State playoff predictions: Expect more metro ATL domination
Metro Atlanta teams won all 10 state basketball championships in 2010. Don’t expect another sweep, but most of the champions in this year’s tournament – which begins Friday – should be from the metro area again.
Below are my predictions for the semifinals and the eventual champion.
Milton (AAAAA), Miller Grove (AAAA), Columbia (AAA) and Greater Atlanta Christian (AA) are clear favorites in the boys draws, although SWD’s win over Miller Grove in the 6-AAAA final opens the door in AAAA. The hardest to pick in Class A, where defending champion Wesleyan, runner-up Whitefield Academy, No. 1-ranked Wilkinson County and No. 2 Greenville are top contenders along with my pick, Wilcox County, led by Nick Marshall.
With the girls, Wesleyan (A) is a virtual lock.
The others are much harder to establish a team to beat. Norcross is the defending champion but had to avenge two losses to North Gwinnett to win Region 7-AAAAA.
In AAA, Columbia is No. 1 but lost to St. Pius in its region final.
In AA, a Buford-Kendrick final would be pretty special.
The AAAA girls draw is the most unpredictable. With No. 1 Chamblee falling in the region, it’s open to many contenders.
BOYS
AAAAA: Harrison vs. Norcross, McEachern vs. Milton
Winner – Milton
AAAA: Jonesboro vs. Miller Grove, Fayette County vs. SW DeKalb
Winner – Miller Grove
AAA: Eagle’s Landing vs. Columbia, Monroe vs. Carrollton
Winner – Columbia
AA: Laney vs. South Atlanta, Thomasville vs. Greater Atlanta Christian
Winner – Greater Atlanta Christian
A: Wilcox County vs. Wilkinson County, Terrell County vs. Whitefield Academy
Winner – Wilcox County
GIRLS
AAAAA: Campbell vs. Norcross, Westlake vs. North Gwinnett
Winner – Norcross
AAAA: Forest Park vs. Douglas County, Fayette County vs. Clarke Central
Winner – Forest Park
AAA: Westover vs. St. Pius, Washington County vs. Columbia
Winner – Columbia
AA: Vidalia vs. Kendrick, Laney vs. Buford
Winner – Buford
A: Savannah Christian vs. Wesleyan, Bryan County vs. St. Francis
Winner – Wesleyan
GHSA PLAYOFF BRACKETS
Boys: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A – Prelims
Girls: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A
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214 comments Add your comment
Milton dad
February 23rd, 2011
10:56 pm
Thanks Three Straight. I’ll check it out.
GSHA fan: This is America. Go ahead and dream. You ain’t hurtin nobody.
Newton Co.
February 23rd, 2011
11:40 pm
mike, who cares about the schedule, Newton beat yall twice so our weak schedule at least prepared us to beat yall if nothing else. Yall need to be concerned about that Chamblee team from that beast of a region 6-AAAA. To sportsfan 31313, man give up the BI argument, they get blown out the playoffs by a school from Powder Springs, take your pick.
DecaturFinest
February 23rd, 2011
11:52 pm
@Mike I know you haven’t seen SWD play because if you had you wouldn’t make such a statement. SWD beat two teams in MGHS and Tucker(twice) and those two teams beat rockdale handedly. This is not the SWD teams of the past. They have two of the top players in the nation on their squad this year in Price & Goodwin, and if you haven’t heard those names before you will before the tournament is over.
Panther Paw
February 24th, 2011
7:14 am
SportsFan31313 – You speaking with your heart…..As usual BI girls haven’t played quality competition during the year with that inferior schedule……they don’t even have the heart to come up here during the holiday’s to play in the tournaments against better competition so they can really gage where they are. They may when 1 or 2 games during the play-offs and that’s it.
SportsFan31313
February 24th, 2011
9:21 am
Rudbuck, Mike, Panther Paw, Newton County,
You all have me smiling. You are right. I am speaking from the heart just as you all are too. You may be right witrh your comments about Bradwell institute. The truth is that some of the schools in the Metro Atlanta Area are larger than a lot of the South Georgia Schools. Remember Georgia has 159 Counties. The largest State land wise East Of the Mississippi River. Georgia has a lot of very small counties. I also agree that because of the larger schools, you have a larger pool of talent to pull from. However; I am telling you, don’t allow the national notoriety of the teams you play fool you. As I say again, Bradwell Institute would not be Number 1 in Class AAAAA if they did not deserve to be. I said it before, and I will say it again. Like it or don’t like it. All Roads will lead to Bradwell Institute to get to the Gwinette Center for the Class AAAAA Championship. But then again, as I too agree with Rudbuck. I will let the game be decided on the hardwood.
unknown
February 24th, 2011
9:32 am
@mike…….shutup
Mr.Coach
February 24th, 2011
9:37 am
If some schools can cheat and transfer players in that live on the other side of town….let all the schools do it. Either crack down on the cheating or just let everyone cheat, because its not fair that some schools can get away with it and others can”t.
Mr.Coach
February 24th, 2011
9:47 am
95% of SWD’s team has been playing together since Middle School (Chapel Hill) a true feeder system, that is how your supposed to do it instead of recruiting kids from all across the City.
Mrs. Coach
February 24th, 2011
10:02 am
Who are these recruiting remarks aimed at inparticular?
You made the statement you may as well expose them!
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
10:04 am
SWD’s #1 Fan!
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
10:10 am
I’ll expose them! Lets take a look at the addresses for MGHS, Milton, Norcross, Wheeler, and any other team who’s roster change from year to year, Were not even gonna talk about the so called private institute.
Mrs. Coach
February 24th, 2011
10:18 am
INTERESTING!!! Panther Pride…
Are you implying that all the top teams cheat?
Panther_dummy
February 24th, 2011
10:21 am
Go ahead and expose the players since you are SO full of knowledge, you are just another bitter, scorned parent
Mr.Coach
February 24th, 2011
10:25 am
Panther pride is only speaking the truth……..his son’s team is in the State Playoffs and loves to beat the cheaters. Its not a secret that these high school coaches recruit. I have been offered cash and trips for my boys.
parentalpride
February 24th, 2011
10:25 am
Panther Pride — I have kids at these schools and we all live with the coaches! go expose that.. what an IDIOT you must be
boyds_friend
February 24th, 2011
10:30 am
@MrCoach so do I cash and trips never came up, you must of given some impression that was what you were looking for that type of “business deal”
BB Fan
February 24th, 2011
11:12 am
Mr. Coach it’s funny u didn’t make the implications that these were the teams you let someone else say it for you! sounds a bit like a coward to me.
I think you are on point Panther_dummy.
Cash and trips for your boys, that’s an incriminating allegation. Got any proof (I doubt it)? IF Panther Pride’s boys make it past the first round that is as far as they will make it. (FACT)
boyd’s_friend, thanks for calling him out.
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
11:19 am
Put money on that BB fan! Oh so I hurt some feelings huh? You Know like I know cheating is going on. I been around since Dollar and Douglass & Jones and Southside remember what happened to them. Close your eyes if you what to, the state will open them soon enough!
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
11:31 am
I got your Idiot parental”punk”pride! Name calling is unnecessary, you must be cheating! Did I hurt your wittle feelings.
parentalpride
February 24th, 2011
11:33 am
Not at all! we are all still waiting for the big exposure c’mon with it
parentalpride
February 24th, 2011
11:40 am
wheeler,milton,norcross,SWD, transfer, recruiting, OLD NEWS get over it there will be the same blog next year by the same bitterball parent
High School Fan
February 24th, 2011
11:41 am
Swd has a great team jordan & shaq are great but they have an x factor in there point guard kadarius.
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
11:44 am
Fact of the matter is We really don’t care what ya’ll continue to do we have BEATEN half of the teams I mentioned anyway and the reason we hav’nt BEATEN the other two is because we hav’nt played them. Keep overlooking us please because sooner or later you’ll have to deal with us and it won’t be pretty. Underpanther we’ll take challenge!
BB Fan
February 24th, 2011
11:49 am
PantherPride,
Needless to say you mentioned those school names matter-of- factly.
Those are some strong accusations and if you think that the state is not watching all the mentioned teams mainly MG and Milton don’t be so sure. Once you make it nationally the State is all over you especially when these accusations have been presented against involved coaches previously. I do not beleive that either if these two coaches are that STUPID!!!
Just let the boys play ball and stop the bitter and hatred between the parents and coaches. You guys do realize that the teams read these blogs right? Not only are they teammates but they are friends with their opponents.
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
11:50 am
High School Fan your right but the biggest X factor is these kids played and won together on the middle school level. They went to back to back championship games going 21-0 in there final year. They know each other, they love each other, and they play for each other. X-FACTOR.
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
11:56 am
You are in denial BB Fan and its pretty sad. I know some of these players and parents personally. I know where they live and that there just doing what they what to do. Again thats fine because we gonna beat you anyway. Remember the New England Patroits, what goes around always come back around.
BB Fan
February 24th, 2011
12:06 pm
It’s not denial!! it’s common sense and unnessessary bickering.
Well you are just as gulity as the accused if you are withholding this type of information and not reporting it to the state! so either you are bluffing or just want to throw unrelated topics around this discussion board.
Just as easily as they found Dr. Krop (Miami) gulity of cheating they played MG why wasn’t an investigation Immediately prompt for them(MG) if there were so many red flags?
Girlie
February 24th, 2011
12:12 pm
Panther Pride,
Since you are so involved and know the cheaters, are boys the only cheaters?
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
12:23 pm
of course not it the Coaches and the Parents. Look keep cheating it really doesn’t bother me i’m just stating the fact as i know them. Like i said earlier were going to Beat you anyway so lighten up. Its better this way.
AAAAA Fan
February 24th, 2011
12:54 pm
Tift has talent to make a strong run. POUND THE BALL INSIDE!!!! STOP SHOOTING ALL THOSE DAMN 3’s
AJCHEAD
February 24th, 2011
1:57 pm
Panther Pride, be careful, if you look at the roster for MG in particular all of those kids have spent thier entire 4 years at MGHS. So no recruiting scandle there, i am sure the coach has learned his lesson from CARVER days and sitting out 2years ago! I give SWD pleanty of props for beating Miller Grove, i was at the game and finally saw MR. Price show up for a big game, if Mr. Goodwin had come to play they may have beaten Miller grove by 20. Check your roster before you ask others to check, remember Mr. Price started out at Columbia, went to Tennessee and is now back at SWD? The recruiting issue is really null in the Atlanta area, since in Dekalb a kid can move up or down panola road and based of the number be at MillerGrove, SWD, or Martin Luther King. Plus parents with apartments and not homes make it easy to move. I congradulate SWD and look at 3 region 6AAAA teams making it to the Elite 8, maybe 4 if Chamblee can beat Rockdale. It could be a region 6AAAA tournament again with Tucker vs Mg, and SWD vs. Chamblee.
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
2:09 pm
Be careful of what, we ain’t got nothing to hide and if we do let the light shine. I don’t think any kid is irreplaceable thats what some of you adult groupies making these children think that there all that. This behavoir is what messes them (the kids) up thinking they have the right to go all over the place to school. I don’t have to be careful I’m for whats right you be careful.
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
2:14 pm
I’m going to excuse myself from this litle kiddie board because its obvious that PANTHER PRIDE is way too much for you people. PEACE
Panola road
February 24th, 2011
2:42 pm
If I pay my taxes my child can go whereever/whenever & to what school they want
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
2:48 pm
This is the attitude the children take to school everyday, that they can do whatever they want when they want. This is why where (Teachers and Administrators) cacthing hell daily in these schools because kids are not taught to follow rules or respect authority.
Panther Paw
February 24th, 2011
3:06 pm
SportsFan31313 – the following notation from the ajc proves my point about the competition that BI has played all year. ‘No. 2 Bradwell Institute (28-0) is the only undefeated team in the classification, but the Tigers’ most noteworthy victory was an overtime win against a Class A team (Taylor County) that finished third in its region tournament’ …….so until they can do something against some quality teams please hold down your praise.
Proud Educator
February 24th, 2011
3:30 pm
Panther Pride I thought you were excusing yourself?
You sould like you could quite possibly be one of those frustrated teachers/administrators that you speak about.
I totally agree that Rules are meant to be followed but unless you are speaking facts you may want to go light on accusing teams of cheating.
I don’t think that Panther Pride is too much I just think you take this way to serious not to be McKenney ( unless you are ?)
SportsFan31313
February 24th, 2011
3:46 pm
Panther Paw,
In repsonse to your last comment about Bradwell Institute, and the AJC. My point proven is that Bradwell Institute is The “ONLY” team undefeated in Class AAAAA, My point proven is that Bradwell Institute is Number 1 in Class AAAAA in the Coaches Poll . (The “REAL POLL” That Counts) All Bradwell Institute has to do is keep winning. If so, then again I will say ALL ROADS WILL LEAD TO BRADWELL INSTITUTE TO THE GWINETTE CENTER…….
SportsFan31313
February 24th, 2011
3:47 pm
Panther Paw,
Who is your team that you are pulling for?
Panther Pride
February 24th, 2011
3:52 pm
Proud Educator if your an educator at all I’m actually the one taken this very lightly, this is a GAME where talking about so why do we cheat, and again you have blinders on if you don’t think these programs are all on the up and up. For the record I’m not Coach Mckinney, I’m a far better Coach…lol
Metro teams
February 24th, 2011
4:02 pm
SportsFan, the only “REAL POLL” that counts is the last one. Chamblee girls and South Gwinnett boys both had nice teams who were ranked…but neither will enjoy playoff basketball except from the stands.
just a question
February 24th, 2011
4:26 pm
some think mghs lost to out of the rockdale bracket, who knows may swd just won. There is a lot of talent on most teams. The team with the better bench will claim the title, let’s see how it plays out good luck to all.
SportsFan31313
February 24th, 2011
4:39 pm
Metro Teams,
Since you put ot that way, you are right. However; the last Poll that is posted, Bradwell Institute is ranked number 1.
big daddy pirate
February 24th, 2011
5:02 pm
Brunswick Lady Pirates advance to round 2 with a win over North Clayton. #4 Destiny Alston is the best freshman in the state of Ga. This team will make a run at the state titile the next next three years. They may make some noise this year as well. Go Lady Pirates!
mike
February 24th, 2011
9:14 pm
@newton county…. newton beat rockdale once.. not twice.. the 2nd game they showed newton the first game was a fluke…. newton is not a good team.. at all… schedule means everything… if u play sorry teams u should win…. and @decaturs finest.. dude im plating about heritage beating swd.. i have seen them play and to correct your statement.. rockdale lost to miller grove NOT TUCKER.. they beat tucker.,.
mike
February 24th, 2011
9:24 pm
just face the fact that newton county is not good.. at all.. beat rockdale by 4 in OT and the 2nd game it was over with at halftime.. get your facts right.. .. im not a fan of either.. just state facts.. . now on to teams we all know have a shot of making it to the elite 8.. chamblee will not make it at all.. sorry. any other team in that region playing rockdale this week and then u have an arguement.. so Villa Rica vs MIller Grove and SWD vs Rockdale. on the south part of things.
bodog
February 24th, 2011
10:35 pm
Look, This Topic comes up every year in all high school sports, but primarily Football, Basketball, and Baseball…….IT IS ALL ABOUT NUMBERS (POPULATION) !!!!!! AND WE ALL KNOW WHERE THE LARGEST POPULATION IS: SURPRISE , SURPRISE……METRO ATLANTA. LET THIS TOPIC DIE. IT SERVES NO PURPOSE……JUST DO THE MATH, AND YOU WILL HAVE TO AGREE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH………….
Hollabackk
February 24th, 2011
11:50 pm
You will Have to go through the Bradwell Institute Lady Tigers to win a Championship in AAAAA. Nuff said.
Panther Paw
February 25th, 2011
7:48 am
SportsFan31313 – I’m a proud SWD Panther!!!!!!!!!!
SportsFan31313
February 25th, 2011
10:42 am
Panther Paw,
Okay……