It’s going to take some attitude for several underdogs to win high school state basketball championships this week. Most are matched against programs that could be called modern dynasties.
One such dynasty is Columbia’s boys team, which has won five state titles, all since 2006. Jonesboro hasn’t won any. The two are playing for the Class AAAA title Thursday in Macon.
"To be honest, the history part doesn’t mean anything to us, to me or my players,’’ Jonesboro boys coach Dan Maehlman said. “We’re in the moment right now. Whether you’ve won seven or eight state championships doesn’t matter in one 32-minute game. I’ve got complete faith in my guys that they’ll be ready to play.’’
Several other teams will be taking that same attitude into 14 state-championship games played in three days at the Macon Coliseum.
If history and pedigree decided state championships, most already would be in the books. Ten of the 28 finalists have won at least three state titles since 2002, including 45 titles overall during that span.
Those prodigious programs — most of them are favored to win again this week — are Wesleyan’s girls (10 state titles since 2002), Columbia’s boys (five), Miller Grove’s boys (five), Southwest DeKalb’s girls (four), St. Pius’ girls (four), Wheeler’s boys (four), Wilkinson County’s boys (four), Buford’s girls (three) , Greater Atlanta Christian’s boys (three) and Whitefield Academy’s boys (three).
And that’s in just 12 seasons. Some had won state titles before that.
Four other girls teams — Kendrick (2008), McEachern (2012), Redan (2009) and Southwest Atlanta Christian (2006) — have won single state titles in that time period.
Those without state-championship pedigree have had some success. Jonesboro has a good history, just no state titles. The Cardinals have made five semifinals and two finals since 1999, when Maehlman took over the program.
Other schools looking to make history are Archer’s girls, a four-year-old school making its first deep run in the state playoffs. Archer plays nationally ranked McEachern in the Class AAAAA girls final Saturday.
"McEachern is a very talented team, but you don’t get to the championship game without being talented yourself,’’ Archer coach Ryan Lesniak said. "That’s not arrogance. It’s just confidence. We’ve got good players over here, too. We’re both going to have a 94-foot floor, 10-foot goals and put our socks and shoes on the same way.’’
Tift County, which won a title in 1996, is trying to become the first boys team from South Georgia to win the highest class since 1998. Standing in the way is No. 1-ranked Wheeler.
Warner Robins’ boys and Tucker’s girls have never won state titles. They’re in the Class AAAAA finals. Their opponents are Miller Grove’s boys and Southwest DeKalb’s girls, both the defending champions.
Class AAA is the only class that goes fully counter to the pattern. The girls finalists, Buford and St. Pius, have won seven titles each since 2004. The boys finalists, Buford and Morgan County, have never won state titles.
Other schools in the finals that have not won state titles are Calhoun’s boys (AA) and St. Francis’ boys (A private). And it has been a long time since state titles were won by Turner County’s boys (1963) or Mitchell County’s girls (1970).
"Of course it would be big for our school, but I don’t want them to sit around thinking about what might or could happen,’’ Jonesboro’s Maehlman said. “I want them to enjoy the moment. We have a wonderful opportunity that’s in front of us. But it won’t be given to us. The only way it’s going to happen is if we go and take it.’’
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