Mount Bethel’s final games before the Region 6-Division II tournament have been challenging, but the team is holding serve.
After losing to No. 10 Paideia 61-58 on Jan. 12, the No. 6-ranked Eagles (14-5, 6-1) have won three consecutive games against stout competition. Bethel defeated No. 8 St. Francis 61-47 on Jan. 19, moved past Monsignor Donovan 67-53 on Jan. 20 and beat No. 5 King’s Ridge, the Class A Division I defending champions, 64-59 Tuesday.
Bethel will play host to Mount Pisgah, the 2021 Class A Private champions, Friday and if the Eagles win, the team will have beaten the past three state champions in a row for the second consecutive season.
Junior Zach Rodene played a pivotal role in limiting the success of King’s Ridge’s 6-foot-2 guard Jaydon Cole, who was held to just three points in the second half in the 64-59 victory. Favoring a pull-up jump shot, Rodene has the mid-range game to make opponents pay, and he has developed the offensive ability from outside and at the rim to go along with his defensive prowess.
Rodene finished with 23 points against King’s Ridge and is riding momentum heading into the final two games on the schedule against Pisgah and No. 1 Mount Vernon (13-9, 6-1) on Feb. 2.
Top-ranked Mount Vernon is coming off a 61-58 loss to then-No. 10 Paideia on Tuesday, several days after the latest rankings dropped. Mount Vernon, who might slide in next week’s poll, will travel to No. 8 St. Francis on Friday before the showdown with Mount Bethel.
What Division I boys team might ascend if Vernon falls in the polls? Woodville-Tompkins (19-2, 8-1).
The Wolverines have lost just twice this season – once to No. 4 Savannah on Dec. 8 and once to Class 5A No. 9 Bradwell Institute (16-2) on Dec. 29. Woodville will host Groves on Friday and Screven County on Tuesday before traveling to South Carolina’s Hilton Head Christian Academy on Feb. 1.
Class A Division I boys top-10
1. Mount Vernon
2. Woodville-Tompkins
3. Darlington
4. Savannah
5. King’s Ridge Christian
6. Mount Bethel Christian
7. East Laurens
8. St. Francis
9. Bleckley County
10. Paideia
Class A Division II boys top-10
1. Greenforest Christian
2. Portal
3. Christian Heritage
4. Calhoun County
5. Mitchell County
6. Seminole County
7. McIntosh County Academy
8. Early County
9. Wheeler County
10. Clinch County
Class A Division I girls top-10
1. St. Francis
2. Galloway
3. Athens Christian
4. Oglethorpe County
5. Lamar County
6. Rabun County
7. Swainsboro
8. Bryan County
9. East Laurens
10. Mount Pisgah Christian
Class A Division II girls top-10
1. Greenforest
2. Montgomery County
3. Taylor County
4. Wilcox County
5. Early County
6. Clinch County
7. Towns County
8. Terrell County
9. Seminole County
10. Manchester
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