Boys quarterfinal primer: No. 1 Tift vs. No. 2 North Cobb … Columbia-Marist III … GAC-Manchester rematch
Here is a class-by-class look at the boys quarterfinals.
For a rundown on the girls semifinals, go here.
AAAAAA – Tift County had to turn 400 fans away Saturday for its 100-81 victory over Westlake. Expect the same for the quarterfinals against North Cobb unless Tift is able to find a way to squeeze them in. Tift is ranked No. 1, North Cobb No. 2. Tift led by as many as 30 against Westlake, which is ranked eighth. … The other quarterfinal that is between ranked teams matches No. 6 Peachtree Ridge at No. 7 Wheeler. AJC.com’s David Purdum is slated to cover that one from The Lip in Marietta. … Unranked Brunswick is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1982. The Pirates will be at home against fifth-ranked Hillgrove, another second seed. Hillgrove made the quarters in 2010. Neither has made a state semifinal. … No. 3 Norcross plays Berkmar in the other quarter. The two Gwinnett County schools have won some six state titles since 2000, although it’s been a while for Berkmar.
AAAAA – No. 1-ranked and four-time state champion Miller Grove plays No. 6 Tucker on Tuesday as part of a boys-girls double-header. It’s at Miller Grove, which has beaten Tucker by 11 and 19 points in their two Region 6 clashes. … Nice to see Ceekside back in contention in basketall. The Seminoles have advanced as a No. 3 seed and are in the quarters for the first time since 2003. Creekside was a state runner-up in 2002. Creekside plays at second-ranked Effingham County, which will be trying to make the semifinals for the first time in school history. … History is not on the side of several AAAAA quarterfinal teams. New Manchester, which opened in 2011, hadn’t won a playoff game until this year. New Manchester’s opponent, Jenkins, is in the quarters for the first time since 1973 and has never made the semis. Northside-Columbus, which opened in 2002, has never made the semifinals. Northside’s opponent, Gainesville, is used to this stuff. The Red Elephants have made the semis or better 10 times in the last 25 years, although none since 2009.
AAAA – Columbia-Marist III is slated to take place Wednesday at Columbia, which one the previous games 46-45 and 52-50 in overtime. AJC.com’s Jeff Haws will cover that one and bring a photographer. Columbia is ranked No. 3, Marist No. 4. … Since quarterfinals are no longer at neutral sites, No. 1-ranked Eagle’s Landing is forced to travel to Albany to play eighth-ranked Westover. Both are region champions. Since they are No. 1 seeds, the home team is predetermined on the draw. It’s the same for Rutland vs. Statesboro. Rutland is at home, though both are region champions. Second-ranked South Atlanta plays at home against Alexander in the other quarterfinal.
AAA – Chatham County rivals Johnson and Savannah could be headed for an all-Savannah final. Both have home games Wednesday – third-ranked Johnson against unranked Tattnall County and second-ranked Savannah against ninth-ranked Washington County. If the Savannah teams win, they’ll have the home crowd behind them again in the semifinals, which will be played at Savannah’s Armstrong Atlantic State University. Savannah and Johnson are on opposite sides of the draw. … The other two quarterfinals match North Georgia teams – No. 1-ranked Buford vs. No. 6 Woodward Academy and No. 7 North Hall vs. No. 10 St. Pius. None of the four has won a state title.
AA – The 2012 semifinal teams are still in it this year – champion Laney, Manchester, Vidalia and Jordan. … The most intriguing game Wednesday is No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian vs. Manchester. A year ago, Manchester upset GAC 48-46 in the quarterfinals. GAC was ranked No. 1 then, too. That game was in Dalton. The rematch is on GAC’s home floor. … If you missed it, one of the best round-of-16 games statewide Saturday was No. 7 Bleckley County’s 62-61 victory over No. 3 Westside of Augusta. Westside trailed by 22 and took the lead with second left, but Bleckley’s Rydealous Taylor made two free throws with 2.8 seconds to win it. Taylor scored 25 points. Now Bleckley plays at No. 2 Vidalia. Bleckley is trying to make the semifinals for the first time since 1985.
A – The home teams won 15 of 16 first-round games in both public and private divisions last week. The exception was No. 9 Jenkins County over No. 8 Dooly County on the public side. Top games this week will be fourth-ranked North Cobb Christian, which spent most of the season at No. 1, traveling to ninth-ranked Athens Christian. In a side note, Seth Vining coached his last game in Lakeview Academy’s loss to Aquinas. The retiring coach won more than 700 games, sent 10 teams to the semifinals and won four state championships at East Hall, two boys titles (2001, 2003) and two girls titles (1979, 1980).
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109 comments Add your comment
Shaunster
February 25th, 2013
11:20 am
AAAAAA
PTR over Wheeler by 15+, Norcross over Berkmar by 20+, Tift over NC by 20+ and Brunswick over Hillgrove by 6 to 8.
TIFT COUNTY
February 25th, 2013
12:16 pm
Shaunster, that sounds about right!
Hubert Green
February 25th, 2013
12:17 pm
Wheeler is on a roll recovering from a very disappointing regular season in which they somehow lost to an average Roswell team twice but beat them 14 in the region title game. Norcross’s defense has been very strong, but Berkmar beat a very talented Alpharetta team that had made the Final Four last year at Alpharetta; If North Cobb were at full strength their chances would be better. You have to make Tift play halfcourt basketball; Greene however is an All American who transferred in to play with his partner Tadric Jackson who came from Turner County. Brunswick must be a good team, and Hillgrove too, but I know very little about either one. In the Marist/Columbia game, it is hard to keep beating the same team; Milton found that out in 2011 after having beaten Norcross three straight times before the state championship game. GAC Manchester will be fun to watch. GAC is loaded, and Manchester is quick as greased lightening. Don’t see anybody stopping Miller Grove; they are going for five in a row. I like Buford and Savannah in AAA. And tiny little St Francis has a 6′9″ post, a 6′6″ wing; another 6′8″ wing and a great freshman guard. Greenforest has obviously invested in I 20 forms with their roster.
Rod
February 25th, 2013
12:33 pm
I’m pretty sure Washington County will get slighted in Savannah by the refs just like Dodge County did. When two of the refs clap for Savannah’s boys during pregame introductions that pretty much tells the visiting what kind of game they are going to call. Please gentlemen, let those young men play and not call the game one way. Other schools have kids who are trying to go to college too. I guess there are refs with egos in high school too. What say you?
Let's Go Get It
February 25th, 2013
12:53 pm
Rod for you to think that Washington County will get slighted in Savannah is beneath the dignity of the Blue Jackets. We work hard for what we have accomplished here. We take no prisoners with or without the refs. Just a fact, referees are relocated from region to region so their is an unbiased assocaiton with any team during the playoffs. Another fact: Dodge County just got beat. Case closed.
andre
February 25th, 2013
12:54 pm
Turner county and wilcox county game in ashburn ,going to be great game .two great programs
Rod
February 25th, 2013
1:09 pm
Let’s go get it, I graciously accept defeat whether I think it was biased or not, but I’m sure even Savannah has had games this year where it seemed that the referees were all against them. I don’t single-handedly blame the refs for the game, Dodge only had one true weapon in that game, and when he went out in foul trouble, they had no on else to step up which made the outcome inevitable. My problem is not with Savannah, it’s with the overall unbalanced officiating across the state. I believing that refs should call the same stuff on both ends of the court. I’ve even complained for the teams that our teams were playing when they were giving us calls that they didn’t give our visitng team. I’m merely saying that these are young adults playing high school sports and most of them are aspiring to further their careers on come level whether collegiate or professional and I have witnessed some refs get so full of themselves that they were making calls just to prove a point with no regard to the players. If you guys win it all, them I’d celebrate your success because I know it’s not easy winning 25 or 26 games in one seaon consistently.
bryan3
February 25th, 2013
1:44 pm
rod .. i understand your point. but those refs were clapping for savannah players as if they were rooting for them.. i was right behind the refs when dodge players came to the refs together and shook their hands and the refs gave them high fives and congrats all in the fun of the game .. believe me those refs were not from sav. and calling for us .. did you look at the scoreboard wiyh the start of the 3rd quarter.. 6 mins left in the 3rd dodge was in the 1 and 1..we would love to get more calls ..
basketballnut
February 25th, 2013
2:06 pm
@Shaunster.. dude you have lost your everloving mind if you think P’ridge will beat Wheeler by 15+!! Wheeler is gonna beat them by 15+ just like North Cobb did the ridge!! Wheeler is to deep for P’ridge. Its only 2 schools that can match up with Wheeler & thats Tift and Norcross. We will see one of them in the Finals! Lol.. you made me laugh… Hahaha P’ridgeby 15 over Wheeler.. get the heck out of here with that bull…
Manny fresh
February 25th, 2013
2:22 pm
I’m with South Atlanta in AAAA to win it all. But in AAAAAA I don’t see anyone beating tift county. And AAAAA miller grove win that with ease its no comp in AAAAA. All the comp is in AAAA and AAAAAA.
South Georgia Coach
February 25th, 2013
3:02 pm
@ Hubert Green – Not sure if you’ve seen them play this year or not, but believe it or not, Tift Co IS a half court team. The only time they really look to run is off of turnovers, and the ocassional off of rebounds, yet not all rebounds. Their stats for points off of turnovers has to be staggering. From my observation it appears the coach would like for them to push the ball more but after scores the players are content with walking it up, and running their sets. I’ve seen them flirt with scoring a 100 a few times this season and if the coach wanted them to they could have easily gotten it with their normal rotation but usually they finish those games out with the JV players. If this team was truly committed to running and playing uptempo, they could probably average 85-93 points per game.
I said all along Brunswick was a sleeper team that I thought would make a deep run, and I think they have a legit shot at the final four. I have to assume that the long ride from metro atlanta to brunswick has played some role in there success as well.
KL Southside
February 25th, 2013
3:04 pm
South Atlanta needs to stay focused to win it all. It seems as if they are not playing their Region 6 rivals Columbia or Marist, then they play down to their opponent. It looks like Columbia’s coach is saying give the ball to Taj and let him score off of double screens. If a team stops Taj from penetrating, the champs will be in trouble. Marist is blowing teams out in the playoffs. Seems as though that tournament lost has them refocused. Although, the Marist coach needs to learn how to make in-game adjustments. I thought Grady was going to sweep for Region 6 4A, but it didn’t fall their way. I see Tift County 6A and Norcross playing for the championship. If Norcross can keep the 6′10″ center out of foul trouble, then they will win it all. Miller Grove will repeat! I see Green Forest and WD Mohammed in the title game for the 1A private schools.
BBall 101
February 25th, 2013
3:08 pm
AAAAAA-TIFT COUNTY
AAAAA-MILLER GROVE
AAAA-EAGLES LANDING
AAA-BUFORD
AA-VIDALIA
A-NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN
A-WILKERSON CO
Eagles Fans
February 25th, 2013
3:11 pm
I know its hard to keep beating a team time after time but sometimes it comes down to which team has the better players and columbia with tahj is just a better team than marist and please keep winning out south atlanta because we want our rematch with everything on the line
Manny fresh
February 25th, 2013
4:26 pm
I agree with KL Southside south atlanta scaring the heck outta me in those games playing down to there competition they could have easily lost both of there 1st 2round games hope they come to play wed because I hate to see them lose to Alexander I understand eagle landing but Alexander heck no. Good thing we got home court advantage.
bball tourney
February 25th, 2013
4:33 pm
@HubertGreen: Great Points haha “And tiny little St Francis has a 6′9″ post, a 6′6″ wing; another 6′8″ wing and a great freshman guard. Greenforest has obviously invested in I 20 forms with their roster”
In case some of you dont know….I-20 forms get you foreign exchange students and half of Greenforest team is from Africa. Greenforest also only has 39 kids in their high school and has 4 kids 6′6 or taller including a D1 player that’s 6′9. must be one lucky coach
Manny fresh
February 25th, 2013
4:34 pm
@eaglefan it’s a mind thing with y’all now y’all just can’t beat south atlanta y’all gotta go In the game saying yea we can beat them, if not, if we make it to the finals and we gotta play y’all we will beat y’all again like the 1st time we came to Columbia trust me we won’t have a bad shooting half the 1st half this time like we had that 2nd game. as you can see we got real good shooters. And y’all let us talk y’all out that 2nd game had tahj frustrated #23 talk him outta his game. All his face talking trash then told the coach let me check him. I like that in my boys accepting the challenge. Should be a good game again if we both make for all the marbles
Tha Truth
February 25th, 2013
5:01 pm
AAAAAA-NORCROSS
AAAAA-MILLER GROVE
AAAA-EAGLES LANDING
AAA-BUFORD
AA-GAC
A-ST. FRANCIS
A-WILKERSON CO
Roundball player
February 25th, 2013
5:33 pm
Go Marist…beat Columbia!
Roundball player
February 25th, 2013
5:33 pm
Go Marist…beat Columbia!
NCHS fan
February 25th, 2013
5:40 pm
Tift Norcross and North Cobb all on the same side of the bracket. Whoever comes out of the right side should easily win state. Im really confused why people don’t think NC has a chance. They’ve beaten 5th ranked Hillgrove 3 times. Once with out Neff & Steele, Peachtree Ridge twice once with out Neff, Berkmar and Buford. They’ve beaten several top 10 teams almost never at full strength. NC doesn’t have high scoring games like Tift because they slow the game down with their defense. NC blew out Coffee with no trouble by more than Tift did when they beat them. It will be a hard game playing @ Tift but this game can go either way.
NCHS fan
February 25th, 2013
5:41 pm
And when I looked at Tift’s schedule all they’ve beaten is Buford and Eagles Landing. . . . besides that they had an extremely easy region schedule and lost all the other games when they played good teams.
Pi-Hi man
February 25th, 2013
5:49 pm
Go St. Pius!
class of 06
February 25th, 2013
5:57 pm
I’m sorry but I have yet to see anyone that can really contain Tadric Jackson or Brannen Greene. If one is off then the other is on. I’m not saying NC doesn’t have a chance because obviously they have proven themselves this season but it will be hard to beat Tift @ home with the crowds they have. NC can not do like westlake and get wide-eyed. I’m sure NC hasn’t played in front of a crowd like they will play in front of wednesday.
South Georgia Coach
February 25th, 2013
6:13 pm
@ NCHS fan – I think only a fool would say North Cobb doesnt have a chance. They arent ranked #2 for no reason. Its one I dont want to miss, so hopefully I will be able to make it. I think it will be a good game. Buford and Eagles Landing are two pretty good teams to have victories over on your resume. Also they did just beat #8 Westover pretty handily as well. The good teams they lost to with the exception being the coffee lost were to nationally ranked powerhouses, and pretty close games, Saint Anthony’s hadnt lost in 70 something straight games. Also dont over look the fact that they beat Brunswick 3 times, and in case you havent notice Brunswick while not ranked, are one win away from the final four just like Tift and North Cobb.
Will you make it down to the game?
NCHS fan
February 25th, 2013
6:39 pm
I’ll be at the game can’t wait! NC has to slow the game down and control the tempo with their defense if they want to win. They can stick in their in a shoot out but only to a certain extent. The group of seniors which is the starting 5 and first 3 off the bench have been tested ever since last year. They carried the team last year and played in front of a Harrison crown that turned away a couple hundred fans for a regular season game back when NC and Harrison were top 5 teams last year. NC has played in a few packed gyms the past couple seasons Harrison being the craziest and they came out of their with a W in OT. I cant see NC letting the crowd get to them too much.
Cannibal Rector
February 25th, 2013
7:10 pm
NCHS, you don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to Tift County’s schedule.
In fact, the Blue Devils have three wins over Brunswick (which is in the 6A quarterfinals), two wins over Westover (which is in the 4A quarterfinals), one win over Eagle’s Landing (which plays Westover in the 4A quarterfinals), and one win over Buford (which is in the 3A quarterfinals).
Like every team, Tift County has no control over the quality of their region competition, but I think the fact that Region 1-6A has two teams in the Elite Eight speaks volumes about the actual quality of the that region.
Anyway, if Tift County isn’t all that good, what will it say about North Cobb if they lose to the Blue Devils?
NCHS fan
February 25th, 2013
7:19 pm
I’m not saying Tift isn’t good. But people on here saying Tift by 15-20 over NC? thats crazy. NC has proven itself by beating #5 Hillgrove 3 TIMES! Hillgrove has 4 losses, 3 are from NC. We beat Berkmar which is in the elite 8, Peachtree ridge twice, which is in the elite 8, and Hillgrove. We beat #1 3A Buford as Tift did. NC has proven they are one of the best in the state over and over again. People that have probably never seen Tift or NC play are just giving the game to Tift because they have a kid going to Kansas. I’m no way saying Tift isnt good or even doesnt deserve a #1 ranking, but picking them by double digits? Come on now. NC and TIft get their wins in two different ways, Tift with scoring and NC with defense. I don’t know if Tift has ever seen a defense like NC. Its going to be one heck of a game.
War Eagles will win this time
February 25th, 2013
8:03 pm
Marist will squeak by Columbia by four.
Shaunster
February 25th, 2013
8:56 pm
@basketballnut:
Roswellx2, Cherokee and Walton are all Region 5 teams that Wheeler lost to. Region 5 is the weakest AAAAAA region in Georgia. Wheeler’s 4 game run of luck runs out Wednesday.
PTR is Region 7 tested and too physical, tough and disciplined for Wheeler’s rag-tag game, which is basically nothing more that this: “Let’s go out on the floor tonight, trhow up some shots and see if we can get hot”.
Eagles Fans
February 25th, 2013
8:57 pm
@ manny fresh, ill give yall that first game we took yall for granted and got beat now that 2nd game, without our best defender who is back now #23 had a great 2nd half and add in the fact yall #3 had the best game of his life, yeah I know costa didnt do much that 2nd game but not only is #22 our best defender he also can score the ball, plus don’t forget the game was played in yall house with yall getting all the calls the 2nd half this game will be in macon with nobody given calls, get past eagles landing and we will see about yall, and marist fans forget about it yeah we don’t have the teams like we have had the past 8 years we the 5 time state champs for a reason yeah we got a new coach, but it wont be easy to come in our house and take it from us see ya wed in the dec
fan of the game
February 25th, 2013
8:57 pm
Im waiting to see how the Wheeler/Peachtree Ridge game plays out before deciding if the team from the right side of the bracket should win easily. Now, I haven’t SEEN Wheeler play lately, but from what Ive read lately and the scores I’ve seen since region tournaments started tells me they are a dangerous team right now. If they can get by Peachtree Ridge with relative ease, I think they, once again, will be a factor in the end.
I would also love it if this year came down to just another Wheeler/Norcross finals, just to add another chapter to that rivalry.
Tift Fan
February 25th, 2013
9:25 pm
You are right nchs fan. It will be a super game. Tift is a great great team. Sometimes u cannot believe that you’re watching a HS team. Their 1st quarter against Westlake had a whole seasons worth of highlights. Unreal. But I’m not sure that we’ve played against a really good defense in any of our wins. Do y’all play man or zone?? I’m predicting a nail biter.
Bleed Red
February 25th, 2013
10:53 pm
Wheeler by 10 easy Much better shooters defiantly better inside game PT out there league
Bleed Red
February 25th, 2013
11:06 pm
From the looks of it PT barely beat Meadowcreek by 10 both times they played them think WHEELER 96 MEADOWCREEK 52 sounds like your fooling your self if you think region 5 week LOL
basketballnut
February 25th, 2013
11:06 pm
@shaunster.. hahhahahahaha stay off the meth dude!!! Drugs are bad for the brain cells! We lost to all of the teams that you named so Ill give you that. BUT… WE SMASHED those 2 teams from Gwinett by much more than we beat Roswell,Walton &Cherokee! But our region is weak? WE WILL SEE who is weak come Wed. Duluth and Meadow creek said the same thing. Did you guys lose to one of those teams????? The old Wheeler team from a month ago is gone! NEW & IMPROVED… GET SOME!!
Tift Co Residenr
February 26th, 2013
12:24 am
@NCHS fan you’re not sure if Tift has seen a defense like North Cobb’s? Are you serious? What do you think Long Beach Poly (Cali) & St. Anthony’s (NJ) are built around? LBP has the nation’s leading shot blocker in Jordan Bell swatting nearly everything taken to the rim & Tift still only lost by 6. Both of those teams have forced 20+ turnovers from Tift & still only managed to beat Tift by 6 each! By the way they are both top 15 in the NATION. I’m not going to say North Cobb isn’t a worthy adversary because they’ve beaten great quality teams, but have the faced national powerhouses, and if they were to do you think they’d have a better chance than Tift? I pick Tift over North Cobb anywhere from 8-20 points. The fourth quarter will be the key for North Cobb if they want to win because Tift for some reason, once they get a 20+ lead they tend to ease up off the gas pedal & allow teams to creep back into a dangerously close zone.
basketballnut
February 26th, 2013
12:37 am
@Tift Co Residenr If North Cobb had SAXON STEELE & JORDAN NEFF was 100%, I think they would give Tift a run for there money. but without Saxon, you guys will beat them pretty good. Jordan Neff is still not 100% so he wont do to much and NC need him for rebounding REAL BAD.. I think they will hang around for a while and Tift will beat them by 12 or 13 but only because they will have to foul at the end. They wont give up. But Tift better not sleep on them!
Manny fresh
February 26th, 2013
1:22 am
@eagles fan you right costa had a horrible game but #3 pick up the slack don’t forget #3 made the all region team so he’s no push over now. Costa #23 and #3 made it. But everybody keep saying Kiair ain’t play but he did play the first game and he was guarding #23 and he got 22pnts scored on him. And don’t forget the cross over he put on Kiair at the top of the key had the crowd going crazy. And Kiar didn’t score but bout 2 to 4 points off fast break lay ups. Kiair is not a scorer like that he’s a slasher he can’t create his own shots he get most of his points off steals and fast breaks. He can’t shoot at all. So don’t keep saying y’all 2nd best player didn’t play it wouldn’t have matter. We showed y’all that the 1st game.
warrior teacher
February 26th, 2013
1:29 am
I haven’t been to Tift to see or watch a game before but how well is the crowd going to hold together if the Warrior girls run the Tift girls out of the building leading into the boys game? Also, how pumped up are the North Cobb boys going to be after hearing the girls going to the final four!! Both Warrior teams should be playing in the final four on Saturday!
Tift Co Residenr
February 26th, 2013
4:01 am
@Warrior teacher, to be honest the crowd doesn’t even show up until half-way through the girls’ game, if the girls lose it’s whatever no one really cares, when they win it’s only a bonus to them & the boys’ team. (sad but it’s how it is here) The Boys’ team pretty much always wins though. I’m pretty sure North Cobb will be the toughest in-state competition they’ve faced so far this season (statistically), it’ll give them a good wake-up call that they are not unbeatable, that’s been proven when they blew a 15pt lead at Coffee one day by just goofing off with JV players in.
Eagles Fans
February 26th, 2013
5:49 am
@manny fresh see ya in macon if yall make it, we got 5 state championships that region championship don’t faze us we got plenty of them as well we going for a 4 peat see ya in macon
VChandler
February 26th, 2013
7:28 am
I’ve said it repeatedly. Games are not won on the blogs, the rankings etc. North Cobb girls and boys are going into hostile territory (We’ve done it before and came out victorious). Hat’s off to the Tift teams, but it you think for one minute we are shaking in our boots, you’re wrong. Lady Warriors are on a mission, with 7 girls that can drop 16 on you. Our TEAMS don’t have jaw dropping all hype players but Our TEAMS win games. BG and Tadric are crazy good, but I will put our TEAM against anyone. I’m not going to worry about Saxon being injured because that’s life. Looking forward to some great basketball. Warriors come out to plaaaay.
VChandler
February 26th, 2013
7:29 am
@Warrior Teacher, great points.
TIFT COUNTY
February 26th, 2013
7:53 am
NCHS FAN, Tift only lost four games this season and the games you are referring to that they lost were to top Nationally ranked teams, long Beach Poly at the time ranked #1 Nationally 62-55, St. Anthony’s from New Jersey at the time ranked #5 Nationally 60-54, Calloway from Jackson, Ms ranked #1 in the state of Mississippi 59-43. Two of those games they had leads in the fourth quarter. You are touting winning against top teams in the state. You fail to realize how tough Tift is and like Westlake, North Cobb will find out when they come to the Palace. Again Tift has only loss to one Georgia team and that was Coffee on a night when they played like 85′ Villanova beating Georgetown. They shot 80% from the floor that night and only beat tift 88-85. No one will beat Tift at home, NO ONE!!!!!!!
Tha Truth
February 26th, 2013
8:22 am
All this Tift, North Cobb, Ridge Wheeler talk…..blah, blah, blah…..lurking in the shadows waiting for the dust to clear……The Norcross Blue Devils
grizz
February 26th, 2013
8:23 am
First just let me say that NC has done it the Right way. All this team does is Win, Win, Win with 7 seniors that have played together for the most part since they were in the 6th grade. No High Recruit star Transfer just 7 young men from the North Cobb area. I bet Tift can’t say that!!!! Second thing: the GHSA is a freaking Joke!!! How do you end up with NC, Tift, Norcross, Westlake all on the same side of the Bracket???? Seems like every year GHSA can’t get out of their own way. What happen to having the elite 8 at a neutral site like Fort Valley St??? GHSA deserves a big C’MON MAN!!!! Well good luck to all the teams that are left in the tourney and Go NC Boys and Girls. WARRIORS!!!!!
Da Coach
February 26th, 2013
8:51 am
It seems like every time Columbia doesn’t win region, they end up winning state. That said, I think it’ll be very hard to beat Marist a third time. It’s gonna come down to the wire, again, and I’m really excited to see Marist play with their two guards back. Should be an awesome game, can’t wait for it.
raidersupporter
February 26th, 2013
9:18 am
Warrior teacher, you are dead on!!!!!!! Good Luck, Warriors and Lady Warriors, I hope you go all the way!
athensbball
February 26th, 2013
9:44 am
For several of the Norcross players they could be getting back to back titles….considering several of them started for Whitefield’s state champ team last year. Gotta love metro atl basketball. Do you even have to make a bonafide move if your going from private to public schools?
forealtho
February 26th, 2013
9:46 am
Does anybody remember how that Norcross team from year before last did at the beginning of the season? That team had major chemistry problems. Once they came together, they WON STATE. They beat a loaded Milton team! Well, thats almost identicle to the WHEELER. situation. They had a lot of problems once the 3 kids ( JB, Tim & Jerron love) joined the team in Jan. That threw the Chemistry off real bad. That week they had off before region tourny play begin was all the coaches needed to re program those kids. They are NOT the same team from JAN people. The 4 game winning streak is No luck! That team is loaded with everything you need to win a state title. You guys had better go take a look at WHEELERS roster They have 3 well battle tested players that are 6′6, 6′7 and 6′10. They rotate 9 players! They are extemly deep. At first the gaurd play was suspect because they wasnt making the right passes and being a little selfish but they have that all worked out. I dont know why some of you have P’RIDGE beating Wheeler and then HILLGROVE beating WHEELER! Its no way either of those teams (ESPECIALLY HILLGROVE) can beat Wheeler.. They will be in the finals! So, Tift or Norcross better be prepared for a hell of a long night in Macon. Wheeler matches up with either of those teams PERFECTLY! It should be exciting! Oh, and if North Cobb some how finds a way to win, & end up playing Wheeler. Its gonna be Ugly for N COBB without SAXON STEELE! WHEELER WONT BE STOPPED!
Savannah hoopers
February 26th, 2013
9:59 am
Rod the ref are never on Savannah side. We just play hard nose defence like no other team. We played Tift Co and lost by 10 and felt they had some call and those was the same refs. I respect your kids they are doing there best. The parents were acting a fool for Dodge Co. I mean look at our games we are a defence stop you for 4quarters type team. Our boys take pride in defence. One player cant beat us. We got cheaped out the 5A last year with Milton and Mr. Boyd. Our boys are on a mission. We dont bragg we just play we dont care about what the news predict or what other people say. The best team will win if we lose then it not the refs fault it is ours. I know refs have bias believe me we have several who dont like savannah high. Yall are a good 3A school but we have 6A talent on our team we could compete with all the big ATL school and have the last 3yrs. But I’m getting tired of Dodge Co calming the refs help us. Bottom line it was those Blue Jackects not the refs, and now your people are saying wait to yall play Washington Co. Well they beat our 4place team BEACH by two, and yall first place team THOMSON lost to our 3 place team TATTNALL. Do you really think Washington Co will beat us at home. Come watch they will lose by 10points It wont be close.
Savannah hoopers
February 26th, 2013
10:04 am
One last thing we are the most underated team in the state Mr. Rod last year 3yrs 3Region title 3 holiday classic championship and 1 State-Runner-up. All people talks about is SoL C Johnson and Buford. That is ok because when we hit that hard wood no one work harder than our boys.
Eagle 1
February 26th, 2013
10:09 am
Erase all the games until now. I like Columbia winning at home and two in Macon where our guys have brought the trophy home at several times. It’s 3 games left, I think Columbia can win! Forget about losing to S.Atlanta twice,forget about beating Marist twice. Don’t even start to think about how u beat E.Landing twice in the past. If Coach can stress winning 3games,one at a time I love the Eagles chances. We play one a home(Columbia) and the next 2 at our second home in(Macon).
Columbia Eagles AAAA State Champs 2013 Boys and Girls!!!
Michael Jenkins
February 26th, 2013
10:38 am
Rod you are correct even if you are not a referee, and I am a referee, and yes some of the refs are from the region their are calling at, one or two of them may be from out of town. And yes some of the calls they make on one end they don’t make on the other. There should be some consistancy in their calling. It’s not the qualified/top officials, it’s a friend thing.
Decatur 4 Life
February 26th, 2013
10:54 am
Manny Fresh
Don’t talk too bad about Kiar he does have a state title as a freshman and one as a starting soph, looking for his third in three years this season. He’s a much better player than you give him credit for, he can penetrate and shoot well just don’t have to do them as much with Tahj on the floor with him. We do miss his experience and ball handling though can’t replace that, how many titles does King, Anderson, Range, Byrd and company have? I bet I know the answer, 0! Yall need to be worrying about Alexander and then Eagles Landing, we shouldn’t even be on your radar right now…lol.
Inside Stuff Jam Session
February 26th, 2013
11:29 am
The investigation report on Tift County is now available online. After reading it, it doesn’t sound like they’re so clean after all. It seems that wrongdoing was confessed and then they recanted their confession. What you say, can’t and won’t be used against you I guess.
graphite
February 26th, 2013
11:44 am
Much to do over a sissy game.
Manny fresh
February 26th, 2013
12:10 pm
@decatur4life king does have 1 as a freshman also that’s the year favors won. And to sit here and say he going for 3 like he just the reason for the 3 is ludachris anybody can be on the team and say they got 2 or 3 championships. He’s not the reason dough they did have alot of talent recruits and stuff. We working with players that’s from scratch no recruits or nothing strait from the gutter so to accomplish what we accomplish is real good right now
Alexander fan
February 26th, 2013
12:17 pm
Hey Decatur 4 life, let them keep looking past Alexander or eagle landing. Lol. That’s where the heartbreak come in. See ya Wednesday
BBaller
February 26th, 2013
12:25 pm
@graphite
You mean as compared to a “man’s” game like football that needs a 30 second break after 7 seconds of action?
South Georgia Coach
February 26th, 2013
12:48 pm
@ Inside Stuff Jam Session – What investigation report are you reading? Assuming what you are reading online is the same findings report and letters that I have read. It clearly said that Tift Co superintendent claimed to support Turner County allegations initially but he changed his opinion on the the matter. Which he is free to do. At no where in the report and letters that I read did I see where it indicated Tift Co confessed and then recanted a confession.
Shaunster
February 26th, 2013
12:50 pm
@ forealtho: Wheeler will not make to Hillgrove.
Elijah Giddens is no match for PTR’s Amir Warnock and PTR’s Jordan Capps will own Daniel Staley. PTR’s guards will outplay Austin Smoke also.
THE FAN
February 26th, 2013
1:04 pm
Alexander fan, please who gave you premission to speak? Just be glad you able to even play on the same floor with a winner. Haven’t even heard of your school doing anything but lose.
lsju82
February 26th, 2013
1:11 pm
Hey @Eagles Fans, would you like to buy a period or two?
GHSA Joke
February 26th, 2013
1:12 pm
Why does it seem the GHSA has different rules for all of their sports?
-Football has regions 1-8 all in the same quadrants where as other sports have regions 1-4 in the top of the bracket and regions 5-8 on the bottom.
-Football has a coin flip after the second round when two teams with the same seeding meet in the quarterfinals. Basketball the home court advantage goes to the team on the top of the bracket.
-Volleyball reseeds after the second round to avoid 1 v 1 match ups in the quarterfinals.
If the GHSA is going to force teams to use MaxPrep so they can have a power ranking to seed the A tournaments. Why not use the same power ranking to seed the other classifications as well? Take the teams who finish 1-4 in their region tournaments and bracket them in the tournament according to where they fall in the power rankings.
TRU
February 26th, 2013
2:19 pm
I’m rolling with South Atlanta in AAAA, and yea @Manny Fresh…we gotta stop talking and just keep winning….South Atlanta should have 6 Rings by now but we have that rep for losing the BIG games. We have ONE ring so far…this year is a good chance of making it 2…and #23(King) wasnt on the Derrick STIX Favors championship team…..they all playing for their first ring this year. Lets go Hornets…bring those rings back to Zone 3!!!!
Rod
February 26th, 2013
2:20 pm
Savannah hoopers, on any given night any team can be beat and I think that’s the beauty of basketball in general, so I don’t pay too much attention to the seedings in the GHSA. Some of the lower seeds in the regions might have been good in the regular seaon and lost in the region finals and got lowers seeds. That to me doesn’t really reward the higher seed in the playoffs sometimes because you can get a decent opponent from a lower seed and they will knock you off you you’re not careful. I persnonally are not a big fan of Washington Co. but they do play team ball. Their coach is pretty decent, but he stays in the refs face from warm ups to till the team exits the gym. As I said before, if you guys win it all, congratulations, but if you lose and the zebras had a big part in that, then you’d see my issue with them. Personally I think this will be a good game, but who knows.
.
February 26th, 2013
2:45 pm
Enter your comments here
Inside Stuff Jam Session
February 26th, 2013
2:52 pm
@South Georgia Coach. That would be like me saying my uninhabitable house is flooded from all the rain, then changing my mind and deciding it isn’t flooded.
Savannah hoopers
February 26th, 2013
3:31 pm
Rod I agree with any team on any nite. It just Savannah High alwayz get the bad calls against us when we play teams. I understand the refs are human and if a team lose by 2or 3 a call can make a different. However 29 points are not the refs. You can look at the regions and see the strong one. We are two points away from our 4 teams in the elite 8. Beach lose to Washington by two. Savannah High, Johnson and Tattnal are still in from region 1. I dont like the way the brackets are set up because each region should not meet up again until the final four not elite 8. Not you personally but it has been several Dodge co personal keep saying we cheated. That is not true our kids play there hearts out and have nothing to do with the refs. Ask around we played Tift co and they beat us 65-55. That is the higest score against us. We proud ourself on defence. My son play not going to call his name but he works hard everyday alone with the other bluejackets. I just dont wont people keeps saying the refs won the game for us when it was pressure defences.
Savannah hoopers
February 26th, 2013
3:33 pm
Oh Rod yall have some good kids they played hard when it down to it I wish all these kids the best. Sports come and go. It your moral action that will get them through life.
South Georgia Coach
February 26th, 2013
4:01 pm
@Inside Stuff Jam Session – The point is what you stated was in the report, isnt. It isnt even close to what you stated. If you are going to share information, then be accurate and dont embellish.
To be more accurate, its like you saying the house is flooded because of the raid, then I agree but later someone tells me well there’s a water pipe that burst under the house, okay, so now I no longer agree with your original statement.
Wilt Chamberlain
February 26th, 2013
4:05 pm
Please, Please do not UNDERESTIMATE the North Cobb Boys Coach, regardless of WHERE the game is. This game should be epic!
Inside Stuff Jam Session
February 26th, 2013
4:07 pm
Then we’ll have agree to disagree, because the majority of people I have heard discussing it, comprehend the report’s statements in the same manner as do I. I would suggest everyone go read it and make up their own mind.
VChandler
February 26th, 2013
4:10 pm
@ Wilt Chamberlain, let them keep underestimating the Warriors. lol
forealtho
February 26th, 2013
4:49 pm
@Shaunster Its real obvious that you know nothing about WHEELER BASKETBALL.. Do a little research before you talk reckless on this blog. At least be able to get the players names correct. But im not gonna worry because after tomorrow night you will know all there names. After this old fashoon Trashing we give P’ Ridge. You guys struggled with Shiloh? Or 4th place team had them beat
Rod
February 26th, 2013
6:27 pm
Savannah hoopers, Dodge did ok this season. I am not from Dodge but I had a nephew playing for them. Their coach is a first year head coach and I think he has the program headed in the wrong direction. I will agree that Dodges’ fans can be over the top. Sometimes I sit in a remote area at some of the games just so I can think and actually focus on the game. I actually have warned some of the fans that are extremely rowdy during the games that sometimes that alone can make it worse for the kids. A ref at one of their games was someone I knew and after the game he told me it took everything he had not to eject one of them for rude behavior. Sometimes parents and fans alike forget that’s it’s all about the kids and their ability on the floor and not for people who have been out of school for a long time to try and relive their lives thru those kids.
iknowbasketball
February 26th, 2013
8:28 pm
PEACHTREE RIDGE ALL DAY!! THEY ARE WELL COACHED, PLAY GREAT DEFENSE AND ARE VERY PHYSICAL – ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS #22, #23 AND # 32
A ball
February 26th, 2013
10:29 pm
I wonder if North Cobb Christian recruits players as hard as Athens Christian. ACS is known as the biggest cheaters in NE Ga. They recruit constantly and the GHSA just turns their head.
South Georgia Coach
February 27th, 2013
5:48 am
@ Inside Stuff Jam Session – We’ll also have to agree that the people you have been discussing it with are embellishing as well. What you all comprehend, simply isn’t in there in any form. You cant point out anything that says there was a confession then a recanting of said confession. If there was, I’m sure the GHSA would have clearly stated somewhere in the report, and used the words confession. I would suggest everyone read it also. I found a online version and it is the same as the reports that I previously saw, so again I’m assuming its the same as what you read and not altered. I don’t think anyone is going to find the confession that you speak of. https://www.facebook.com/tiftareanews it’s about halfway down the page.
TIFT COUNTY
February 27th, 2013
7:05 am
Inside stuff jam session, I am with South GA coach. I am not interpreting the letters the way you are. The only violation was the younger brother of a player who started ball in tift county in the eigth grade was at a varsity practice. No violations of recruiting. The letter also goes on to state that state wide GHSA is having issues with kids transferring, but they encourage school administrations to make sure all GHSA rules are followed when the kid transfers in. The letter also states that there is nothing GHSA can do if a parent decides to move their family to another jurisdiction and attend another school. GHSA also stated that most times it is not the coach that draws the kids it is the winning programs that kids prefer. Re-read the letters and report what it says, not your twist on it. The violation in question happened in the fall of 2011 concerning a weekend practice and according to the report if the kid in question was not on the actual playing floor during this time it would not have been interpreted as a violation. So calling the school dirty for this week reach for a violation is bad on your part. Try attending some school practices you will definitely see some of the players younger siblings at those practices shooting on side courts. I know, i have been to other schools practices and you see it all the time. Who is to say that those kids are not from other schools. The one thing Tift had in it’s favor was that when the kids transfered in they ran it by GHSA first and the transfered were approved. The investigation just confirmed their initial approval of the transferes. We in Tift knew this investigation was going nowhere, just the haters needed something to talk about.
Tournament time
February 27th, 2013
7:33 am
@ A ball N Cobb Christian recruits all the time. Very dirty coach, feels like it is college. He’s made in home visits, calls, and texts. Unless a family receiving them wants to turn them in they skate by.
Rossi
February 27th, 2013
8:20 am
Come on Todd and staff. You can do better than this. Gainesville is playing New Manchester. Look at the bracket.
Decatur 4 Life
February 27th, 2013
9:30 am
Manny fresh
C’ mon Manny I’m not feeling your rationale behind that, Kiar started as a sophomore last season and on top of that played good minutes as a freshman even though he didn’t start. Can’t hate on that man, I don’t care how talented the team is a starter is a starter. I’m not saying Kiar’s the only reason we’ve won multiple championships heck Tahj isn’t even the only reason we’ve won, we have team oriented players that have one common goal year in and year out. I guess my point is he’s made valuable contributions every year even as a freshman. Before I forget my bad about King didn’ know he was on that Favors team
Decatur 4 Life
February 27th, 2013
9:42 am
Maany fresh
Almost forgot, we don’t have to recruit over here because they come willingly to play for an excellent program. We don’t have to have recruiting talks the titles speak for themselves…lol
Decatur 4 Life
February 27th, 2013
9:46 am
Good Luck tonite to my Eagles, it’s round 3 of the war with Marist. Congrats to the Lady Eagles for making their 4th state semifinal in a row, good luck in Ft. Valley!
Manny fresh
February 27th, 2013
10:40 am
@decatur4life I was just saying Kiair wouldn’t have made a difference that 2nd game is all I’m saying just like the 1st game y’all probably did better without him because #10 got his shine on that game before that he had to be like 2 for 15 behind the 3pnt line from all the games i had been watching. He killed us on the 3 balls. Kiair cool he’s aight player but y’all hyping him up like he just all world like he would have made a difference. If that was the case he woulda did it the 1st game. That’s all I’m saying. Hopefully we see y’all in Macon. Y’all final 4 game tonight against Marist because y’all should destroy who ever come out of the top of the bracket. So y’all game to go to Macon tonight. Ours against eagles landing. But I’m not counting Alexander out because lately we been playing down to our completion games have been kinda close but we pulling them out. Hopefully we go head and do our thang tonight then beat eagle landing in fort valley then we will see y’all in macon
John
February 27th, 2013
10:45 am
GHSA shouldn’t be holding quarterfinal games in high school gyms that are too small to accommodate the crowd. What was wrong with holding the quarterfinal at places like the Dalton Trade Center or the University of West Georgia or the Albany Convention Center or The Forum in Rome like was done in years past?
Dwayne
February 27th, 2013
11:55 am
Effingham plays Creekside, I know what Effingham has, what does Creekside have? Have they played any common opponites? Effingham beat WR 90-60 and Stars Mill 61-39, what do yall think?
Decatur 4 Life
February 27th, 2013
12:27 pm
Manny fresh
I feel ya, I think we just miss his defensive awareness, leadership, and ball handling right now we’re not really concened about the scoring. I’ve said it from the jump that #10 shoots way too much if he’s hitting then its feast but when he’s off it’s extreme famine the only thing is he doesn’t stop when he’s off. He’ll shoot us out of some games if we’re not careful, good luck to yall tonite and wish us some too because it’s going to be a war.
Love Basketball
February 27th, 2013
12:29 pm
GAME OF THE NIGHT tonight will be Marist vs Columbia. Nothing else before tonight matters. I’m predicting Marist winning this game because it seems as if EVERYBODY has counted them out. They haven’t even played close to their potential as a team. I feel like that’s going to happen tonight. We’ll see!!
WestoverFan
February 27th, 2013
1:06 pm
@southgacoach I took a look at those reports and I see what both of you are saying. I tend to agree more with Inside Jam. “Support” claims before changing his mind is basically agreeing that the allegations were supported by him originally right?
South Georgia Coach
February 27th, 2013
2:43 pm
WestoverFan I didnt say the super didnt think Turner had a case, in fact I clearly stated that in a earlier post that the Super agreed with Turner initially, that is why Tift Co did their own investigation. Then when he was convinced there was nothing to Turner’s allegations the Tift Super changed his opinion. My point was Inside Jame said there was a confession and a taking back of the confession. Do you see it that way? By confession as inside james claims there was then the Tift Coach would have to have confessed, “yeah I did recruit them” then go back and say “nevermind I really didnt”. He can read it anyway he wants but if he was sharing information with the readers of this blog, he didnt accurately do that. Unless you see mention of a confession in there too, which if you do please point it out to me.
Shaunster
February 27th, 2013
3:18 pm
Tift 84 – NC 64
Norcross 70 – Berkmar 49
Brunswick 66 – Hillgrove 60
PTR 66 – Wheeler 51
Eagles Fans
February 27th, 2013
3:54 pm
im done talking its almost gametime here on columbia drive lets go EAGLES
forealtho
February 27th, 2013
4:50 pm
@Shaunster Wheeler 73——– p’ridge 58… If they score 66. We will score in the 80’s
at the game
February 27th, 2013
8:56 pm
Sorry south ga fan but 6a champ will come from metro Atlanta and 5a and 4a
Wheelerparent (Black)
February 27th, 2013
9:31 pm
@Shaunster what happened to P’ridge???????????? Lmaooooo 60—47 Wheeler!!! Who’s soft now homie.. AND…. TIFT CO WHOO? CONGRATS TO MY NORTH COBB HOMIES!!!!!
Mike Steele
February 27th, 2013
10:04 pm
Shaunster, don’t predict anymore games, u don’t know JACK , p tree ridge by 15+ , TIFT by 20+ , ur a JOKE!
im just syaing
February 27th, 2013
10:09 pm
@Shaunster I thought PR was going to beat Wheeler by 15. Not!!! LOL
And Tift county lost!!!!!!!!!!
South Georgia Coach
February 27th, 2013
10:19 pm
Just got in from the North Cobb/Tift Co game. Got a early day tomorrow (5am) so I will post my full thoughts tomorrow. I’ll say this now WOW WHAT A GAME… I almost made the mistake of going to see Turner Co vs Wilcox, I’m glad I changed my mind.
Columbia85
February 28th, 2013
1:41 am
Two more wins!!! Columbia will get it’s fourth straight state chamionship! Good game Marist! Good win! Good Team effort!
Paladin Death Dealer
February 28th, 2013
1:59 am
Go out and recruit the boys in, keep them happy, and play with an All Star team each year. It’s a shame that high school sports have turned into in our state. No loyalty any more to your hometown school. It’s all about playing on an All Star team made up of recruits whose only goal is to play with my talented friends who will give them maximum exposure to play at the next level. THEY SAY THAT IF YOU AIN’T CHEATIN’, YOU AIN’T TRYING. How true that is!!! PLEASE GET A GRIP
ON THIS RECRUITING!!!!
Karma is a Mutha
February 28th, 2013
5:26 am
Tift Co. sold their soul, and for what? Give a kid parents jobs and housing, involve the school in a lengthy investigation, only to lose in the Elite 8? No Final Four, No State Championship game, but the Elite 8. I feel bad for the “TRUE “Tift Co. boys that never got a chance to play as all the transfers were brought in. Holland has recruited since his arrival at Tift Co. and has won how many state titles? He could not win a state title at Turner and he won’t win it at Tift. Maybe it aint the players he coaching, maybe its his coaching!!!!!!
South Georgia BBall
February 28th, 2013
5:32 am
Tift Co. – Bring in Transfers- Check
Win Region Title – Check
Beat GHSA Investigation – Check
Final Four – NOT
State Champions – NOT
Hey Brannen, when you go to Kansas, tell everyone how you won a region title in Ga.!!!!!!!
Karma is a Mutha
February 28th, 2013
5:47 am
North Cobb was able to expose some flaws in the Tift Co. team. They had players that were lengthy and physical enough to contest Tift Co. North Cobb made Brannen Greene work for everything. If you can contain Jackson/Greene, the rest of the Tift players are average. Also, team chemistry came into play late in the game down the wire. Did anyone notice the disconnect at the end of the game between Greene and the rest of the team? The team was doing one thing, while he was doing “HIS ” thing!!
THE_ULTIMATE_WARRIOR
February 28th, 2013
11:36 am
@ Karma is a Mutha – I noticed it in the first quarter. The PG threw him a bad pass that sailed into the stands and he jumped all over him. Not a team player and no team chemistry. That’s what happens when you fly a guy in for games on the Tift County High private plane. Our boys have been in wars together and it showed last night.
Benjamin
February 28th, 2013
12:35 pm
I would love to see Savannah high and Johnson AAA state championship game these two teams have some of the best players in the state of Georgia both winning last night and will have home court in the final four.