Lambert and Johns Creek are 7-year-old schools with boys basketball teams that are 22-2, each on 10-game winning streaks. The two will meet Friday night at Johns Creek to decide first place in 6-AAAAAAA, a region looking for respect, as none of its teams are ranked.
Lambert beat Johns Creek 64-53 on Jan. 5. Lambert’s Connor Mannion (signed with Navy) scored 28 points and had 14 rebounds. Ross Morkem (signed with North Georgia) scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds. Both are 6 feet, 7 inches.
Johns Creek’s top five players are seniors, most in their fourth year on varsity. Mark Lancaster is the leading scorer (15.2 points per game).
Both teams are trying to make a mark on the state level. Lambert (17-0 in region play) has advanced a round in the playoffs each of the past two seasons. Johns Creek (16-1) has made it the past two seasons but never advanced.
There are two other games in the final weekend of the regular season between first- and second-place teams in Class AAAAAA:
Berkmar at Shiloh boys: The boys’ race in Region 8 has been the classification’s most unpredictable. Four teams were tied for first a week ago. Now it’s down to Berkmar (17-7, 12-3) and Shiloh (17-5, 11-3). Shiloh won their Jan. 12 meeting 55-53 as Berkmar failed on a couple of 3-point tries in the final seconds. Berkmar junior guard Al Durham has committed to Indiana. Shiloh senior forward Josh Okogie has signed with Georgia Tech.
McEachern at Harrison girls: Harrison (21-3, 12-1) has won six straight since the 74-65 loss at McEachern (17-7, 13-0) on Jan. 12, when McEachern senior Que Morrison pulled off a triple-double of 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. She also had five steals. The game is for first place in Region 5.
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