Here’s a look back at some of the top stories from the week in Class AAAAA basketball:
*Tough week for top 10: It was not a great week to be ranked as six boys teams in the top 10 lost on Monday, Tuesday or Friday, although none of the losses were bad ones. No. 1 Miller Grove lost to Roselle Catholic 70-61 on Monday in the Flyin' To The Hoop Invitational in Dayton, Ohio. That same day, No. 4 Clarke Central lost to Class AAA No. 4 Morgan County 76-67 in overtime and No. 7 Stephenson lost to Class AAAAAA Marietta 41-39. Stephenson bounced back and knocked off No. 3 Tucker 55-47 on Tuesday, and No. 6 Effingham County lost to No. 5 Jenkins 94-77. No. 10 M.L. King lost to Miller Grove 67-56 on Friday.
*Sidelined: Effingham County star Jakeenan Gant suffered a grade 2 ankle sprain when he landed on the basketball after a dunk Tuesday during the loss to Jenkins and is expected to miss a week to 10 days, according to a report in the Savannah Morning News. The Missouri signee is averaging 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.1 assists. He had six points and one rebound against Jenkins before leaving with the injury. Both were season-low totals. Jenkins went into the weekend with a one-game lead over Effingham County and Bradwell Institute for first place in Region 3-AAAAA.
*Rolling toward No. 1: The Salem girls team is closing in on the top seed in Region 8-AAAAA after beating Clarke Central 67-45 on Friday for its 15th consecutive victory. Clarke Central's 45 points were the most Salem has allowed during its winning streak. The Seminoles are giving up just 34.7 points per game and have held six opponents to 30 points or less. Fourth-ranked Salem is 13-0 in region play and leads Gainesville (10-2 in region) by two and a half games with three games remaining. Salem plays region opponents Heritage-Conyers and Apalachee the first week of February before concluding the regular season against Gainesville on Feb. 7.
*Stat-sheet stuffers: Jessica Herndon, Jasmine Herndon and Daijah Cole each had double-doubles for Northside-Columbus in a 63-36 victory over Hardaway on Friday, according to the game report in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Jasmine Herndon had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Jessica Herndon had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Cole finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Northside was 16-5 overall and 6-0 in 1-AAAAA entering Saturday's game region rival Thomas County Central. The Patriots are edging closer to their second consecutive appearance in the state tournament and the fourth in school history.
