Holy Innocents', Pelham prove to be among state's elite
Class AA is loaded with strong girls teams, but the top two – Holy Innocents’ and Pelham – made strong arguments to separate themselves from the pack last week.
In a pair of marquee matchups on back-to-back nights, the top-ranked Lady Bears and second-ranked Lady Hornets scored wins that made waves across the state. First, on Friday night, Pelham handed defending AA state champ Kendrick its first loss since the 2013 state semifinals. Now in Class AAA, Kendrick was ranked No. 1 entering last week. The following night, Holy Innocents’ held firm at No. 1, knocking off McEachern, which enter the game ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAAA.
Of course, much could still change in the remaining month of the season – Pelham has another challenging week ahead in Region 1-AA, and perennial powerhouse Wesleyan is lurking at No. 3 in the state and right behind Holy Innocents’ in Region 6-AA. But for those wanting to peek ahead: the GHSA state tournament bracket has the region champs from Regions 1 and 6 meeting in the semifinals if both were to advance.
Here’s a look at this week’s schedule for the top 10, as well as some of the top individual performances from last week. ...
BOYS
1. Pace Academy (16-2)
- Tuesday: vs. No. 5 Greater Atlanta Christian. Along with next week's game vs. Holy Innocents' this is one of the biggest regular season challenges remaining for the Knights, who are currently unbeaten in Region 6-AA. Pace Academy defeated GAC, 73-57, in early December.
- Friday: vs. KIPP Atlanta Collegiate.
2. Seminole County (14-3)
- Friday: vs. Brooks County
- Saturday: at Berrien
3. Holy Innocents’ (16-3)
- Tuesday: at Hapeville Charter
- Friday: vs. Lovett
4. Thomasville (14-5)
- Monday: Lost at Crisp County, 64-63. The Bulldogs are now 3-3 in their last six games, but have just one loss in region play and remain in second place in Region 1-AA behind Seminole County.
- Friday: at Pelham
- Saturday: vs. Cairo
5. Greater Atlanta Christian (11-6)
- Tuesday: at No. 1 Pace Academy. Two games behind Pace in Region 6-AA, the Spartans are likely fighting with Holy Innocents' for the No. 2 seed in region tournament. With identical 6-2 records, both are two games ahead of fourth place Hapeville Charter.
- Friday: at Hapeville Charter
- Saturday: vs. Lee (Ala.), at Norcross High School
6. Crawford County (13-3)
- Tuesday: at Macon County. Crawford County is the only team with a winning record overall in Region 4-AA, but needs to keep winning to maintain its one-game lead over second place Monticello in region play.
- Friday: vs. Bleckley County
- Saturday: at Putnam County
7. Bryan County (15-3)
Tuesday: vs. Groves
Friday: vs. Bacon County
Saturday: at Southeast Bulloch
8. Vidalia (14-2)
- Tuesday: at Bacon County
- Friday: at McIntosh County Academy
- Saturday: at No. 9 Swainsboro. After falling 80-51 to Bryan County earlier this month, the Indians have won their last two games by wide margins. Their performance this week – against two Region 2-AA playoff contenders and the possible frontrunner from Region 3-AA – should give some indication as to whether the lopsided loss to Bryan County was a product of Vidalia's vulnerability or the Redskins' strength.
9. Swainsboro (11-6)
- Tuesday: at East Laurens. Since region play resumed on Jan. 6, the Tigers have won five straight and currently hold a two-game lead atop Region 3-AA.
- Saturday: vs. No. 8 Vidalia
10. Model (15-3)
- Tuesday: at Dade County. The Blue Devils open the week holding the top spot in Region 7-AA by a half game over Coosa. Dade County is in a three-way tie for third.
- Friday: at Gordon Lee
GIRLS
1. Holy Innocents’ (19-0)
- Tuesday: at Hapeville Charter
- Friday: vs. No. 9 Lovett. Holy Innocents' won the first meeting, 77-43, on Dec. 12.
2. Pelham (17-1)
- Friday: vs. No. 8 Thomasville
- Saturday: at No. 10 Early County. The Lady Hornets get some time off with an open date on Tuesday before a pair of tough Region 1-AA games. It should be noted, however, Pelham won the first round of games with Thomasville and Early County by 35- and 20-point margins, respectively.
3. Wesleyan (14-5)
- Tuesday: at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
- Saturday: vs. Kell, at Wesleyan
4. Model (17-2)
- Tuesday: at Dade County
- Friday: at Gordon Lee
5. Darlington (15-3)
- Tuesday at Gordon Lee
- Friday: at Armuchee. Gordon Lee, Dade County and Armuchee are in a three-way fight for third place, while Model and Darlington look like the best bets for the top two seeds in Region 7-AA.
- Saturday: vs. Hardaway
6. Putnam County (15-3)
- Tuesday: at Bleckley County. Putnam County needs a win over second-place Bleckley to solidify its hold on the top spot in Region 4-AA.
- Friday: at Macon County
- Saturday: at Crawford County
7. Vidalia (11-3)
- Tuesday: at Bacon County
- Friday: at McIntosh County Academy
- Saturday: at Swainsboro
8. Thomasville (14-5)
- Friday: at No. 2 Pelham
- Saturday: vs. Cairo
9. Lovett (13-5)
- Friday: at No. 1 Holy Innocents'
10. Early County (13-3)
- Friday: at Worth County
- Saturday: vs. No. 2 Pelham
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Top performers
BOYS
Crawford County’s 6-foot-4 junior guard William Jarrell averaged 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, six assists and 3.5 blocks in a pair of wins last week.
Seminole County’s 6-4 junior guard Jordan Harris averaged 38 points in two games last week, including a 45-point outing in an 85-70 win over Miller County on Jan. 17.
Holy Innocents’ s 6-3 senior guard Sam Asbury scored a team-high 20 points, including five in the final 2.6 seconds of regulation, in an 82-78 overtime win over Greater Atlanta Christian.
Swainsboro’s senior guard Steven Howard scored a season-high 31 points, shooting 13 of 18 from the field, in a 76-74 win over Dublin on Jan. 16.
Northeast-Macon’s senior guard Santez Kinder scored 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, with six rebounds, six steals and four assists in a 72-31 win over Bleckley County on Jan. 16.
Greater Atlanta Christian’s junior wing Garrett Covington had 26 points in a 97-60 win over B.E.S.T. Academy on Jan. 13.
Social Circle’s senior post Tommy Johnson had a season-high 22 points and 12 rebounds in a 65-60 loss to Riverside Military Academy on Jan. 16.
Model’s senior guard Tyler Dean had 18 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four blocks in a 69-51 win over Chattooga on Jan. 16.
Benedictine’s 6-4 senior forward Brad Stewart had 18 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 66-64 loss to Bryan County on Jan. 13.
Bowdon’s senior forward Jemery Almon had a season-high 20 points with nine rebounds and three steals in a 69-33 win over Temple on Jan. 13.
Chattooga’s senior forward Dee McCutchins had 15 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 73-65 win over Darlington on Jan. 13.
Bowdon’s 6-2, 255-pound power forward CJ Brewer had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 69-33 win over Bremen on Jan. 16.
Monticello’s 6-6 junior forward De’Miria Glover averaged 10 points and 13.5 rebounds in a pair of wins last week.
Monticello’s senior guard Avery Davis came off the bench to hit six 3-pointers and score 18 points in a 76-58 win over Putnam County on Jan. 16.
GIRLS
Darlington’s 6-0 junior guard Keara Evans had 22 points and 22 rebounds in a 57-38 win over Chattooga on Jan. 13, and 32 points – including 10 3-pointers – in a 64-41 win over Dade County on Jan. 16.
Manchester’s freshman guard Brittany Davis had 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 steals in a 53-35 win over Troup County on Jan. 17. On the season, Davis is averaging 18.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 6.4 steals per game.
Pelham’s senior guard Briunna Freeman averaged 21 points in three wins, scoring 25 in a 70-61 win over previously unbeaten Kendrick on Jan. 16 and topping the 2,000-point career mark in a 79-28 win over Fitzgerald the next night.
Model’s 6-0 freshman post Victaria Saxton had 17 points and 16 rebounds in a 72-31 win over Chattooga on Jan. 16.
Fitzgerald’s senior guard Keke Bonner had 29 points, eight rebounds and six steals in a 77-62 win over Berrien on Jan. 16.
Holy Innocents’ 6-2 junior center Erika Cassell scored 23 points in a 58-53 win over McEachern on Jan. 17.
Macon County’s junior guard Denautica English had 23 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 53-45 win over Lamar County on Jan. 13.
Manchester’s senior post De’Audra Copeland averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 3.5 steals in a pair of wins last week.
Long County’s junior forward Mya Howard had season highs in both points (17) and rebounds (11) in a 55-48 win over Pierce County on Jan. 17.
Swainsboro’s senior post Alearai Corley had 17 points 10 rebounds and three steals in a 48-15 win over Screven County on Jan. 13.
Thomasville’s senior center Danisha Jones had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven blocks in a 57-54 loss to Fitzgerald on Jan. 16.
St. Vincent’s sophomore guard Sarah Stewart had 21 points, nine steals and five rebounds in a 56-54 loss to Bryan County on Jan. 13.
McIntosh County Academy’s senior center Makhala Jackson had 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks in a 59-31 win over Groves on Jan. 13.
Long County’s sophomore post Elexxus Wrighton averaged 14 rebounds per game as the Blue Tide went 2-1 last week. For the season, Wrighton is averaging 9.6 points and 14.2 rebounds per game.
