North Gwinnett girls take over No. 1 spot in Class AAAAA

It has been 11 years since North Gwinnett High School won a girls basketball game in the state playoffs. This season, the team started 1-4.

Two months later, the Lady Bulldogs (19-5) are ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA on the strength of a 16-game winning streak that includes two victories over defending champion Norcross.

North Gwinnett’s latest win over Norcross -- 60-56 on Friday -- was the impetus for moving North Gwinnett to the top from No. 4. Norcross was the previous No. 1 team.

The two teams might meet again this week in the Region 7-AAAAA tournament, which determines seeds for the state playoffs.

North Gwinnett returned three starters from its 19-10 team that lost in the first round last season. The team was bolstered by a transfer from Florida, guard Lexie Brown, a sophomore who has committed to Maryland. Brown, the daughter of former NBA player Dee Brown, is averaging 16 points, five assists and five steals.

North Gwinnett’s move to No. 1 highlighted a week of significant movement in the girls rankings. Thirteen teams that were ranked last week lost at least once over the past seven days, including six in Class AAAAA. Brookwood, No. 2 last week, lost to Parkview and South Gwinnett and fell to eighth. Bradwell Institute, the only undefeated team remaining in AAAAA, moved up from No. 3 to second. North Gwinnett got the nod over Bradwell for the top spot because of a significantly stronger schedule.

In all, there are five new teams in the girls rankings this week. Parkview and Milton replaced Alpharetta and Hillgrove in Class AAAAA, Clarke Central replaced Southwest DeKalb in AAAA, St. Pius replaced Americus-Sumter in AAA, and Model replaced Rabun County in AA. Southwest DeKalb is the three-time defending champion in AAAA, and Hillgrove was No. 1 in AAAAA three weeks ago but has gone 5-4 since.

The boys rankings were largely unchanged. New in the rankings are Campbell for McEachern in AAAAA and Westover for Monroe in AAA.

BOYS

Class AAAAA

1. Milton (23-2)

2. Peachtree Ridge (20-4)

3. Wheeler (19-6)

4. Collins Hill (18-6)

5. Norcross (16-9)

6. Walton (19-6)

7. South Gwinnett (19-6)

8. North Gwinnett (17-7)

9. Harrison (19-6)

10. Campbell (19-6)

Class AAAA

1. Miller Grove (24-1)

2. Sequoyah (25-0)

3. Fayette County (23-2)

4. Bainbridge (23-2)

5. Rockdale County (19-5)

6. Brunswick (23-2)

7. Tucker (20-4)

8. Lovejoy (22-3)

9. Jonesboro (22-3)

10. Southwest DeKalb (19-5)

Class AAA

1. Columbia (22-3)

2. Troup (19-3)

3 West Hall (21-4)

4. Carrollton (20-5)

5. Henry County (20-4)

6. Gainesville (17-7)

7. Murray County (22-2)

8. Butler (18-7)

9. Washington County (21-3)

10. Westover (16-9)

Class AA

1. South Atlanta (24-1)

2. Greater Atlanta Christian (20-5)

3. Laney (24-0)

4. Thomasville (22-3)

5. East Hall (20-5)

6. Rockmart (24-1)

7. Dade County (22-3)

8. Northeast-Macon (20-2)

9. Vidalia (23-2)

10. Buford (18-7)

Class A

1. Wilkinson County (23-0)

2. Greenville (22-3)

3. Whitefield Academy (22-3)

4. Wilcox County (19-2)

5. Wesleyan (22-3)

6. Terrell County (20-3)

7. Pace Academy (21-3)

8. North Cobb Christian (23-2)