Quarterfinals preview

Vidalia Indians (21-8; No. 3 seed, Region 2) at Jordan Red Jackets (14-12; No. 2, Region 5)
When: 6 p.m., Wednesday

This game represents what “March Madness” is all about, even though the tournament began in February.  Before the tournament started, it was hard to imagine the Red Jackets hosting a quarterfinals game, but there they are. After hard fought wins over KIPP (60-55) and Monticello (71-67), they’ll now host the Indians — another improbable quarterfinalist who, as an unranked team, makes it in as the tournament’s lone remaining No. 3 seed.

The Indians are road warriors, having beaten Early County 60-49, followed by a 52-46 upset of No. 8 Washington County, a No. 1 seed. Anthony Jones led the Indians with 17 points in the Washington County win according to Southeast Georgia Today.

These teams haven't played each other dating back to the 2014-15 season, when this season's players would have been freshman, so it's tough to say how these teams match up. While the Red Jackets have home court advantage, the Indians are AA's No. 11 team in the MaxPreps computer rankings, whereas Jordan is No. 26.

The Red Jackets last reached the semifinals in 2013; the Indians in 2015.

No. 6 South Atlanta Hornets (25-4; No. 2, Region 6) at No. 1 Laney Wildcats (27-3; No. 1, Region 4)  
When: 7 p.m., Wednesday

The winner of this game could very well win it all. This is a game of two heavyweights, with the Hornets being the defending champs and the Wildcats the state’s top-ranked team, having twice toppled previously top-ranked Glenn Hills. Both teams have looked the part of champions through the first two rounds.

The Hornets beat Temple 90-44, then No. 9 Banks County 72-60 on the road. Though the Hornets had an overhaul from last season's senior-laden team, the roster still runs deep with a balanced attack, as is typical of long-time Hornets coach Michael Reddick's teams. For instance, the second round saw the Hornets' scoring leaders as Jalen Stegall (17 points), Ja'Quavian Florence (16) and Dondre Barnes (15), according to BanksNewsToday.

Though they haven't been as dominant as South Atlanta in the playoffs, the Wildcats outlasted a tough Dodge County team 66-53 in the opening round, followed by another formidable opponent in Metter (65-55). D'Juan Griffin (14 points) and Ronnie Walker (12) led Laney in the Metter win according to stats posted on MaxPreps.

Both teams have recent deep postseason runs, with Laney last reaching the semis in 2015.

No. 3 Thomasville Bulldogs (25-3; No. 1, Region 1) at Spencer Greenwave (22-7, No. 1, Region 5)
When: 7 p.m., Wednesday

The Bulldogs have more playoff success in recent seasons, have the higher-ranked team, the better record and, by all accounts, the better team. However, the Greenwave — like the Bulldogs — earned a No. 1 seed. With the quarterfinals no longer played at a neutral site, teams with the same seed are now subject to GHSA’s universal coin toss and Spencer won, so it will host.

The Greenwave barely got out of the first round, edging Hapeville Charter 67-65. They got a breather in the second round against a Rockmart team that led an egg — Spencer won 72-39. They are led by senior ReQuieto Leonard, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard who averages 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 steals.

The Bulldogs are savoring their last season with power forward Reggie Perry, a 6-foot-9, five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American who signed with Mississippi State. They beat No. 10 Swainsboro 56-50 in the opening round, then No. 4 Dublin 72-60. Given the stiff level of competition the Bulldogs played in the first two rounds — no other tournament team played ranked teams in each round — it’s hard to see them slipping against the unranked Greenwave.

Should Spencer somehow win, it'll be in the semifinals for the first time since 2006, according to The Georgia High School Basketball Project. The Bulldogs were in the semis two seasons ago.

No. 2 Glenn Hills Spartans (26-2; No. 2, Region 4) at No. 5 Therrell Panthers (20-7; No. 1, Region 6)
When: 7 p.m., Wednesday

The Spartans were ranked as the state’s No. 1 team for much of the season but stumbled with two late losses to region rivals Laney to cost them the No. 1 seed and, as it turns out, a chance to host in the quarters. And they now have to play the better Region 6 team. While Laney hosts South Atlanta, the Spartans travel to a Therrell team that swept South Atlanta.

The Panthers are young but have the talent to stay with the Spartans. They have five solid players in 6-foot-4 freshman Robbie Armbrester (11.4 points, 10.6 rebounds), sophomores Deandre Brown (18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals), Roman Son (11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.9 steals and 1 block) and Cameron Fortson (10.8 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) and senior Tyren Stevenson (9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals). They beat Heard County 73-41 and then edged Elbert County 67-63.

The Spartans look like serious title contenders with wins of 80-47 over Northeast-Macon and 72-56 over Jeff Davis. Unlike Therrell, the Spartans rely mostly on seniors, including their top three scorers of Tim Williamson (12.7 points), Isaiah Bauman (11.4) and Timmy Sellers (10.4), with sophomore John Whitehead averaging 9.5 points.

The Spartans haven't been to the semifinals since 1986 according to HSBP, while Therrell hasn't been since 1978.

Girls

No. 3 Dodge County Lady Indians (25-4) at No. 6 Model Lady Blue Devils (24-3)
When: Tuesday, 6 p.m.

Will the universal coin toss be the difference in this game? It could be. Both teams are No. 1 seeds and ranked among the state’s best, and both have been tested in the playoffs.

The Lady Indians blew past Jefferson County 68-45 in the opening round but met a challenge from Early County, toughing out a 73-65 win. The Lady Indians are led by three juniors who average double digits in scoring, led by Europe Brown (17.5 points, 1.5 steals), Destanee Wright (15 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 steals) and Zannesia Mitchell (13.3 points, 1.3 steals).

For the Lady Blue Devils, it's their final season with five-star forward Victaria Saxton, a South Carolina signee ranked by ESPN as the nation's No. 50 player. She scored 19 points in their 71-25 blowout of Callaway in the second round, with Libby Upton adding 20 points according to the Rome News-Tribune. However, Model's biggest challenge came in the opening round against No. 7 Putnam County, where Saxton really came through with 38 points and 17 rebounds.

Model will look to qualify for the semis a second-straight season while the Lady Indians haven’t been that far since 2006.

No. 1 Laney Wildcats (29-0; No. 1, Region 4) at No. 2 Banks County Lady Leopards (25-5; No. 1, Region 8)

When: 6 p.m., Tuesday

What a shame the state’s top two teams meet so early in the tournament. The same thing happened in the football season when top-ranked Benedictine hosted No. 2 Hapeville Charter in the second round of the AA playoffs.

As has been previously stated, no team has a tougher road to a state title than the Lady Wildcats, though Model gets an honorable mention. This will be the second top five opponent in a row for them after beating No. 5 Swainsboro 76-60 in the second round — they beat Northeast-Macon 80-41 in the first round. Against Swainsboro, they trailed 41-35 midway through the third quarter before rallying behind Jaiden Hamilton (24 points) and De'Sha Benjamin (23), according to The Augusta Chronicle.

Toppling Laney will be the tallest of tasks for the Lady Leopards, though they've look capable of the upset after beating Pepperell 52-30, then KIPP 70-28. Granted those opponents aren't nearly the ilk of Laney, and they'll need another big game from Allison Smith, who scored 27 points with 5 3-pointers in the KIPP win, according to AccessWDUN, which also reported Amber Williams suffered a knee injury that knocked her out of the game.

The Lady Wildcats are seeking their third title in four seasons while the Lady Leopards are seeking their first-ever semifinals appearance according to GHSBP.

No. 8 Rabun County Lady Wildcats (24-6; No. 3, Region 8) at No. 10 Fitzgerald Lady Purple Hurricane (14-5; No. 1, Region 1)

When: 6 p.m., Tuesday

It’s the second season in a row these teams meet in the quarterfinals, with Rabun County winning 70-54 last year. The Lady Wildcats won behind the efforts of Savannah Scott (19 points) and Tessa Matheson (17), but they graduated. This year’s matchup is completely different and it’s possible the Lady Purple Hurricane have closed the gap.

The Lady Purple Hurricane beat Bryan County 73-52 in Round 1 and then edged No. 9 Washington County 68-65. They're led by senior Kirstin Crook, who is averaging 17.6 points, 3.6 steals, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists according to MaxPreps. She's supported by Trinity Jones (12.3 points) and Hayleigh Ross (10.8).

The reloaded Lady Wildcats have just two seniors and went through growing pains in a tough Region 8. They’ve looked sharp in the playoffs though, with wins over Rockmart (73-46) and Lamar County (63-43).

While the Lady Wildcats were state finalists last season, Fitzgerald hasn't reached the semis since 1960 according to GHSBP.

No. 4 Josey Lady Eagles (27-4; No. 2, Region 4) at Douglass Lady Astros (18-6; No. 1, Region 6)

When: 6 p.m., Tuesday

Though the Lady Astros are the tournament’s lone unranked team remaining, they still get to host a quarterfinals matchup against a strong Lady Eagles team that, at one point in the season, was ranked No. 2 in AA.

Douglass opened the playoffs with a 67-47 win over Spencer and followed that with a 47-36 win over once-ranked Elbert County. Junior guard-forward Nekyah Thompson scored a game-high 23 points for Douglass in the Elbert County game according to sportalspace.com.

The Lady Eagles have blown through their competition, including Bleckley County (63-31) and Metter (75-43). They are led by the Rolland twins, Tykedra (16.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.1 blocks) and Rhykeria (11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals), both of whom are juniors.

According to GHSBP, Douglass last reached the semis in 2007; Josey in 2000.

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