Wheeler, Norcross and Shiloh became the clear-cut No. 1 boys teams in their regions last week.
Here’s a review of some of the major happenings from the week in Class AAAAAA.
BOYS
-The third-ranked Norcross is alone atop Region 7 after a 69-53 victory over Duluth (11-6, 5-1) on Friday. Lance Thomas blocked 12 shots. Norcross had a tougher time with a weaker opponent, Mill Creek, earlier in the week, winning only 55-52. Rayshaun Hammonds scored 17 points and had 12 rebounds. Hammonds had another 14 rebounds against Duluth.
-Second-ranked Shiloh (11-2, 5-0) emerged as the only unbeaten team in Region 8 play after victories over Brookwood (10-4, 3-3) and Grayson (13-2, 4-2). Georgia Tech signee Josh Okogie scored 21 in the first game (11-of-11 from the free-throw line) and 34 in the second.
Next for Shiloh is Berkmar (9-5, 5-1) on the road Tuesday.
-The No. 1-ranked Wheeler boys (11-5, 8-0) have first place in Region 5 to themselves after a 71-60 victory over Milton (10-6, 7-1) on Friday.
-Tift County won two of three games last week at the All-Star Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic in New Orleans. Tift’s best victory came against University Lab of Baton Rouge, which MaxPreps computer rankings place at No. 23 nationally. Tift won 67-65.
-Tucker’s boys could find themselves ranked this week after beating sixth-ranked McEachern on Saturday. Tucker’s Kenton Eskride scored 30 points and had seven rebounds and three assists.
-There were three ranked teams from Region 3 when the week started – Westlake, Pebblebrook and Douglas County. It might be down to two as Weslake (9-2, 4-0) and Pebblebrook (12-6, 7-0) each defeated Douglas County (9-6, 4-3) in close games. Westlake beat the Tigers 65-59, and Pebblebrook won an amazing shootout – 111-107 in overtime – on Friday.
-No. 5 Tift County won two of three
GIRLS
The second-ranked Archer girls basketball team, a Class AAAAAA runner-up last season, is the front-runner in Region 8- after victories over No. 9 Parkview and Berkmar last week. Archer’s pair of 6-foot-2 juniors - Autumn Newby and Linsey Marchese came up big against Parkview, which had gone 3-0 against Archer last season. Newby scored 14 points and had eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. Marchese, who is committed to Indiana, had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Archer trailed in the final three minutes but scored the final eight points in the 43-37 victory.
Archer’s two losses this season came in a holiday tournament against No. 1-ranked teams from South Carolina (Myrtle Beach) and North Carolina (Providence Day).
-No. 6 Douglas County’s girls (15-1, 7-0) got a big road win at No. 10 Westlake (11-3, 4-1), winning 72-69 to take the lead in Region 3. Douglas County is led in scoring by 6-foot freshman Amari Robinson (15.9 points per game, 9.7 rebounds), although it was Amira Atwater (21) and Sayah Brooks (20) who led in the Westlake game.
Credit: Stan Awtrey
Credit: Stan Awtrey
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