The two top-ranked boys teams in the state meet on Saturday when No. 2 Morgan County travels to Augusta to play No. 1 Laney. The opening act isn’t bad, either, as the Morgan County girls are No. 1 and Laney is No. 3.
The Laney (13-0) boys won a 65-64 decision at Morgan County on Dec. 4. The Wildcats feature two seniors who average 20 points: Christian Keeling, who averages 24.8 points and 6.4 rebounds, and Zephaniah Jasper, who averages 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Morgan County (11-3) won the 2014 Class AAA championship and finished second to Jenkins in 2015. The Bulldogs had their seven-game winning streak broken by Cedar Shoals in the final of the Sweet South Classic at Morgan County. The Bulldogs bounced back by beating Oconee County on Tuesday.
The Morgan County girls (13-3) have won 10 straight games, including the Sweet South Classic. The Bulldogs defeated Laney 78-69 in their first meeting.
Laney (12-2) is led by De’Sha Benjamin (16.2 points, 7. 2 rebounds) and Aubrianna Bonner (15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 4.8 steals).
Big games in Region 4-AAA
Much more will be known about the Region 4-AAA Division B race after this weekend.
Blessed Trinity (9-5, 3-0) has two critical games, playing Westminster on Friday and Douglass on Saturday. Blessed Trinity reached the final of the St. Pius Christmas tournament before losing to the hosts in the championship game. The Titans are coming off a 46-43 subregion win at Therrell.
Westminster (12-2, 4-0) has not lost since getting its football back in the lineup. The Wildcats have won 11 consecutive games, which includes the Westminster Holiday Tournament, and had a resounding 22-point win over Class A power Southwest Atlanta Christian. Westminster is coming off a 39-point victory over Washington.
Douglass (11-6, 4-2) ended a four-game losing streak by beating Commerce on Dec. 30. The Astros have not played in January. They lost to Westminster by one point earlier in December.
Peach County-Kendrick girls meet in Region 2
No. 6 Peach County (12-1, 7-1) and No. 5 Kendrick (13-1, 7-0) will determine who takes over first place in Region 2-AAA. Peach County has won 11 straight since a 62-58 loss to Kendrick in Fort Valley, with Nausia Woolfork averaging 18.6 points and 8.5 rebounds. Kendrick, led by Brittany Thompson (20.8 points, 6.5 rebounds), has won its last nine.
No point guards? No problem for Jenkins
It’s going to take more than missing a couple of regulars to slow down the Jenkins boys.
The Warriors (11-2) played Islands on Tuesday without their two top point guards. It mattered little as Jenkins got another stellar effort from junior Trevion Lamar, who led the team to a 91-65 victory.
Lamar, a sturdy 6-5 forward, moved to point guard and responded by scoring 17 points and posting 11 assists. Dimetri Chambers scored a career-best 26 points, which included six 3-point baskets. Tyrone Scott added 15 points for Jenkins.
Starting point guard Zion Williams and reserve Brian Brannen had to sit out the game for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Lamar was the obvious choice, since he plays guard on his AAU team.
Islands (11-5) was led by freshman Trae Broadnax with 20 points and junior Justin Cave with 18.
