If you like to pull for the underdog, the choice will be fairly obvious in almost every state basketball final this week. Which Rocky has the best chance? Here’s a look at how each final matches up.
AAAAAA
Boys – Wheeler has won five state titles since 1994, four since 2003, and is ranked No. 1. Tift County last won a state title in 1996, is ranked No. 3 and could become the first South Georgia team since Savannah in 1998 to win a boys state championship in the highest class. Rocky's odds? 25 percent.
Girls – McEachern won a state title in 2012, is unbeaten in Georgia this year and is ranked No. 17 nationally by MaxPreps. Archer, ranked No. 2, is a 4-year-old school that hadn't made it beyond the round of 16 until this year. Rocky's odds? 10 percent.
AAAAA
Boys – Miller Grove has won a boys state-record five straight state championships and is ranked No. 1. Warner Robins has never won a state title in boys basketball and, at No. 7, is the lowest-ranked boys or girls team in a state final outside of Class A. Rocky's odds? 10 percent.
Girls – No. 1-ranked Southwest DeKalb won state titles in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013. No. 2-ranked Tucker has never won a state title in girls basketball. The two have split their two meetings this season, however. Rocky's odds? 40 percent
AAAA
Boys – No. 1-ranked Columbia has won state titles in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Jonesboro has never won a state title, but was runner-up to Wheeler in 2003. Rocky's odds? 35percent.
Girls – No. 1 Redan won its only state title in 2009. No. 2 Columbus has never won one. The Maxwell Ratings considered Redan the safest best of any girls team to win a state title when the tournament began. Rocky's odds? 30 percent.
AAA
Boys – No. 4 Morgan County and No. 5 Buford have never won state titles in boys basketball. Each has five losses this season. Morgan County beat Buford 76-65 on Nov. 26 on Morgan County's home floor. But Morgan County is clearly the Rocky in this fight. Buford has won 20 state titles in all sports since 2001. Morgan County is looking for its first boys state championship in any sport since 2001 (wrestling). Rocky's odds? Even fight.
Girls – No. 2 St. Pius won state titles in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2013. No. 3 Buford won state titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011. St. Pius has perhaps the state's best player in Asia Durr. Rocky's odds? No Rocky in this one. Even fight.
AA
Boys – Greater Atlanta Christian is the lone unbeaten team, and lone nationally ranked team, in Georgia. GAC has won recent state titles in 2013, 2011 and 2010. GAC coach Eddie Martin has won five state titles in his career. Calhoun has never won a state title in boys basketball and had only one victory in state-tournament play over the past 10 years entering this season. Rocky's odds? 5 percent.
Girls – Wesleyan is going for a state record seventh straight state championship, which would break a mark held by Hart County's girls (1989-1994). But Kendrick is the No. 1-ranked team and undefeated. Rocky's odds? 40 percent.
A Public
Boys – Wilkinson County has won six boys state titles since 1999, most recently last year. Turner County last won a boys state basketball title in 1963. Rocky's odds: 45 percent.
Girls – Randolph-Clay is the top-ranked public school in Class A, at No. 5, and won state titles in 1996 and 2000. Mitchell County last won a state title in girls basketball in 1970. Rocky's chances: Even fight.
A Private
Boys – Whitefield Academy won boys state titles in 2003, 2009 and 2012. St. Francis has never won one. Whitefield beat St. Francis in both their meetings this season by eight points or more each time, but St. Francis is ranked No. 1 for winning their region tournament. Rocky's chances: 25 percent.
Girls – Southwest Atlanta Christian won a state title in 2006. Holy Innocents' won one in 1999. Holy Innocents' is unbeaten. Rocky's chances: Even fight.
Thursday
3 p.m. - Class A public girls – No. 8 Mitchell County (25-6) vs. No. 5 Randolph-Clay (26-4)
4:45 p.m. - Class A public boys – No. 8 Wilkinson County (23-6) vs. No. 10 Turner County (26-4)
7 p.m. - Class AAAA girls – No. 2 Columbus (30-1) vs. No. 1 Redan (32-0)
8:45 p.m. - Class AAAA boys – Jonesboro (26-6) vs. No. 1 Columbia (27-4)
Friday
Noon - AAASP Wheelchair - Henry County vs. Houston County
3 p.m. - Class AA girls – No. 1 Kendrick (28-0) vs. No. 2 Wesleyan (27-3)
4:45 p.m. - Class AA boys – No. 4 Calhoun (26-2) vs. No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian (31-1)
7 p.m. - Class AAAAA girls – No. 2 Tucker (28-4) vs. No. 1 Southwest DeKalb (30-2)
8:45 p.m. - Class AAAAA boys – No. 7 Warner Robins (28-2) vs. No. 1 Miller Grove (27-5)
Saturday
11 p.m. - Class A private girls – No. 2 Southwest Atlanta Christian (25-5) vs. No. 1 Holy Innocents' (29-0)
12:45 p.m. - Class A private boys – No. 3 Whitefield Academy (23-6) vs. No. 1 St. Francis (23-7)
3 p.m. - Class AAA girls – No. 3 Buford (30-2) vs. No. 2 St. Pius (29-3)
4:45 p.m. - Class AAA boys – No. 5 Buford (27-5) vs. No. 4 Morgan County (25-5)
7 p.m. - Class AAAAAA girls – No. 1 McEachern (28-2) vs. No. 2 Archer (29-3)
8:45 p.m. - Class AAAAAA boys – No. 1 Wheeler (27-5) vs. No 3 Tift County (28-3)
