Here’s what we learned this week:
BOYS
Turner County has caught fire. The unranked Rebels (18-5, 12-2 in Region 2) began the season just 5-5, but it was for a great cause. Most of the team’s stalwarts were still transitioning from football at the time, as Turner County posted its best record (8-3) since 2008, advancing to the public school state playoffs. Since then the Rebels have won 13 straight, mostly in blowout fashion, including league wins last week over Echols County (76-38) and Lanier County (80-48). Leading the way are two of the football players – 6-foot-3 junior guard/forward Tamarrion Terry (20 points, 12 rebounds per game), who also plays receiver and linebacker, and senior point guard Cedrick Leggett, who also plays receiver and defensive back.
No. 8 Lakeview Academy stays unbeaten vs. Class A foes. The Lions (19-4, 11-0 in Region 8) remained perfect against Class A teams and in region play this season as they took down Tallulah Falls and Towns County last week. The only teams to defeat Lakeview, located in Gainesville, this season have been Class AA No. 8 Greater Atlanta Christian, Class AAA East Hall, Class AAAA North Hall, and The Christ School, located just outside of Asheville, NC, one of the top teams in that state.
GIRLS
No. 4 Greenforest deserves praise, too. While the No. 1 Greenforest Christian boys get a lot of attention, the girls deserve just as much fanfare. The Eagles (18-0, 8-0 in Region 5) remained unbeaten last week with a 66-29 thumping of a good Paideia team. Greenforest is led by senior point guard Arielle Holloway and senior forward Theodora Odia, one of four exchange students from Nigeria on the team.
No. 5 Taylor County in championship form again. While they are not the 31-0 juggernaut that bullied its way to a public school state title last season, the Vikings (19-2, 12-1 in Region 4) look plenty good enough to win the school's 12th state crown. Last week, Taylor County posted three blowout wins to extend its winning streak to 12 games since a 43-33 loss to Class AAA No. 5 Beach of Savannah, back on Dec. 28. The Vikings are led by seniors Rasheka Simmons and Kelsie Towns.
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