Six No. 1- or No. 2-ranked teams lost in the second round of the state basketball tournament last week, and as many or more could fall Tuesday and Wednesday, when 64 quarterfinal games tip off.
Four Elite Eight games will be between teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2, three of them on the girls’ side, each with the No. 1 team playing on the road.
Those are River Ridge at Lovejoy in Class 6A, Luella at Carver-Columbus in 5A and Lumpkin County at Cross Creek in 3A. A coin toss determines home court when region champions meet.
“We have played an extremely tough schedule this season to prepare us for this moment. Looking forward to competing against one of Georgia's best."
River Ridge, Luella and Lumpkin County have never won state titles. Carver and Cross Creek are defending champions. Lovejoy won in 2018. The Cross Creek-Lumpkin County game is a rematch of a 2021 semifinal that Cross Creek won 46-45.
The boys game matching top-ranked teams is No. 2 Galloway at Greenforest Christian in Class A Private. Galloway is in the quarterfinals for the first time. Greenforest is a three-time former champion.
“Hate that we drew Greenforest in this round, but it is what it is,” Galloway coach Andrew Tulowitzky said. “They are the most complete team (in Class A Private) with ridiculous size, athleticism and great guard play. ... We have played an extremely tough schedule this season to prepare us for this moment. Looking forward to competing against one of Georgia’s best.”
The other most notable boys game has defending Class 7A champion Milton at No. 1 Pebblebrook.
Pebblebrook (27-2) has won 20 straight games and is unbeaten against Georgia opponents. That includes a 64-47 victory over Milton on Dec. 4. Pebblebrook led by 20 at halftime.
But Pebblebrook coach George Washington said the December game will have no bearing on this one, especially with Milton now having star inside player L.T. Overton. The five-star football recruit missed the first game while playing his other sport.
“The community wants revenge. We are not talking about revenge. We are just focusing on the moment."
This game feels more like a rematch of the 2021 semifinal, which Milton won 74-67.
“It is going to be crazy. The community is boiling with excitement,” Washington said. “The community wants revenge. We are not talking about revenge. We are just focusing on the moment.”
The second round was harsh for No. 1 and No. 2 teams. Two No. 1-ranked boys teams – Sandy Creek of 3A and Pace Academy of 2A – were eliminated.
Windsor Forest beat Sandy Creek 47-37 as part of a Savannah boys takeover of Class 3A. Also reaching the quarterfinals were Savannah teams Johnson, Beach and Groves, all from Region 3. Another Savannah team, Woodville-Tompkins, reached the quarterfinals in 2A.
Class 2A’s Emerald City is Augusta. Butler took out No. 1 Pace Academy, the defending champion, while Westside-Augusta beat No. 2 Columbia 82-72. Butler and Westside are now the highest-ranked teams remaining in the class. In the Class 2A girls bracket, Augusta’s Josey and Laney are still alive. Cross Creek, also from Augusta, has its boys and girls teams playing in 3A.
Other highly ranked teams dispatched in the second round were No. 2 North Forsyth’s girls (by No. 3 Grayson in Class 7A), No. 2 Westlake’s boys (by No. 1 Wheeler in 6A) and No. 2 St. Pius’ boys (by No. 5 Jonesboro in 5A).
Quarterfinal winners will advance to neutral-court semifinals Friday and Saturday. They will be played at the Buford Arena (7A, A Private), West Georgia (6A), Fort Valley State (5A, 4A), Georgia College (3A, 2A) and Valdosta State (A Public).
