Wayne County (21-3)
10. Jones County (20-5)
Class AAAA
1. Carver-Columbus (25-0)
2. Henry County (23-2)
3. Flowery Branch (22-3)
4. Spalding (19-5)
5. Madison County (22-2)
6. Luella (20-4)
7. Sandy Creek (21-4)
8. Northwest Whitfield (21-4)
9. West Laurens (18-7)
10. Marist (18-6)
Class AAA
1. Jefferson (22-2)
2. Johnson-Savannah (16-7)
3. Beach (21-4)
4. Hart County (19-6)
5. Peach County (19-4)
6. Tattnall County (20-5)
7. Dawson County (18-7)
8. Morgan County (18-6)
9. Greater Atlanta Christian (14-11)
10. Ringgold (18-7)
Class AA
1. Fitzgerald (23-0)
2. Rabun County (23-1)
3. Dodge County (22-2)
4. Laney (22-2)
5. Bryan County (24-1)
6. Swainsboro (21-3)
7. Early County (22-3)
8. Banks County (20-5)
9. Washington County (18-6)
10. Douglass (19-6)
Class A (Private)
1. Wesleyan (23-2)
2. Holy Innocents' (18-7)
3. St. Francis (20-3)
4. Lakeview Academy (21-4)
5. Eagle's Landing Christian (19-3)
6. Stratford Academy (23-1)
7. Mount Paran Christian (21-2)
8. Calvary Day (22-3)
9. Paideia (19-4)
10. Greenforest (16-5)
Class A (Public)
1. Marion County (23-0)
2. Calhoun County (22-2)
3. Greenville (22-2)
4. Wheeler County (20-4)
5. Telfair County (18-5)
6. Georgia Military (17-1)
7. Mitchell County (20-4)
8. Bowdon (20-4)
9. Clinch County (18-5)
10. Dooly County (18-5)
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