Here’s a class-by-class look at each of the 14 state-championship basketball games to be played Thursday through Saturday in Macon.
Seven of the 28 finalists have never won state titles. One, Brunswick, has never won a state title in any sport. Only six of the dozen No. 1-ranked teams are still alive. Six 2014 champions are still in it.
AAAAAA boys – Pebblebrook was 4-21 when its current group of seniors were freshman. Now, the team is 27-5 and ranked No. 3 with four losses to nationally ranked out-of-state teams. Its Cobb County rival Wheeler, ranked No. 1, is seeking its sixth state title, first since 2009. The Wildcats are 29-2, having won 12 straight. Wheeler beat Pebblebrook 67-52 in the 2014 semifinals. Wheeler coach Doug Lipscomb could become the first coach to win a half-dozen boys state titles in the highest classification since the late Don Richardson of Southwest-Macon got his sixth in 1989.
AAAAAA girls – Either McEachern or Norcross has won each of the past five state titles in the highest classification – McEachern in 2012 and 2014 and Norcross in 2010, 2011 and 2013. Neither was the best team in its region this year until tournament time, as each was swept by a region rival, McEachern (23-6, ranked No. 9) by Osborne, and Norcross (28-4, ranked No. 7) by Mountain View. But they are 8-0 in the state tournament this year, 42-5 since 2010. Norcross coach Angie Hembree can become the second coach in state history to win seven girls state titles (Wesleyan's Jan Azar, 10).
AAAAA boys –Neither Allatoona (opened 2008) nor Brunswick (1967) had made it to a boys semifinal until this year. Both lost their season-opening games, but neither has lost since Jan. 1. Fifth-ranked Allatoona (27-2) has won 17 straight games. Third-ranked Brunswick (28-2) has won 20 straight. Brunswick would be the first South Georgia boys team to win the second-highest class since Dougherty of Albany in 2001.
AAAAA girls – Eighth-ranked Stephenson (27-5) is the only DeKalb County Schools boys or girls team remaining. At least one DeKalb team has won a state title each year since 2004. Second-ranked Mays (27-2) is 2-0 against Stephenson. That includes a 53-51 victory for the Region 6 title on Feb. 15. Mays is coached by Chantay Frost, who led Columbia, a DeKalb school, to state titles in 2010, 2012 and 2013. She can become the 10th coach in state history to win girls titles at two schools. Stephenson has won two state titles under coach Dennis Watkins (2004, 2008).
AAAA boys – No. 1-ranked Jonesboro (31-1) is the defending champion. The Cardinals have won 30 straight games since a November loss to Montverde Academy (Fla.), the consensus No. 1-ranked team in the country. Carrollton is over 100-years-old, but seeking its first state title in boys basketball. The Trojans are 29-2, ranked fifth and winners of 23 straight games.
AAAA girls – The ninth-ranked Carrollton's girls (25-7) won a title in 2009. They reached this final with a 43-42 victory over third-ranked Veterans. That was Carrollton's only lead after trailing 10-0. No. 1-ranked Buford has reached the state finals six of the past seven seasons, winning in 2009, 2010 and 2011, all under coach Gene Durden. The team is 28-3 and has won 20 straight games.
AAA boys – Morgan County will defend its 2014 title against Jenkins, a Savannah school looking for its first championship. Both were unbeaten against AAA opponents except for No. 1-ranked Laney. Morgan (24-7) avenged two Laney losses with a 68-62 victory in the semifinals and has won 10 straight games. Jenkins (28-3) has won 19 straight since losing to Laney on Jan. 3.
AAA girls – The second-ranked Laney girls have advanced to the semifinals 14 times and finished second twice, all under coach Otis Smart, but a title would be the Augusta school's first in GHSA girls basketball. Smart's latest team (28-3) has won 11 straight games. Laney won titles in the Georgia Interscholastic Association in 1956 and 1961. Fifth-ranked Beach also has its roots in the GIA. The Savannah school won a title in 2000. The current team (26-5), ranked fifth, has won 16 straight games.
AA boys – Crawford County and Seminole County, both 27-3 and unbeaten in Class AA, have rekindled great basketball traditions this season. Crawford County has won three state titles, the last in 1982, when former Kentucky and NBA star Kenny Walker ruled the courts. Still coached by Clyde Zachery, in his 35th season, Crawford has won 17 straight since losing to Class A finalist Greenville in December. Zachery can set a coaching record for the longest time between state titles (currently 21 years by Seth Vining of East Hall). Seminole won its only title in 1998 during a decade when it reached four final fours. Seminole has won 14 straight. All three of Seminole's losses are to Bainbridge, a AAAA school.
AA girls – Holy Innocents' (31-0) won Class A last season and moved up. Wesleyan (24-7) has won 10 state titles, all under coach Jan Azar, but had its streak of six ended last year in the AA final by Kendrick. Holy Innocents' is 3-0 this season against Wesleyan, including a 43-41 victory on Feb. 13 for the Region 6 title.
A boys (private) – No. 1 St. Francis (28-3), the defending champion, has won each of its past 12 games by more than 20 points. Greenforest (27-1), the 2013 champion, has lost only to AAAAAA finalist Pebblebrook 75-72 on Dec. 13. Greenforest has beaten AAA finalist Morgan County. Greenforest is coached by David Jones, who won three state titles in the 1970s at Southwest-Atlanta and one at Southside in 1990. He could become the ninth coach in state history to win six boys state titles.
A girls (private) –No. 1 St. Francis (27-3), the 2013 champion, beat its finals opponent, No. 2 Southwest Atlanta Christian, 51-42 on Jan. 10. St. Francis also has beaten AAAA finalist Buford. SACA (28-3) is the defending champion and has won 14 straight games, none closer than 15 points, since losing to St. Francis. SACA beat St. Francis 66-61 in the 2014 semifinals.
A boys (boys) – Greenville (1946, 1992) and Calhoun County (1972, 1997) have won a pair of state titles apiece. Greenville (28-2) has won nine straight after losing to fourth-place Region 4 rival Pacelli 53-51. Calhoun County (29-2) has won 19 straight after losing to fifth-place Region 1 rival Quitman County 53-51.
A girls (public) – Taylor County (30-0) has won 10 state titles, tied with Wesleyan for the most in state history. Five have come under current coach Matt Troutman, the most recent in 2003. Troutman can become the fifth coach in state history to win six girls state titles (joining former Taylor County coach Norman Carter). Turner County, a 2000 state runner-up but never a champion, last won a state title in any sport in 1992 (boys golf). Turner is 28-2.
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