The semifinals of the GHSA/Dr. Ralph Swearngin Basketball State Championships will determine the finalists for each class as the season begins to end Friday and Saturday.
Held at five locations around the state, the semifinals involve teams traveling across the state in the penultimate weekend of the state’s basketball season. Carrollton, Milledgeville, Fort Valley, Savannah and Atlanta are all host cities.
HIGH CLASSED TALENT
In Class 7A at Georgia State, McEachern’s Ace Bailey had 33 points to lead the Indians past Norcross 72-57 and into its semifinal’s matchup with Wheeler. On the other side of the bracket, Grayson is 27-2 and hasn’t lost in 12 games while Milton is coming off a 79-65 victory over Pebblebrook.
On the girls side, Grayson is an undefeated 30-0 this season and is nationally ranked. Lowndes is led by three girls – Kaci Demps, Kayla Jackson and Aryana Thomas – each averaging 11 points per game. Cherokee enters the semis after beating Campbell 70-60 and will face North Paulding after its bracket-busting upset of Buford 74-69 in overtime.
In Class 6A in Carrollton, Deke Cooper (15 points per game), Zach Foster (13) and Brandon Peters (13) pace Woodward into the semifinals against Alexander. Senior Brandon Lue (18 points per game), Greg Dunson (14) and Jermaine Freeman (11) are the leading scorers for Alexander.
Led by Montez Redding’s 20 points per game, Jonesboro enters the boys semifinals against Riverwood rolling. Izaiah Turman (12), Cortez Redding (11) and Chris Jones (11) are threats for the Cardinals. Riverwood is a team in its first-ever semifinals appearance. The Marist girls have won postseason matchups by an average of over 30 points. Their semifinal matchup will be against a 26-4 River Ridge team. On the other side, Veterans beat Langston Hughes narrowly 60-56 and will match up against North Forsyth following its 61-49 victory over Woodward.
I’M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE
In Class 5A in Carrollton, Tyrin Sims scored nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead Winder-Barrow past Warner Robins 66-64 in the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs will face Kell after the Longhorns upended Dutchtown 60-45 last week. Jackson-Atlanta boys and girls advanced as the girls won by 25-points in the quarterfinal matchup against Union Grove. The Lady Jaguars will face off against Cartersville as they were led by Taff Bradley who had 18 points and nine rebounds.
In Class 4A in Fort Valley, Baldwin’s boys have three players – Isaiah Dennis (20 points), Tremarius Lawrence (13) and Karez Demory (11) – scoring in double-figures entering the semifinals against North Oconee. On the other side, Caleb Jones (28 points per game) leads Benedictine against Holy Innocents’, led by Caleb Wilson’s 20 points per game. The Baldwin girls defeated Stockbridge by 27-points to advance to the semifinals against Fayette County. Baldwin’s Janaye Walker (17 points, 17 rebounds) was key in the quarterfinals. Fayette’s girls are led by Briann Freeman (12 points), Andrea Hope (10) and Anaya Ferguson (10). On the opposite side of the girls bracket, North Oconee defeated Starr’s Mill 62-55 and will face off against Hardaway, led by Mikayla Johnson (18 points) and Akilah Shelton (14 points).
GUESS WHO’S BACK, BACK AGAIN
In Class 3A in Savannah, defending-champion Sandy Creek’s boys will face Carver-Columbus, the 2019 4A champion. Johnson-Savannah will hope for home-court advantage against Dougherty, led by Kalek Singletary-Jinks (14 points) and Jaion Burns (13 points). On the girls side, defending-champion Hebron enters the game on a 19-game winning streak and will face Monroe after it beat White County 67-64. On the opposite side, 13-time champion Wesleyan will face the 2019 and 2021 4A champion Carver-Columbus, led by senior Jazmin Thornton who had 31 points and 13 rebounds in the quarters.
In Class 2A in Milledgeville, Westside-Augusta will face Columbia and Butler will play Toombs County for a boys championship berth. Murray County is in its first semifinal appearance since 1966. The Indians were led by Bayleigh Walker who scored 18 points with nine rebounds in the quarters. They will face Mount Paran Christian while Central-Macon and Josey will play for a trip to Macon.
In Class A Division I, Mount Vernon won its eighth-consecutive game and will face Mt. Pisgah. The Mustangs were led by 19 points from O’Neill Connoly. Paideia and Savannah will face off in the other boys semifinal. On the girls side, Athens Christian will face St. Francis and Rabun County will face Galloway.
In Class A Division II at Fort Valley State, Greenforest Christian boys and girls teams both won by double-digits in the quarters. The boys will face Macon County and have won by an average of 44 points per game in the postseason. Manchester will play Warren County. For the girls, Clinch County plays Montgomery County and Greenforest will face Taylor County.
Loading ...
