There’s arguably no boys team in AA hotter than Crawford County, and few players putting up better numbers than its star junior William Jarrell. Through his first 15 games, the 6-foot-4 guard was averaging 25.8 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He’s only improved on those numbers lately, putting up 52 points, 19 rebounds, 13 assists, nine steals and seven blocks in a pair of Eagles wins this week.
Entering Saturday night’s game at Putnam County, the sixth-ranked Eagles (17-3) have now won nine straight and are unbeaten in Region 4-AA.
GIRLS
It was a rough week for the bottom half of the girls top 10 in Class AA. Entering Saturday night’s games, No. 10 Early County was the only team below No. 4 that didn’t sustain at least one loss this week, and No. 5 Darlington lost a pair. Of note here: Early County still has to play No. 2 Pelham tonight.
And unlike their counterparts elsewhere in the rankings, Pelham and No. 1 Holy Innocents’ just keep cruising along. Holy Innocents’ (21-0) is now ranked No. 25 in the county by MaxPreps.com, and emerged with a 62-54 win over No. 9 Lovett in a back-and-forth Region 6-AA battle Friday. Lovett led by a point after three quarters before the Lady Bears gained some separation in the final minutes of the game.
Pelham (18-1) continued its hot play with a blowout region win over No. 8 Thomasville, 71-39. Entering Saturday’s game at Early County, Pelham has won 10 straight and is getting strong production from more than just standout senior Briunna Freeman. Freshman Mahogany Randle led the team with 19 points in Friday’s win, while Quardranique Franklin and Destiny Thomas have also chipped with strong outings during the Lady Hornets’ winning streak.
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How the top 10 fared
BOYS
1. Pace Academy (17-2)
- Tuesday: Won vs. No. 5 Greater Atlanta Christian, 71-40.
- Friday: vs. KIPP Atlanta Collegiate (no score reported)
2. Seminole County (15-3)
- Friday: Won vs. Brooks County, 91-45. Indians junior Jordan Harris, a UGA commit, scored 29 points, and Jahmyka Pearson had 24 as Seminole County remained unbeaten (7-0) in Region 1-AA.
- Saturday: at Berrien
3. Holy Innocents’ (18-3)
- Tuesday: Won at Hapeville Charter, 69-41.
- Friday: Won vs. Lovett, 77-42. Cole Smith led the Golden Bears to their sixth straight win. Up next: a date with top-ranked Pace Academy on Tuesday.
4. Thomasville (15-5)
- Monday: Lost at Crisp County, 64-63
- Friday: Won at Pelham, 56-55. The Bulldogs got a much-needed region win as they attempt to keep pace with first-place Seminole County in 1-AA and hold off third-place Early County. Only two games separate the three teams entering the final two weeks of the regular season.
- Saturday: vs. Cairo
5. Greater Atlanta Christian (12-7)
- Tuesday: Lost at No. 1 Pace Academy, 71-40.
- Friday: Won at Hapeville Charter, 61-40. Cam Jones scored 22 points, hitting six 3-pointers, to lead the Spartans. Garrett Covington added 19 points.
- Saturday: vs. Lee (Ala.), at Norcross High School
6. Crawford County (17-3)
- Tuesday: Won at Macon County, 77-71
- Friday: Won vs. Bleckley County, 82-41
- Saturday: at Putnam County
7. Bryan County (17-3)
- Tuesday: Won vs. Groves, 83-69.
- Friday: Won vs. Bacon County, 77-65. The Redskins stay unbeaten in 2-AA, maintaining a one-game lead in the loss column over Vidalia.
- Saturday: at Southeast Bulloch
8. Vidalia (16-2)
- Tuesday: Won at Bacon County, 57-46
- Friday: Won at McIntosh County Academy, 49-38
- Saturday: at No. 9 Swainsboro
9. Swainsboro (12-7)
- Tuesday: Won at East Laurens, 82-61
- Friday: Lost at Harlem, 64-49. Harlem's Reggie Reid led all scorers with 18 points as the Bulldogs earned some revenge for Swainsboro's blowout win earlier this month. The Tigers still hold a one-game lead over Harlem and Dublin in 3-AA.
- Saturday: vs. No. 8 Vidalia
10. Model (16-4)
- Tuesday: Won at Dade County, 64-60
- Friday: Lost at Gordon Lee, 54-53 (OT). The Blue Devils took an unexpected defeat against the Trojans when Colin Wright sank a jumper in the waning seconds of overtime. It's the first region win of the season for Gordon Lee.
GIRLS
1. Holy Innocents’ (21-0)
- Tuesday: Won at Hapeville Charter, 62-35
- Friday: Won vs. No. 9 Lovett, 62-54
2. Pelham (18-1)
- Friday: Won vs. No. 8 Thomasville, 71-39
- Saturday: at No. 10 Early County
3. Wesleyan (15-5)
- Tuesday: Won at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, 72-11
- Saturday: vs. Kell
4. Model (19-2)
- Tuesday: Won at Dade County, 74-54
- Friday: Won at Gordon Lee, 75-45. Freshman Victaria Saxton scored 21 points as the Lady Devils won their ninth straight.
5. Darlington (15-5)
- Tuesday: Lost at Gordon Lee, 63-55
- Friday: Lost at Armuchee, 64-59. It's been a tough week for the Lady Tigers. The back-to-back losses have left them clinging to a half-game lead over Armuchee for second place in 7-AA.
- Saturday: vs. Hardaway
6. Putnam County (16-4)
- Tuesday: Won at Bleckley County, 49-42
- Friday: Lost at Macon County, 46-45. The Lady Bulldogs handed Putnam County its first region loss and is now just a game behind the Lady Eagles for first place in 4-AA.
- Saturday: at Crawford County
7. Vidalia (14-3)
- Tuesday: Won at Bacon County, 48-18
- Friday: Lost at McIntosh County Academy, 62-60. The Lady Indians couldn't overcome a 21-point deficit and fell into a second-place tie with McIntosh County Academy in Region 2-AA.
Saturday: at Swainsboro
8. Thomasville (14-6)
- Friday: Lost at No. 2 Pelham, 71-39
- Saturday: vs. Cairo
9. Lovett (13-6)
- Friday: Lost at No. 1 Holy Innocents', 62-54
10. Early County (15-3)
- Friday: Won at Worth County, 66-38
- Saturday: vs. No. 2 Pelham
