The weekend will bring some big girls games (Wesleyan at Lovett, Thomasville at Early County) with big region implications. But Tuesday’s marquee is all about the action on the boys side, starting with No. 1 vs. No. 3.
Also below: this week’s schedule for all the top-10 teams, and a look back at last week’s top performers.
---
No. 1 Pace Academy at No. 3 Holy Innocents’
Since a loss to Class AAAAA North Atlanta on Dec. 27, top-ranked Pace Academy has been on a tear. The Knights have won 11 consecutive games since then, including seven by at least 20 points. A twelfth straight win on Tuesday would likely guarantee the regular season crown in Region 6-AA.
No. 3 Holy Innocents’ sits two games behind the Knights heading into Tuesday’s game. Pace Academy won the first meeting, 59-48 on Jan. 6, but the Golden Bears haven’t lost since.
Both teams have the benefit of multiple scoring threats, but the most obvious matchup to watch is how Holy Innocents’ handles Pace Academy big man Wendell Carter. Carter, a 6-foot-10 sophomore ranked among the nation’s best, had 24 points, 25 rebounds and six blocks the first time these teams met.
No. 10 Harlem vs. Dublin
There’s a three-team race for the top spot in Region 3-AA, and the loser of Tuesday night’s Harlem/Dublin game will be on the outside looking in as we enter the final stretch of the regular season.
Swainsboro (7-1 in region) currently holds a half game lead over No. 10 Harlem (7-2) and a full game over Dublin (6-2). Harlem, which lost to Swainsboro and Dublin the first time around, evened the score with Swainsboro last week and would love to do the same with the Fighting Irish on Tuesday.
Dublin (14-8 overall), winners of four straight, wants to push the pace. The Irish lead the region in scoring by a wide margin, averaging 82.6 points per game, while yielding 71.5. They won, 83-80, over Harlem in the first meeting on Jan. 10.
Harlem (18-3) comes in on a five-game winning streak since the loss to Dublin, winning by an average margin of 25 points per contest. Senior point guard Reggie Reid is the Bulldogs’ go-to scorer, and averages near double figures in rebounds and assists, as well. Senior Torien Beard is also a potent threat, and scored a season-high 28 points in the first game against Dublin.
---
TOP 10 SCHEDULES
Boys
1. Pace Academy (18-2)
- Tuesday: at No.3 Holy Innocents'
- Friday: at Hapeville Charter
2. Seminole County (16-3)
- Tuesday: vs. Pelham
- Friday: at Fitzgerald
- Saturday: vs. Baker County
3. Holy Innocents’ (18-3)
- Tuesday: vs. No. 1 Pace Academy
- Friday: at B.E.S.T. Academy
4. Crawford County (17-3)
- Tuesday: at Monticello
- Friday: at Northeast-Macon
5. Thomasville (16-5)
- Friday: at Early County
6. Greater Atlanta Christian (12-8)
- Tuesday: vs. Wesleyan
- Friday: vs. KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
7. Model (16-4)
- Tuesday: vs. Armuchee
- Friday: vs. Coosa
8. Bryan County (17-4)
- Tuesday: at McIntosh County Academy
- Friday: at Jeff Davis
9. Vidalia (17-2)
- Tuesday: vs. Jeff Davis
- Friday: at Groves
- Saturday: vs. Toombs County
10. Harlem (18-3)
- Tuesday: vs. Dublin
- Friday: vs. Metter
Girls
1. Holy Innocents’ (21-0)
Tuesday: vs. Pace Academy
Saturday: at Paideia
2. Pelham (19-1)
Tuesday: at Seminole County
Friday: at Berrien
Saturday: at Mitchell County
3. Wesleyan (16-5)
Tuesday: at Greater Atlanta Christian
Friday: at No. 9 Lovett
4. Model (19-2)
Tuesday: vs. Armuchee
Friday: vs. Coosa
Saturday: vs. North Murray
5. Darlington (16-5)
Tuesday: at Coosa
6. Putnam County (17-4)
Tuesday: at Lamar County
7. Vidalia (16-3)
Tuesday: vs. Jeff Davis
Friday: at Groves
Saturday: vs. Toombs County
8. Thomasville (15-6)
Friday: at No. 10 Early County
9. Lovett (13-6)
Tuesday: at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
Friday: vs. Wesleyan
10. Early County (15-4)
Tuesday: at Berrien
Friday: vs. No. 8 Thomasville
Saturday: at Randolph-Clay
---
TOP PERFORMERS
Boys
Crawford County junior guard William Jarrell averaged 23.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, four steals and 3.3 blocks per game in three wins last week.
Northeast-Macon junior guard Santez Kinder averaged 29.3 points per game as the Raiders went 3-1 last week.
Bowdon senior guard Juwan Maze scored a season-high 23 points, shooting 7-of-10 on 3-pointers, in an 85-45 win over Bremen on Jan. 23.
Seminole County junior guard Jordan Harris scored 29 points in a 91-45 win over Brooks County on Jan. 23.
Bryan County senior center Alex Simmons scored a season-high 25 points in an 83-69 win over Groves on Jan. 20.
Monticello junior forward De'Miria Glover had a season-high 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 77-65 loss to Northeast-Macon on Jan. 20.
Groves senior guard Shabari Davis scored 27 points with four steals in an 83-69 loss to Bryan County on Jan. 20. He averaged 19.3 points per game as the Rebels went 2-1 on the week.
Screven County freshman guard Kim Hunter had 26 points on 10 of 16 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 58-54 loss to Metter on Jan. 20.
Girls
Oglethorpe County junior guard Rayne Pyfrom had 21 points, 28 rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks in a 69-28 win over Glascock County on Jan. 24.
Lamar County senior post Alissa Hicks had 18 points and 15 rebounds in a 55-54 loss to Jackson on Jan. 20.
Pelham senior guard Briunna Freeman scored 36 points in a 78-71 win over Early County on Jan. 24.
Bryan County sophomore guard Julianne Brown averaged 17.7 points, seven rebounds and 3.7 steals per game as the Lady Redskins went 3-0 last week.
Oglethorpe County senior guard Trenetta Smith averaged 21 points, nine rebounds and 4.5 steals per game as the Lady Patriots went 1-1 last week.
Macon County senior center Kerby Walker averaged 10.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game in three wins for the Lady Bulldogs last week.
Manchester freshman guard Brittany Davis had 15 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and two blocks in a 55-52 win over Allatoona on Jan. 19.
Macon County junior guard Denautica English had 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a 46-45 win over Putnam County on Jan. 23.
Macon County freshman post Erykah Skinner posted season highs with 17 points and 13 rebounds in a 68-37 win over Crawford County on Jan. 20.
Bryan County sophomore forward Yasmine Crawford averaged 12 points and 11 rebounds per game as the Lady Redskins went 3-0 last week.
Jefferson County sophomore guard Angel Dixon scored 26 points in a 46-6 win over Screven County on Jan. 23.
Model senior guard Rachel McFry scored 25 points, sinking seven 3-pointers, in a 75-45 win over Gordon Lee on Jan. 23.
Manchester senior post De'audra Copeland had 12 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and two blocks in a 55-52 win over Allatoona on Jan. 19.
Thomasville senior center Danisha Jones scored 22 points in a 61-27 win over Cairo on Jan. 24.
Model freshman post Victaria Saxton averaged 20 points per game in a pair of wins for the Lady Devils last week.
Holy Innocents' freshman forward Kaila Hubbard averaged 17.5 points per game in a pair of wins for the Lady Bears last week.
