Vidalia looks like the team to beat in next week's Region 2-AA boys tournament. Since falling 80-51 to Bryan County in early January, the Indians have won 11 straight. Perhaps none of those were sweeter, or as anticipated, as Friday night's revenge win over the Redskins. Jordan Black scored 24 and Will Chambliss had 22 to lead Vidalia to a 69-55 win that clinched the top seed for the region tournament, which will be played at Long County High School and tips off Tuesday.
The Greene County boys also clinched Friday night, earning 8-AA's top seed with a 73-68 win in overtime against Rabun County. The Tigers (20-5), who have now won 12 consecutive games, overcame a 12-point deficit to start the fourth quarter to force the extra period and ultimately earn the right to host next week's region tournament.
Elsewhere in Class AA, the majority of the top seeds were already well in hand heading into the regular season's final weekend, and nine of the classification's 16 No. 1 seeds will enter their region tournaments with unblemished league marks. Class AA's perfect region records include: Seminole County boys (1-AA), Pelham girls (1-AA), Metter girls (3-AA), Crawford County boys (4-AA), Manchester boys and girls (5-AA), Holy Innocents' girls (6-AA), Pace Academy boys (6-AA) and Model girls (7-AA).
The Manchester girls are closing in on two months since their last loss. If the Lady Devils can extend their 19-game winning streak through the 5-AA finals, they'll reach the milestone with the championship game. Manchester (21-2) was at .500 on the young season after a 60-59 loss to Greenville on Dec. 13. Since then, the Lady Devils have scarcely been challenged, winning by an average of 24 points during the winning streak. That include a 17-point win over Greenville in their most recent meeting.
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HOW THE TOP TEN FARED
Boys
1. Pace Acdemy (23-2)
- Tuesday: Won at B.E.S.T. Academy, 70-36.
- Friday: Won at Wesleyan, 77-58. Elijah Holifield had 28 points and seven rebounds, and Wendell Carter added 22 points, 12 boards and five assists to send the Knights into the region tournament unbeaten in 6-AA.
2. Seminole County (21-3)
- Tuesday: Won vs. No. 7 Thomasville, 72-64.
- Friday: Won vs. Early County, 74-57. The Indians, who will host next week's region tournament, finished region play unbeaten. They were led Friday night by 22 points from Anfernee King and 21 from Jahmyka Pearson.
3. Holy Innocents’ (21-4)
- Tuesday: Won vs. Wesleyan, 69-47
- Friday: Won at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, 86-38
4. Crawford County (21-3)
- Friday: Won vs. Lamar County, 74-63. Led by William Jarrell's 26 points, the Eagles finished with a perfect record in Region 4-AA.
5. Vidalia (23-2)
- Monday: Won at Benedictine, 44-43
- Wednesday: Won at Montgomery County, 59-47.
- Friday: Won vs. Bryan County, 69-55. With their 11th straight win, the Indians clinched the regular season title in 2-AA and scored some payback for a lopsided loss to the Redskins earlier in the year.
6. Greater Atlanta Christian (16-8)
- Tuesday: Won vs. Lovett, 72-49
- Friday: Won vs. B.E.S.T. Academy, 90-24. The win clinches the No. 2 seed in 6-AA and an automatic berth in the region semifinals, thereby assuring the Spartans of a spot in the state playoffs.
7. Thomasville (16-7)
- Tuesday: Lost at No. 2 Seminole County, 72-64
- Friday: Won vs. Fitzgerald, 77-70
- Saturday: vs. Brooks County
8. Harlem (21-3)
- Friday: Won vs. East Laurens, 87-65. The Bulldogs will take the No. 2 seed into the region tournament, but enter as the hottest team in 3-AA and winners of seven straight.
9. Model (19-4)
- Tuesday: Won at Darlington, 62-59
10. Coosa (18-5)
- Tuesday: Won vs. Chattooga, 62-46
- Friday: Lost at Dade County, 74-64
Girls
1. Holy Innocents’ (24-0)
- Tuesday: Won vs. No. 3 Wesleyan, 52-46
- Friday: at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate (no score reported)
2. Pelham (23-1)
- Tuesday: Won vs. Brooks County, 75-45.
- Friday: Won vs. Berrien, 65-17. Led by Briunna Freeman's 23 points, the Lady Hornets finished the regular season unbeaten in 1-AA. Their spot in the state playoffs assured, they'll await their next opponent in the region semifinals on Thursday.
3. Wesleyan (19-6)
- Tuesday: Lost at No. 1 Holy Innocents', 52-46
- Friday: Won vs. Pace Academy, 65-26
4. Model (22-2)
- Tuesday: Won vs. No. 5 Darlington, 55-46.
5. Darlington (19-6)
- Tuesday: Lost vs. No. 4 Model, 55-46
- Friday: Won at Chattooga, 79-42. Anna Claire Atha had 24 points, including 16 in the first quarter, as the Lady Tigers ran away early.
- Saturday: at Cedartown
6. Putnam County (20-4)
- Tuesday: Won at Northeast-Macon, 58-24
- Friday: Won vs. Monticello, 46-38
- Saturday: at Jones County
7. Vidalia (20-4)
- Monday: Lost at St. Vincent's, 49-40
- Wednesday: Won at Montgomery County, 63-42
- Friday: vs. Bryan County (no score reported)
8. Lovett (16-7)
- Tuesday: Won at Greater Atlanta Christian, 46-27
- Friday: Won vs. Hapeville Charter, 43-32
9. Union County (18-5)
- Friday: Won vs. Social Circle, 65-15
10. Manchester (21-2)
- Tuesday: Won vs. Chattahoochee County, 60-32
- Friday: Won at Temple, 65-33. The Lady Blue Devils finish unbeaten in 5-AA and will host next week's region tournament looking to extend their 19-game winning streak.
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