Top AA girls teams stepping up in class this weekend

A few big games on deck this weekend, including a pivotal Region 6-AA boys matchup featuring two top-five boys teams, and the top two girls teams in Class AA taking on highly ranked teams in larger classifications. More on that below, plus a look back at how the top 10 teams fared earlier this week. ...

BOYS

Friday night’s No. 3 Greater Atlanta Christian/No. 5 Holy Innocents’ game is the only boys contest between two ranked teams this weekend. GAC won the first meeting, 58-59 on Dec. 4, and as a result hold a half-game edge for second place in the Region 6-AA standings. The Spartans (10-5), the defending AA state champions, got off to a slow start this season, at least considering their recent standards. Their 52-game winning streak ended in their third game of the year, and they fell to .500 in late December before their current five-game winning streak. Holy Innocents’ (15-3) has won three straight since its loss to Pace Academy and eight of its last nine. Included in that run is a tournament championship at the Sandestin Beach Basketball Blowout in Florida.

GIRLS

The girls weekend slate is highlighted by a pair of inter-classification clashes. On Friday, second-ranked Pelham (15-1) plays at Kendrick (17-0), the defending AA champ and currently the top-ranked team in Class AAA. Led by senior Briunna Freeman, a University of Arkansas commit, Pelham enters on a seven-game winning streak and has held each of its last three opponents to less than 30 points. Kendrick, which hasn’t lost since the 2013 semifinals, boasts a balanced attack. Coming into the week, seven Lady Cherokees averaged at least seven points per game.

On Saturday, top-ranked and undefeated Holy Innocents’ faces one of its toughest challenges thus far, taking on McEachern in the Krossover Classic at Archer High School. McEachern, currently ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAAA, is led by dynamic guard Te’a Cooper. The Tennessee commit averages nearly 29 points per game and is considered one of the top guards in the country.

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The top 10

BOYS

1. Seminole County (13-3)

• Tuesday: Lost vs. Bainbridge, 78-74. The Indians just can't solve Bainbridge. The Bearcats, ranked No. 5 in Class AAAA, have handed Seminole County all three of its losses, with only the first one coming by more than four points. UGA commit Jordan Harris scored 31 for the Indians, and Anfernee King added 23, but it wasn't enough.
• Saturday: at Miller County

2. Pace Academy (14-2)

• Tuesday: Won vs. Wesleyan, 59-45. Super sophomore Wendell Carter scored 18 as the Knights won their seventh straight.
• Friday: at Lovett
• Saturday: Kings Ridge Christian

3. Greater Atlanta Christian (10-5)

• Tuesday: Won at B.E.S.T. Academy, 97-60. Led by Garrett Covington's 26 points, the Spartans topped 90 points for the second straight game.
• Friday: at No. 5 Holy Innocents'
• Saturday: at Lovett

4. Thomasville (12-4)

• Friday: at Fitzgerald
• Saturday: vs. Berrien

5. Holy Innocents’ (15-3)

• Tuesday: Won vs. KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, 79-50
• Friday vs. No. 3 Greater Atlanta Christian.

6. Crawford County (13-3)

• Friday: at Lamar County
• Saturday: at Chattahoochee County

7. Harlem (14-3)

• Tuesday: Won at Metter, 74-58
• Friday: vs. Jefferson County

8. Bryan County (14-2)

• Tuesday: Won vs. Benedictine, 66-64. The Redskins, coming off a big win over No. 9 Vidalia, overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to remain unbeaten in Region 2-AA. Keyshaun Street had a team-high 23 points, and Jeremy McClendon, tied a season high for the second straight game with 22 points.
• Friday: at Long County
• Saturday: at Savannah Christian

9. Vidalia (13-2)

• Tuesday: Won vs. Long County, 82-42
• Friday: at Benedictine

10. Model (13-2)

• Friday: vs. Chattooga
• Saturday: at Cartersville

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GIRLS

1. Holy Innocents’ (17-0)

• Tuesday: Won vs. KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, 69-6.
• Friday: vs. Greater Atlanta Christian
• Saturday: vs. McEachern (at Archer High School)

2. Pelham (15-1)

• Tuesday: Won vs. Cairo, 68-24. Quadranique Franklin led the Lady Hornets with 19 points; Briunna Freeman added 12.
• Friday: at Kendrick
• Saturday: vs. Fitzgerald

3. Wesleyan (12-5)

• Tuesday: Won at Pace Academy, 75-13. Nikki McDonald scored 12 points to lead six Lady Wolves in double figures.
• Friday: vs. Hapeville Charter

4. Model (15-2)

• Friday: vs. Chattooga
• Saturday: at Cartersville

5. Darlington (14-3)

• Tuesday: Won vs. Chattooga, 57-38. Keara Evans scored 22 points and grabbed 22 rebounds for the Lady Tigers, who led 17-0 after one quarter.
• Friday: vs. Dade County

6. Putnam County (14-3)

• Tuesday: Won vs. Northeast-Macon, 43-39.
• Friday: at Monticello

7. Thomasville (13-4)

• Friday: at Fitzgerald
• Saturday: vs. Berrien

8. Vidalia (13-2)

• Tuesday: Won vs. Long County, 66-46
• Friday: vs. Benedictine