HS rankings: Four new No. 1 teams in final poll before state tournament
Defending boys champions Miller Grove (AAAA) and Greater Atlanta Christian (AA) and defending girls champ Fayette County (AAAA) won their region tournaments last week and re-emerged as No. 1-ranked teams in the final poll before the end of the state tournament, which begins this week.
But Wesleyan, which has won the past four Class A girls titles, dropped from the top spot after losing to St. Francis in the Region 6-A final. The new No. 1 team is Southwest Atlanta Christian. The Warriors routed Paideia 68-35 on Saturday in the Region 9-A championship game and swapped places with Wesleyan.
Also falling from No. 1 were Fayette County boys (AAAA), Jordan boys (AA) and Douglas County girls (AAAA),
One of the most stable teams is Milton’s boys, who are No. 1 in Class AAAAA and winners of 19 straight games. But the state’s largest classification is a mess, otherwise. Seven teams that won their region’s No. 1 seed failed to win their region tournaments.
Class AAAA was nearly as unpredictable as the highest seed or ranked team won only one of the eight regions. That was Miller Grove in 6-AAAA (Miller Grove).
The upsets should make for some controversial rankings. Do you rank based on region tournament or body of work? Tell us what you think.
Also, note that we have the state tournament draws online for all classes. They aren’t official, but they’re probably the best collection you’ll find on Sunday afternoon.
Class AAAAA draw
RANKINGS
BOYS
Class AAAAA
1. Milton (23-4)
2. North Cobb (24-4)
3. Westlake (24-3)
4. Berkmar (20-7)
5. Shiloh (24-4)
6. Valdosta (22-5)
7. Wheeler (16-10)
8. North Gwinnett (19-9)
9. M.L. King (19-9)
10. Peachtree Ridge (18-9)
Class AAAA
1. Miller Grove (18-9)
2. Alcovy (25-3)
3. Fayette County (25-2)
4. Southwest DeKalb (17-9)
5. Jonesboro (23-4)
6. Chattahoochee (23-5)
7. Woodland-Cartersville (26-2)
8. Bainbridge (22-5)
9. Douglas County (25-3)
10. North Clayton (17-10)
Class AAA
1. Columbia (26-1)
2. Carrollton (24-3)
3 Walnut Grove (25-3)
4. Drew (24-4)
5. Eagle’s Landing (25-3)
6. Allatoona (24-4)
7. North Hall (23-5)
8. Troup (19-7)
9. Washington County (23-2)
10. Crisp County (18-9)
Class AA
1. Greater Atlanta Christian (23-5)
2. Buford (20-7)
3. Laney (23-4)
4. Albany (23-2)
5. Manchester (17-2)
6. Jordan (24-3)
7. South Atlanta (22-6)
8. Vidalia (24-3)
9. Morgan County (23-4)
10. Coosa (24-4)
Class A
1. North Cobb Christian (28-0)
2. Whitefield Academy (24-3)
3. Wilkinson County (25-2)
4. Lanier County (23-4)
5. Taylor County (23-2)
6. Wilcox County (20-4)
7. Athens Christian (26-2)
8. Turner County (24-5)
9. Portal (25-3)
10. Mount Pisgah Christian (17-9)
GIRLS
Class AAAAA
1. McEachern (28-0)
2. Parkview (28-0)
3. Norcross (23-5)
4. Alpharetta (22-3)
5. Stephenson (24-4)
6. North Gwinnett (23-3)
7. Beach (26-1)
8. Marietta (23-4)
9. Hillgrove (22-4)
10. Westlake (22-6)
Class AAAA
1. Fayette County (23-5)
2. Douglas County (26-2)
3. Statesboro (26-2)
4. Miller Grove (20-4)
5. Chamblee (26-2)
6. Creekview (25-3)
7. Jonesboro (22-5)
8. Alcovy (24-4)
9. Richmond Hill (25-2)
10. Warner Robins (23-4)
Class AAA
1. Washington County (27-0)
2. Columbia (19-5)
3. St. Pius (24-4)
4. Allatoona (24-4)
5. Westover (25-2)
6. Troup (21-5)
7. Carrollton (24-4)
8. Westside-Augusta (24-4)
9. Mary Persons (23-2)
10. Sandy Creek (19-9)
Class AA
1. Model (27-1)
2. Laney (26-1)
3. Buford (21-7)
4. Morgan County (26-1)
5. East Hall (25-3)
6. Lovett (23-5)
7. North Oconee (24-4)
8. Calhoun (22-5)
9. Heard County (22-3)
10. Decatur (22-6)
Class A
1. SW Atlanta Christian (25-3)
2. Wesleyan (24-4)
3. Calvary Day (25-2)
4. St. Francis (23-5)
5. Taylor County (23-1)
6. Gordon Lee (25-3)
7. Darlington (25-3)
8. Pace Academy (21-6)
9. Charlton County (21-4)
10. Pelham (24-4)
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70 comments Add your comment
chris
February 19th, 2012
5:12 pm
Rank by body of work. Teams get hot in the reg. tourneys, but you have to reward a team based on what they have done over the course of the season. I will say that the tournaments bring alot of pressure to some teams some can handle it and others get upset so get ready it will be some upsets…
Peach Basket
February 19th, 2012
5:13 pm
I guess it serves to get people talking, but these issues will work themselves out on the court. Good luck to all involved.
Region 6AAAA will once again win state. Sorry, but the other regions need to play better comp
chris
February 19th, 2012
5:23 pm
@ Peach Reg 4 got some good teams and they have beat each other up all year Miller Grove is good but they can be beat and so can SWD. It’s some good teams in this tourney and not just in Reg 6 or 4
AAAA FAN
February 19th, 2012
5:47 pm
Of course MG & SWD can be beat they each have. but check the brackets and Tell me who can beat them? Just curious about your opinion?
chris
February 19th, 2012
5:50 pm
Thats why you play the games one bad night and you are done it can happen.
chris
February 19th, 2012
5:52 pm
To answer your question AAAA fan Teams from the southside Region 3 or 4 could be potential teams. Just sit back and enjoy the tourney we will see at the end.
the real #1
February 19th, 2012
5:55 pm
love how bainbridge didnt win the region and moves up
Farland Cobb
February 19th, 2012
6:34 pm
ML. King had slumped for whatever reason but they appear to be peaking at the right time. With signature win over Westlake for region 2AAAAA title, that makes them the only ball club in the state to top Westlake. In what was arguably the toughest region in all of AAAAA this year, that says a lot. LLUella, Westlake, ML.King, Langston Hughes, and Newton were all ranked late in the season and the only 2 teams that were not ranked (Newnan and Stephenson) made the state tournament. Should be interesting to see how this region fares in the state tournament.
Todd Holcomb
February 19th, 2012
6:56 pm
”love how bainbridge didnt win the region and moves up”
I hear ya, but the only region that went as scripted was 6-AAAA. Most of the Top 10 lost. Had to take last week’s rankings, tear ‘em up, and start over. B’bridge is 16-1 since New Year’s with a loss at the buzzer.
Aaabasketballknowitall
February 19th, 2012
7:15 pm
How bout Wghs #3 in aaa Todd?! I told you a month ago this team was special. Its a 3 year old school and The city has about 1500 residents, Cinderella story?! Let’s go warriors, win the whole thing!
indianman
February 19th, 2012
8:10 pm
what about them vidalia indians in region 2aa
Robert Wilson
February 19th, 2012
8:44 pm
It should be the body of work. How does Grady fall out of the ranking? They had a bad two days. They won 11 out of the last 13.
The General
February 19th, 2012
8:45 pm
Shiloh would be undefeated and could win the whole thing, with much respect to MILTON in round 2 @ Milton, if their coach would go inside consistently to the best big man combination in the state R, Carter 6′8 unstoppable and the promising 7′0 soph. Reed, but he let’s those guards and wings jack up to many jumpers, that’s why a talented but out manned Berkmar team keeps beating them. Berkmar has a great coach.
The General
February 19th, 2012
8:49 pm
Berkmar had a 6′2 guy guarding a 7′0 the majority of the night because Roe of Berkmar was in foul trouble all night, very frustrating to watch this all season
chris
February 19th, 2012
8:59 pm
@ Robert Wilson i agree it should be body of work. Grady was ranked pretty high last week and to be kicked out the polls in a week is crazy. Todd thats wrong imo its tourney time things happen Grady is a quality team.
Robert Wilson
February 19th, 2012
10:47 pm
@ Chris Thanks I think Washington and Grady will both win this weekend. Grady was ranked number 4 last week. Now they are out.
Bball Fan
February 19th, 2012
11:24 pm
For as long as I have followed High School Bball I must say the teams that have the most consistancy is them Fayette County Boys and Girls. What a program. When I saw them last year both teams from what they lost I thought for sure their run was over. But look at them again Boy was just ranked #1 in the state and the defending girl state champs are ranked #1 now. Hey I watch a lot different schools all year and not a fayette county fan, but this progam is the cream of the crop in any clasification.
Truth
February 20th, 2012
12:27 am
Wow Bbll fan. I respect what u say about the girls, but what has fayette county won besides games. No rings and last time they made it to the championship they lost. Courtesy of the eagles of Columbia. That’s right 4a champs that year
Truth
February 20th, 2012
12:33 am
I watched Grady and Washington. Washington is streaky but good. Grady is just not that good. They barely beat Woodward academy who should just close the basketball program and stick to academics. Grady will be home soon, so u guys can stop asking. The ? Will be where will Watkins be next year when spade retires after the season.
Truth
February 20th, 2012
12:34 am
I watched Grady and Washington. Washington is streaky but good. Grady is just not that good. They barely beat Woodward academy who should just close the basketball program and stick to academics. Grady will be home soon, so u guys can stop asking. The ? Will be where will Watkins be next year when slade retires after the season.
UGAKev
February 20th, 2012
1:00 am
Jordan gets hosed by terrible officials and loses the game at the buzzard to a good manchester team and they drop to 6!!!? Yeah please justify that one. I would like to hear it.
afan
February 20th, 2012
1:57 am
Ugakev…..that’s why you gotta love the playoffs rankings mean nothing then
UGAKev
February 20th, 2012
5:18 am
Your right Afan…I cant wait
Savannah
February 20th, 2012
6:31 am
Savannah high 26-2 and still not ranked in AAAAA. I guess we just have to play ball in the state. Savannah high and Johnson high are sleepers but both have the talent to win the state championship. Johnson high with the best Guard duo in the state of GA. 6′6 combo Guard Tim Quaterman who is nothing but a Jr. who is hands down the best Guard in the state of GA. and Keme Davis its going to be hard to beat them not to mention a 6′6 small/power foward in Sadiq Mahummand. And Savannah High with one of the best coaches in GA who plays 12 players off his bench. Savannah High has 10 players who can put up 20 points on any giving night and they have one of the best shooters in ga in Russell Famble a 6′4 small fowards. its going to be a good state playoffs looking foward to it.
Ga BBALL Fan
February 20th, 2012
7:33 am
I would say Coulumbia or Norcross have the best combined programs over the past ten years not Fayette County.
Buckwheat19
February 20th, 2012
9:35 am
It has to be based on body of work and the level of competition over the WHOLE season. A team can get hot during the course of a few quarters or a game, but a team should be judged over 27 or 28 games, especially when those 27 or 28 games include playing top level competition from out of the area.
Northside Dawg
February 20th, 2012
11:56 am
Northside (23-5 I believe) defeats Bainbridge for the region title and is still unranked. Whats up with that?
Topcop
February 20th, 2012
3:26 pm
Robert…..I’m with you on this one! Grady loses two games and they’re completely out the rankings! Its unbelievable to think they would completely drop out! Anyway, I think there’s going to be some upsets the first week of the tourney! You’ll have a team (Grady) that was ranked 4th in last week’s poll going against a team (Carrollton) that’s ranked 2nd in this week’s poll!! Wow, way to start a tournament off!!! It should be a great game!
@ Truth….Obviously, you really don’t watch Grady basketball! It’s a team sport and Watkins is not the show!! In the midst of Grady’s 10 game win streak, Watkins was out with a knee injury for about 5 games!! One player doesn’t bring in a 21-4 regular season record! It’s a team game and Watkins will be there next year after Coach SLADE retires!!! Where is would he go?
C-town
February 20th, 2012
4:35 pm
All I got to say is fear Alcovy Tigers, they handled previous #1 Fayette Co with ease in a statement game they been waiting on all year. Their last loss was to streaking AAAAA#2 North Cobb in the Deep South Tournament final. They are deep, athletic and are playing out of their minds right now.
Todd Holcomb
February 20th, 2012
4:44 pm
”It should be the body of work. How does Grady fall out of the ranking? They had a bad two days. They won 11 out of the last 13.”
All five of Grady’s losses are to unranked teams, including one from Class A. Grady hasn’t beaten a ranked team from any classification. Grady lost to Towers, and Towers lost by 40 the next night. Looking at the results, this just doesn’t sound like a Top 10 team to me.
Todd Holcomb
February 20th, 2012
4:46 pm
”Northside (23-5 I believe) defeats Bainbridge for the region title and is still unranked. Whats up with that?”
Northside is 20-7 with five losses vs. AA or A teams, and four of those AA/A teams are unranked. That’s not a Top 10 resume, IMO. But Northside is hot, which is what matters.
Todd Holcomb
February 20th, 2012
4:50 pm
”Savannah high 26-2 and still not ranked in AAAAA. I guess we just have to play ball in the state.”
Hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t think those 3-AAAAA teams are playing good schedules. Of course, Savannah did beat Alcovy. But Alcovy blew out Johnson, which delivered both Savannah losses.
Todd Holcomb
February 20th, 2012
4:51 pm
”How bout Wghs #3 in aaa Todd?! I told you a month ago this team was special. Its a 3 year old school and The city has about 1500 residents, Cinderella story?! Let’s go warriors, win the whole thing!”
Yep, great story. I actually jumped them over some other teams that won. That has some history. Walnut Grove might well be Cinderella.
Trojan94
February 20th, 2012
5:44 pm
Big props to my carrollton trojans and lady trojans for a great regular season! Good luck in the state playoffs. Go Trojans
Northside Dawg
February 20th, 2012
6:40 pm
Ok Todd, thanks for the Northside clarification.
Bball Fan
February 20th, 2012
6:40 pm
Fayette County beat Miller Grove that year to advance to the Final game and lost to Columbia by 3 points in the State Championship. Norcross and Columbia have good programs that have had some consistency over the past few years but look at Fayette County program boys and girls and they don’t recruit like the previous mentioned program along with several others. Therefore, you have to tip your hat to this program/coaches. If you investigate their area you will find the Middle School just won the County Championship. The 9th and Jr Varsity girls nd boys aare awesome teams. Once again i am not a Fayette County resident nor fan but my time spent attending games around the state and my research has lead me to give credit where credit is due.
EagleDad
February 20th, 2012
6:41 pm
Will not be a shocker to me if Hillgrove leaves with a win against Savannah.
Truth
February 20th, 2012
7:39 pm
@topcop. Watkins still looks hurt, but not his leg. Looks like he need heart. And I bet he wasn’t hurt when they played Washington. The only competition on there schedule.
Ga BBALL Fan
February 20th, 2012
9:02 pm
@Bball Fan I am just basing my comment on results. Norcross and Columbia have multiple state titles in both girls and boys BBall. Fayette County doesn’t. Just my opinion
Benjamin Mitchell
February 21st, 2012
5:59 am
I don’t think Hillgrove has enough fire power to beat a savannah high team. I don’t think Hillgrove can come to Savnnah and get a win . Savannah High lost 1 game there all year and that was to real good Johnson High team in overtime. So if hillgrove pull off a upset I will be real surprise but I would not bet on it. Savannah High and Johnson High will make it to the elite 8 easy. Like I said before Johnson has the best Guards in the state and putting up a season average of almost 90 pts per game its goning to be hard to beat that with all five starter avg. over 10 points a game and with the region 3 AAAAA player of the year Tim Quaterman its going to be hard but we just have to wait and she.
Deacon51
February 21st, 2012
8:03 am
Well Well. I have been gone for a few days and the comments concerning Grady are just that, comments… To say that grady shuold close down the basketball and stick to academics is a bit extreme …. To say they do not play anyone is a slap in the face of every team in our region. For those of you who would like to know, Grady still had to play each game, North Springs is good, Washington is very good, and so is the rest of the region. No, they dont play top ranked opponents but they still have to play and they played very well. Rankings come from other sources not the players or coaches @ Grady.
Grady has never been know for basketball since Glenn Gleaton left back in the early 90’s but for the last two years Grady.has compiled a 40- 15 record…. not too bad but needless to say they are well coached and to say they do not deserve the rankings or pub is simply not true….. Be Blessed on today my brothers and sisters…..Amen?
Truth
February 21st, 2012
12:56 pm
To deacon. It’s just a comment. If you saw how grady played u might say the same. But like topcop your probably bias and not realistic.
Johnny Too Good
February 21st, 2012
2:48 pm
@EagleDad……Hillgrove basketball? really? The Savannah High and Johnson High teams arent that great but I’m sure they could both knock off Hillgrove
Jeff Jones
February 21st, 2012
4:44 pm
Hey Todd, what about the Woodstock Girls’ basketball team? Record of 20 – 8, and Region 5AAAAA champions for the first time in school history and still not ranked? The strength of their schedule should be reason enough to be recognized in the polls. Beating North Cobb twice, being in both games with 4th ranked Alpharetta down to the final buzzer, and playing the rest of their top ten opponents very tight, with the exception of McEachern. Not to mention, they just beat #8 Marietta for the Region title. Just thinking there should be some respect thrown their way. This team is going to make a run. And if not this year, then next year as they return every starter. Also, this team has 2 – 1,000 point career scorers, and they are just juniors. Look out for the Lady Wolverines!
Deacon 51
February 21st, 2012
5:54 pm
I am biased a little because I think that you should not attack a program that you know nothing about….. I have followed this program since the eighties, and know full well that they are well coached without recruiting. Sure , they might not play in the toughest of regions, but they play well and play hard….. You will not find a finer coaching staff. Two losses should not have caused such a fire storm but hey thats what makes it tournament basketball.
Again, GO KNIGHTS!!!!!!
Topcop
February 21st, 2012
7:26 pm
Deacon 51…….Thank you for your continued support and love of the Grey Knights of Grady High School. Its true we may not have the blue chippers that Columbia (somehow) gets year after year, but with the coaching staff that we do have, we do possess an unbelievable team! Every team may experience a little funk every now and then. We just experienced our funk towards the end of the season. However, we did make the State playoffs and that’s what matters most! By the way Truth, what team do you support? You spend most of your time bashing Grady and its players! As Deacon 51 pointed out, Go Knights!!!!
curiousmind
February 21st, 2012
10:03 pm
@Topcop, if you do your investigation like a true cop does, you will see that the so call blue chippers has been in columbia program for the last four to three years. The coach startt them as 9th grader and let them play.
NCHS Fan
February 21st, 2012
10:33 pm
@Benjamin Mitchell Don’t get carried away they’re averaging 71 points per game against sub par teams. Their region has only 4 teams with above .500 winning percentages out of region. Of course you can get a couple good teams to look so dominate in a region so weak. Johnson Savvanah is 4-4 out of region and got blown out by the only good team out of region they played in Alcovy. They have a really good Harrison team that has something to prove after losing 3 of their last 6.
Robert Wilson
February 22nd, 2012
4:08 am
@curiousrmind you are out of your mind if you think those kids been in that program for
four years. You could count them on one hand. The best coaches take who ever in the school
and form a team. Even you could coach a team that goes out and get the best players. I did not
want to go here but you started it.
Topcop
February 22nd, 2012
3:22 pm
Robert Wilson…….I couldn’t have agreed with you more! Curiousmind really doesn’t even follow Columbia basketball!! They’ve had a stacked program for at least the last 10 years if I recall. And you can not possibly tell me those kids reside in that school district, year in and year out! And as far as being a true cop, that I am for the past 25 years and counting! With that said, you really don’t want any part of my investigating skills! I’ll stay a true fan of the game and leave GHSA, APD, and the GBI out of this! I support both APS and Dekalb County athletic programs mainly because they represent Metropolitan Atlanta, and really because they’re in our region for all sports!! If any Atlanta or Dekalb County school, public or private make it to the finals, I will support them 100 percent!!!