Archive for March, 2010

Milton coach David Boyd said the foul was called before the final buzzer sounded (AJC file)

Milton’s Julian Royal made two foul shots with no time remaining in a controversial 52-51 win over Norcross in Saturday’s Class AAAAA quarterfinals at West Georgia.

Only moments earlier, Norcross thought it had pulled off the upset and celebrated wildly after the sound of the final buzzer. However, as Norcross coach Jesse McMillan started walking toward the Milton bench to shake hands, the referees huddled on the side of the court.

“There was a scramble situation around the rim, maybe we fouled them or maybe we didn’t — that’s the ref’s call,” McMillan said. “The situation was that (one) referee called a foul as the horn sounded.

“(The other two) referees had waved the ballgame off, but the other one said he had a foul. He called a hold on us.”

The officiating crew eventually ruled that Royal had been fouled while fighting for a rebound before the buzzer had sounded. The referees …

Continue reading Milton High’s basketball team wins amid controversy, making two foul shots with time expired »

The AJC's Michael Carvell

* * * Click here for scores of the quarterfinals round of the state playoffs * * *

The 2010 state high school basketball tourney is ON. AJC high schools beat writer Michael Carvell will take your questions about high school basketball and related topics.

We are here to talk hoops, hoops and more hoops. Going to a game? Take the cellphone or PDA and let us know what’s going on at YOUR game. Got a score update, see a killer play or have a shout-out? Keep it clean and POST IT HERE.

QUARTERFINALS SCHEDULE: VENUES & TIMES
This weekend’s games are being played all around the state at various arenas. We’ll list them by host venue, address, with a link for directions and a map. Then we’ll list the schedule of matchups at each venue for Friday and Saturday.

Venues: Getting There
Columbus State University
4225 University Avenue Columbus, GA 31907-5645 (706) 507-8800 | Map & Directions

Fort Valley State University
1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley, GA‎ – …

Continue reading 2010 Georgia High School Basketball Tournament: Check quarterfinals schedules, venues, times here »

South Atlanta's Nick Jacobs (No. 54 jersey) has elevated his game with the departure of Derrick Favors (AJC)

South Atlanta’s Nick Jacobs says it’s nothing personal against Derrick Favors, his old high school teammate.

With Favors matriculated to Georgia Tech, Jacobs has rapidly developed into one of the state’s elite basketball players this season. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Jacobs averages 22 points and 12 rebounds for South Atlanta, the defending Class AAA champions.

“Derrick is a great player, but he’s gone,” Jacobs said.

Behind the all-star efforts of its junior big man, South Atlanta is making another championship run. The Hornets (28-2) have advanced to the quarterfinals of this weekend’s state playoffs, matching up with Westover (23-4) at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Columbus State.

“Nick has taken on a much larger role this year, he has made big improvements. He’s not even close to the player he was last year,” South Atlanta coach Michael Reddick said.

“Not only did we lose …

Continue reading Who is the next Derrick Favors? What about Nick Jacobs? »

The AJC's Michael Carvell

The 2010 state high school basketball tourney is ON. Whenever possible, AJC high schools beat writer Michael Carvell will take your questions about high school basketball and related topics.

We are here to talk hoops, hoops and more hoops. Going to a game? Take the cellphone or PDA and let us know what’s going on at YOUR game. Got a score update, see a killer play or have a shout-out? Keep it clean and POST IT HERE.

LATEST UPDATES

Scores: Wednesday’s second-round results

Raiders win: Mays boys advance with win over Chamblee

Indians boys, too: Golden leads McEachern past Campbell

Photos: Wednesday’s Campbell-McEachern doubleheader

TOURNAMENT INFO: PAIRINGS

2010 Georgia State Tournament brackets
BOYS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A
GIRLS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A

Talk hoops: Which ’sleeper’ teams are waiting to strike in the quarterfinals?

Continue reading 2010 Georgia High School Basketball Tournament: Second round scores & photos; Mays, McEachern boys, Campbell girls advance (UPDATED) »

Marietta High School went to the college ranks to find its new head football coach.

Scott Burton, who was an assistant coach for the University of Richmond (Va.) the last two years, was officially named to the position on Tuesday night.

Burton played football at Richmond from 1991-94, and later earned his master’s degree from the University of Georgia. He will begin at Marietta on April 1.

He will replace one of the state’s legends, James “Friday” Richards, who retired after 15 seasons as head coach of the Blue Devils, and 33 years of coaching at the school. Richards retired because of health reasons, but says he hopes to serve as an assistant under the new head coach.

Richards, who graduated from Marietta High School in 1972, played fullback for the University of Florida before returning to his hometown to take his first teaching job. That first job turned into the only one he would have.

What are your thoughts? Did Marietta pick the right guy? Are you impressed the school …

Continue reading Marietta High School hires UGA grad as new football coach »

Will Lassiter's new coach keep the good times rollin' like this past year? (AJC file)

Lassiter’s football program cannot get enough of a good thing.

The Cobb County school named Jep Irwin as its new head coach. Irwin served the offensive coordinator at Pelham High School near Birmingham, Ala., this past season.

Most importantly, Irwin is considered an expert in the type of spread offense that was successful under former Lassiter coach Chip Lindsey, who was hired away as a college assistant at Troy.

““The offensive system that Coach Lindsey ran at Lassiter is very unique,” Lassiter principal Chris Shaw said. “There are only four or five high school coaches that know this particular offense and Coach Irwin is one of those guys.”

Lindsey, 35, led Lassiter to its best season in the program’s history. He oversaw a stunning turnaround at Lassiter in his two years as head coach. He was 9-3 in 2008, setting a school record for wins in a season. This year, Lassiter was the Cinderella …

Continue reading Lassiter High School picks new football coach with expertise in same offensive scheme »

ALSO: Florida-bound recruit plays “above the rim” for Southwest DeKalb basketball team

More than a dozen Tuesday basketball playoff games have been postponed due to icy weather conditions. Fulton County has also announced that all Tuesday athletic events have been called off.

It is the fourth time this season that the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has dealt with weather postponements during basketball season, but this is most alarming: It is during the state playoffs, and could force some teams to have to play on back-to-back days. The quarterfinals round are scheduled to start at neutral sites on Friday.

“It’s unfortunate, (the snow) has really messed things up,” GHSA executive director Ralph Swearngin said. “We’re just not equipped down here to deal with it.

“There are other states that this situation is normal procedure, and they wouldn’t blink an eye at it. In Georgia, however, we have to pay attention and deal with it.”

The scheduling for all second-round playoff …

Continue reading High school basketball playoff games postponed due to weather conditions (UPDATED) »

Southwest DeKalb’s Kayla Lewis is one of the state’s few girls in high school basketball who plays “above the rim.”

Lewis, who has signed with Florida, has to be constantly reminded by her coach not to touch the rim during warm-ups because it’s an automatic technical foul. She was nearly called for goal-tending in a game over the holidays, and routinely dunks a tennis ball in practices.

“It’s one of my goals to dunk in a game,” Lewis said. “I hope to make it happen in college after I get stronger in weight-training. But it’s my goal.”

The 6-foot Lewis will have to wait on that goal, but have a decent shot at achieving another one this year — helping Southwest win a third straight Class AAAA championship.

The No. 2-ranked Panthers (23-4) play host to Fayette County (24-5) at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the second round of the state tournament.

Lewis averages 15 points and 8 rebounds, leading Southwest in both categories for the second season in a row. She starts at small forward, but …

Continue reading Florida-bound recruit plays “above the rim” for Southwest DeKalb’s basketball team »

AJC's Michael Carvell

How well do you know your high school basketball?

If you’re feeling good about your knowledge, then how about picking one game that will be an upset in the second round of the state basketball playoffs, which tip off on Tuesday.

The first round was full of them, most notably the Parkview girls. The No. 2 team in Class AAAAA saw its perfect season end at home in a shocker to Marietta.

This wasn’t an upset but … the Rockdale boys, ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA, defeated Fayette County 75-72 in overtime. I’m still trying to figure out that one. Rockdale never led in regulation, and trailed by five points with less than 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Do you believe in miracles?

Anyways, what’s your upset prediction — boys or girls — in the second round? State your case below.

TOURNAMENT INFO: 2ND ROUND PAIRINGS
Note: It is up to the individual teams (not the GHSA) to set game times.
2010 Georgia State Tournament brackets
BOYS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA |

Continue reading Make your prediction on a second-round upset in the high school basketball playoffs (UPDATED) »

Jamil Saaka, senior at Columbia High School. Click on the video below and see his show-stopping jams.

What’s your opinion of Saaka’s runaway win in the polls? Is he the state’s best?

Who else should’ve been nominated? And if you’ve got video of this player’s dunks, then email it to me at mcarvell@ajc.com

Continue reading And the Winner of the AJC’s 2010 Dunk Contest for high school basketball is … »