AAA basketball blog: Champions descend on Columbia

Last year, Eagle’s Landing boys coach Clay Crump had a young but talented team, and he was happy to keep his non-region schedule against local teams. A run to the state semifinals can change the scheduling mindset a bit, though, and so it is that Crump and Eagle’s Landing are in the Converse Invitational Classic at Columbia High School next week.

“We were honored to get the invitation,” Crump said. “It was a no-brainer.”

If you want to see a state championship team play, this is the event for you. At least half of the 18 schools in the event have state championship trophies, including Eagle’s Landing’s first-round opponent, Wenonah High School from Birmingham, Ala., last year’s Class 5A state titlist.

“You don’t want to find out the truth about yourself in March,” Crump said. “You want to find out early. What I’ve been telling the kids is that the math changes. When we play this level of competition, the height, the speed, all those things even out. At this level of competition it becomes more about execution.”

The event features 18 teams and multiple state champions from other states along with host Columbia, which has won four titles in the past six years. The Eagles take on Butler-Augusta in a rematch of last season’s Class AAA boys final. Another defending state champion, Mississippi 6A champ Meridian, takes on Tucker.

“I just hope we can play all the all the available games,” Crump said.

Other big news at Columbia: A shattered backboard.

Other boys tournaments involving AAA teams to keep an eye on:

North Gwinnett Jared Cook Classic: The unbeaten Thomson boys may get their stiffest test yet. The Bulldogs are winning by an average of 40 points per game over their first seven games and five players are averaging double-figure scoring, led by Ronkeem Sallywhite (19.2 ppg) and Dwayne Williams (18.6).

Westminster Holiday Classic: Grady is 8-1 after beating Therrell Tuesday night. The Grey Knights face Wesleyan in the first round on Dec. 27.

Walnut Grove Warrior Classic: The host Warriors are 8-2, with their only losses to Class AAAAA Newton. They face Ola in the tournament opener on Dec. 28.

The St. Pius X Christmas Classic: This 12th annual event features 16 boys and girls teams from Georgia and seven other states. The host St. Pius girls are 8-0 behind senior Emma Ucinski, who scored 19 points against Class AA Lovett Saturday night.