Wednesday basketball quarterfinals roundup
Boys
Class AAAAAA
Hillgrove 57, Brunswick 46: Hillgrove and host Brunswick were tied with five minutes left in the fourth when the Hawks’ defense shut down Brunswick and Hillgrove hit 8-of-10 from the free throw line to escape with a victory. Kyle Castline led Hillgrove with 18 points and B.J. Brown scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to give Ed Morris’ team the victory.
Norcross 56, Berkmar 35: Norcross trailed Berkmar 13-10 after one quarter before the host Blue Devils ran off a 15-2 second quarter and never looked back. Jesse McMillan’s team then outscored Berkmar 31-20 in the second half of the victory. Terrence O’Donohue led Norcross with 19 points and Andre Chatfield added seven points. Senior guard Brandon Goodwin scored seven points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out eight assists in the victory.
North Cobb 68, Tift County 63: North Cobb rallied from a 52-45 deficit at the end of the third quarter behind 16 combined points in the final period from Lee Moore (9) and Jordan Neff (7). A 3-point play from Moore with 2:47 left gave North Cobb a lead it would not relinquish. Neff finished with 22 points, Jon Beausejour had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Moore added 18. The Warriors were 15-of-15 from the free throw line and made nine 3-pointers. Brannen Green led Tift County with 22 points.
Class AAAAA
Effingham County 84, Creekside 52: Effingham County jumped on top of host Creekside early, taking a 38-8 lead before extending the lead to 27 points for a 45-18 halftime advantage. Creekside senior Chris Sanders-McCollum finished with just two points and was forced to leave the game with a left hand injury. Effingham County led 67-35 after three periods as both teams scored 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Gainesville 60, New Manchester 58: Gainesville led New Manchester 30-28 at halftime and each team would score 30 points in the second half as the Red Elephants held off New Manchester at home. Senior guard Jikeese Ruff sank two free throws with time winding down to put Gainesville ahead before New Manchester missed a potential game-winning shot.
Class AAAA
Eagle’s Landing 85, Westover 61: The Golden Eagles stretched a 12-point halftime lead into a 25-point advantage in the third quarter. Visiting Eagle’s Landing was led by senior guard Trevin Joseph’s 25 points and senior power forward Desmond Ringer had 17. Senior point guard Eric Wortham had eight assists and senior power forward Chris Davenport had eight rebounds.
Class AAA
Buford 60, Woodward Academy 54: Host Buford trailed 24-20 at intermission and opened the second half with a 6-0 run. Isaiah Williams and A.J. Davis both had 15 points for the Wolves, Coby Durden had 13 points and Kyle Doyle also reached double figures with 10 points.
North Hall 51, St. Pius 44: North Hall led St. Pius by one after the first quarter and slowly built a lead that would grow to as many as six as the Trojans reached the semifinals for the first time since 2010. Senior Ebo Smith scored 26 points to help North Hall past St. Pius at home.
Class A-Private
Athens Christian 78, North Cobb Christian 76: Visiting Athens Christian trailed by 21 in the first half before catching fire. Sophomore point guard Turtle Jackson scored 36 points and was a perfect 11-for-11 from the foul line. Jackson also scored 22 of the Eagles’ 33 points in the decisive fourth quarter. The Eagles made a school-record 11-of-15 3-point attempts and made 19 of 20 free throws.
Greenforest Christian 63, Calvary Day 29: Host Greenforest Christian separated themselves early and took a 24-9 lead into the half. The Eagles dominated the paint, grabbing 43 total rebounds and blocking 13 Cavaliers shots. Ugo Celestine and Tosin Mehinti had 14 points each and Mehinti also grabbed 14 rebounds. Senior guard Rashard Swain dished out seven assists for the Eagles.
St. Francis 80, W.D. Mohammed 56: Host St. Francis rode huge scoring nights from sophomores Malik Beasley and Keshawn Gibbs as well as freshman Kobi Jordan-Simmons. Beasley had a game-high 23 points, Gibbs had 22 and Jordan-Simmons had 16. W.D. Mohammed was led by standout point guard Mohammed Hamilton, who had 14 points, and teammate Majid Omar, who had 13.
GIRLS
Class AAAAAA
North Cobb 55, Tift County 30: North Cobb went into a crowded Tift County gym and exploded to a 18-6 lead after one period. An 11-0 run to start the fourth quarter put the host Blue Devils away, as sophomore Kyrie’ Chandler scored 10 of her 16 points in the final quarter. Senior wing Amber Reeves added 13. Seniors Bria Woods and Sierra Barrino each had 10 rebounds.
Class A-Private
St. Francis 61, Darlington 40: Nigia Greene scored 20 points for St. Francis while Nettie Brown and Candice Williams added 10 each. The host Knights led by 10 at the half and dominated the second behind full-court pressure defense.
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98 comments Add your comment
rmbuck1
February 27th, 2013
8:31 pm
AAAAAA finals:
Hillgrove 57-Brunswick 46
Wheeler 60-Peachtree Ridge 47
Norcross 56-Berkmar 35
Marion Hulsey
February 27th, 2013
8:34 pm
Enter your comments here
Marion Hulsey
February 27th, 2013
8:35 pm
Portal defeated Mitchell County tonight 56-54 to advance in the Class A bracket.
rmbuck1
February 27th, 2013
8:39 pm
Tift 52-45 in 4th quarter
high school sports fan
February 27th, 2013
8:42 pm
Columbia 50, Marist 41
LakeDawg
February 27th, 2013
8:45 pm
North Hall 51 St. Pius X 44
South GA doin well
February 27th, 2013
8:50 pm
Effingham boys lead Creekside 45-18 at half. Effingham girls beat TCC, so they will play Miller Grove.
rmbuck1
February 27th, 2013
8:57 pm
Big upset
North Cobb 68, Tift county 63
rmbuck1
February 27th, 2013
9:01 pm
Both Tift boys and girls lost at home today. The final 4 is set for this Saturday at Ga. Tech.
Boys:
Hillgrove vs Wheeler and North Cobb vs Norcross
Girls:
Hughes vs Norcross and North Cobb vs North Gwinnett
Bleed Red
February 27th, 2013
9:01 pm
Weres the big mouth from Peachtree Ridge tonight ha ha ha looks like your regions the week one you let that mouth over load that but can you say region 5 WHEELER WILD CATS easy winner over a week PTR lions head to GT baby
Tom
February 27th, 2013
9:03 pm
Maybe if Westover had used the slow tempo that Albany played they would’ve won. You can’t have a track meet against everyone and win, especially when the other team has more talent. Superior talent beats inferior talent everyday, but superior coaching makes up for inferior talent. Poor coaching by Westover coach
Augustabballer
February 27th, 2013
9:06 pm
Aquinas 67 Excel 40
Kathy green
February 27th, 2013
9:09 pm
Any reports of St Francis WD Mohammed scores yet?
Ahabeel
February 27th, 2013
9:13 pm
rmbuck1 why do you call it an upset Champions are decided on the court not in the newspaper!!
fan of the game
February 27th, 2013
9:17 pm
All the excitement over Tift this year, but once again I see it coming down to yet another Wheeler/Norcross. Only seems fitting to me!
Concernedmom30329
February 27th, 2013
9:19 pm
St. Francis won!
Cobb County
February 27th, 2013
9:19 pm
Whoever thought that Peachtree Ridge had a shot if Wheeler played their game was on meds. Reminded me of when Cam Heyward from PR talked all sorts of smack in the papers and pregame when Wheeler played the Ridge in 2006 and Wheeler ran them out of the gym. Wheeler has enough talent to play with anybody in this state if they play team ball.
This isn’t me saying Wheeler will win it all. Norcross should be the favorite still, more experience and more consistency. And Hillgrove can match up with Wheeler so Wheeler better be ready.
In other news, how about the shocker of the tournament with North Cobb beating Tift County (wannabe Wheeler of the South, only minus the titles). North Cobb has played great all year, but going down to Tift and getting that W is a statement.
Kudos to Cobb County getting three teams in the AAAAAA Final Four
rmbuck1
February 27th, 2013
9:19 pm
I wanna see the big mouth from Tift County and his region 1 madness talk. They took a beating tonight, Tift boys, girls and Brunswick boys and Valdosta girls yesterday and all were at home. Winner will be metro area team again. Boys (3 Cobb Co, 1 Gwinnett), Girls (2 Gwinnett, 1 Cobb and 1 Fulton) guarantees that.
rmbuck1
February 27th, 2013
9:22 pm
St Francis beat WD Mohammed 80-56.
rmbuck1
February 27th, 2013
9:27 pm
@ Ahabeel: I agree with you 100%. Just that there was so much talk about Tift county, which I never believed played a strong schedule, and most likely were the favorite playing at home, but I know N. Cobb was not rank #2 for nothing. And had a damn good chance to win, and did. The upset is for all of those who thought that Tift and their bought team could win it all. Actually I think any of the final 4 teams could have beaten Tift.
South GA doin well
February 27th, 2013
9:29 pm
Effingham beats Creekside 84-52…… Take on Gainesville in Kennesaw Saturday
SouthGeorgiaFan
February 27th, 2013
9:34 pm
Congratulations to the Westover High School Patriots and coaching staff for a good run this season!! We are still very proud of you guys.
Athensbball
February 27th, 2013
9:51 pm
Athens Christian over North Cobb Christian. Turtle Jackson scores 22 in the 4th and 36 in the game.
Andre Elam
February 27th, 2013
9:52 pm
What more can I say…Congrats to NC boys and girls team on their so to say upset of Tift Co. My boy Vernon Chandler just hit me and said they just administered some get back for Westlake (his Alma Mater). Congrats to VChandler daughter Kyrie Chandler who is balling this state playoffs she dropped 16 pts tonight. I have to mention that I gave the blueprint to beating Tift Co. boys and my boy VChandler said it was on point. BG got another Technical Foul and J Neff handled Donnell Tuff like nobody business. Oh yeah we haven’t mention anything about Tadric, well it because NC coach made the necessary adjustments not to let him drive and over power his guards for AND ONE. Tift Co. great season and great fans! Good luck NC boys and girls teams look like the CITY Boys and CITY Girls will rule against the COUNTRY Boys and COUNTRY Girls again this year. LOL!
Predictions: Langston Hughes vs. North Cobb Girls and Wheeler vs. North Cobb Boys both too close to call.
Wilt Chamberlain
February 27th, 2013
10:13 pm
Coaching makes all the difference. Go North Cobb!
Athensbball
February 27th, 2013
10:14 pm
Coaching does make the difference thats why North Cobb Christian is at home. Go ACS!
Hubert Green
February 27th, 2013
10:28 pm
Dear South Ga folks, esp Tift: it ain’t as easy as it looks.
forealtho
February 27th, 2013
11:52 pm
@Cobb County lol.. Its no way that HILLGROVE even begin to match up with WHEELER..you sound just like those P’Ridge folks. Hillgrove has 1 player. WHEELER HAS 6′10 C…. 6′7 SF & a6′6 SF.. How do you think Hillgrove can possibly match up with that? Hillgrove had a great season but it end on Saturday.. Wheeler 73—- Hillgrove 54
forealtho
February 28th, 2013
12:01 am
@bleed red that (shaunster) dude was talkin mad trash.. lol.. Wheeler could gave beaten the Ridge by 20 easily. ELIJAY STALEY IS A MONSTER!!!
Greene
February 28th, 2013
12:03 am
This guy Andre Elam is a liar “BG” did not even have a personalfoul.
Marietta fan
February 28th, 2013
12:38 am
Let me start by saying good luck to the 3 Cobb teams in the final four. I also must say I was mistaken a week ago when I doubted North Cobb after a close game against Marietta, South Cobb, and Hillgrove. I listened to that game tonight and was impressed how they came back after being down 11 at halftime. I think NC should be the favorite to win it all now. In fact the girls could win it all to. Good luck to NC , Hillgrove, and Wheeler and bring Cobb a championship!
Cobb County
February 28th, 2013
12:42 am
I’m just saying, a Wheeler team that lost to Roswell, Cherokee and Walton is capable of losing to Hillgrove. And I’m a wheeler grad/fan, I know they’ve been playing to their ability since the region tournament, but they’re young, and now is when you really separate the men from boys at state. Hillgrove is not to be taken lightly, no team is at this stage (i was there for when Beach beat No.5 nationally ranked Wheeler in 2006). When Staley is locked in he’s matchup nightmare for any team, Brown is a stud and just now coming into his own as a high school player and Giddens can be the enforcer for this team. If this team defends and gets good pg play then they have a good shot to win it all. And the scary part is all the main parts are back again next year.
Here’s to hoping the Wildcats continue to stand out, it’s time for Lipscomb to get rings on his other hand.
Cobb County
February 28th, 2013
12:44 am
Don’t associate me with P Ridge. I don’t pull for anybody out of Gwinnett especially them or Norcross
WHAT?
February 28th, 2013
1:28 am
@TOM – What? You must be disgruntled in some way based on this comment. While I support all of the teams in the Albany area, in all my years I have never heard of any “good” coach achieving anything by slowing the game down like AHS did against Eagles Landing. In fact a “good” coach that believe in the talent of this team will play “their game” against any opponent to have the best chance at winning!!!!! With that said, congratulations to all of the Albany teams for reaching the playoffs this year and my hat’s off to the players of WHS and it’s coachs for representing Albany into the Elite 8 round. Atlanta area teams look out! while not this year….we are coming to reclaim what is ours.
NCHS fan
February 28th, 2013
1:33 am
I want to hear from the people that were on here with crazy talk saying NC didn’t have a chance. Great win tonight for NC. It was no fluke either. That game was quite arguably the greatest game I have ever seen and maybe ever in ghsa. Even if Tift would had held on and won. The whole game was good clean hard foight basketball by both teams. I have to give my props to Greene that boy can shoot. He had 22 but every one of his shots were contested and he made great plays and shots like clean and easy. And Jackson, NC really game planned to keep him off theglass the best they could he is one strong boy when he drives.through the lane. NC has played and beaten more ranked teams in Georgia than maybe anyone else. They have come back from so many half time deficits. They have the heart to win state. KEEP IT UP WARRIORS! Last not I just can’t help but say good things about Tift. They had good clean players and awesome fans. It was an awesome experience to witness.
fambro
February 28th, 2013
2:19 am
Lets go South Atlanta Hornets
forealtho
February 28th, 2013
7:12 am
@Cobb County A lot of the kids in the 2014 class from Hillgrove already are talking about how they didnt wanna play Wheeler. They are scared of Elijah from when he played at Harrison. They havnt played a team like Wheeler all year except North Cobb. They beat North Cobb Christian but they dont have the talent or intensity that we play with. Also Hillgrove lost to Kennesaw Mt.. If Kenn Mt was in our region, They would have been in dead last. People keep saying that we had the easiest road. I think Hillgrove did. They are just not that good. I know every kid on that team. Even if Wheelers team from Jan does show up, we still should beat Hillgrove by 10. You’ll see. They just dont impress me. could be because I know them all.
Last I just said you are sounding like the P’ridge folk. They said we COULDNT match up with them also. no disrespect.
forealtho
February 28th, 2013
7:20 am
@NCHS fan……. You will NOT hear from them.. lol.. they put they foot in they mouth. They wrote BOOKS on here talkin trash. I must say, I didnt think you guys could pull it out without Steele and then with NEFF not being 100%! Well you guys fooled me and Neff played the best game of his high school career I heard… Great job NORTH COBB. CONGRATS!!!
VChandler
February 28th, 2013
7:22 am
@Greene in defense of my man Andre Elam, I told him that we had BG and the coach in the huddle screaming at each other. He didnt get a tech, but we had them frustrated. It is amazing how quiet the blogs are this morning. N Cobb will be lucky to get within 20 pts of the mighty Tift???? Tift has 2 GREAT players. BG and Tadric are the real deal. But last I checked, 5 is greater than 2. We have been battle tested and I love our TEAM.
Now to my Lady Warriors, I love the fact that we have 7 girls that will drop 16 on you any given night. There are greater stars around ATL I’ve seen teams score 59 points with 50 coming from 2 players, but that’s not how we do it. Keep it going! WARRIORS COME OUT TO PLAAAAAY!!!
Wow
February 28th, 2013
8:05 am
Does anyone else notice a pattern in the 6AAAAAA Girls and Boys Final 4? NCobb,NGwinett,Norcross,Langston Hughes. NCobb,Hilgrove,Wheeler,Norcross. I think the furthest south any team is located is South Fulton. This is why metro teams get more love! lol
Andre Elam
February 28th, 2013
8:25 am
Appreciate you VChandler for getting my man GREENE str8. Mr. Greene must we use such harsh language on the blog. Be a man an do what I did last week….I let them angle my head in the perfect position and took the Mike Tyson hook for the knock out. LOL! Congrats again to the NC boys and girls team for an outstanding season.
TIFT COUNTY
February 28th, 2013
8:28 am
Congrats to North Cobb, that was a great game last night. NC played a good clean tough game and showed their resiliency. I did not think anybody would beat Tift at home and i am quite sure NC, you would feel the same way too, if your team had hosted. I wish you luck against Norcross, that too should be an epic battle. Tift missed their point guard last night Ladarius Stewart #10 who got hurt in the Westlake game. Goes to show you how valuable your point guard is to a program. He is a good defender and can keep guards from penetrating. Tift missed him for sure!!!!
Hawks Fan
February 28th, 2013
8:51 am
For all you jock riding hoop fans. Hillgrove isn’t affraid of Wheeler!!!!!!!! Taking about a loss to Kenn Mtn. Man to loss to Roswell twice! Come on Son! The other losses are to another Final Four team NC. We will see SOON VERY SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dsportfan
February 28th, 2013
8:53 am
For a team that that is 28 – 4 (three losses to another seni-finalist) no one is giving Hillgrove much of a chance. I think that is a good thing just let them continue to play as a team and fly under the radar.
@forealtho – I agree with you that looking at Hillgrove individually you will walk away unimpressed but you can not deny that they play well as a team. As for the Kennesaw Mt. loss every team will have a bad night during the season. Congrats to all the teams still alive.
Wheelerfosur
February 28th, 2013
9:22 am
@forealtho Staley is an excellent player for sure. Isn’t that Patrick Ewing’s Son?
Wildcat
February 28th, 2013
9:30 am
ALL WHEELER FANS… I agree that Wheeler on paper looks a lot better than Hillgrove, but Hilgrove may be like the 2002 Wheeler squad that won state. Wheeler played second fiddle to the BIG Marietta team, lost to them 3 times that season, but went on to win state. That was the shift in power in the city of Marietta Basketball. If Wheeler sleeps on Hillgrove they could get bitten. Hillgrove is up and coming and judging by the 8th grade championship (Wheeler vs. Hillgrove) Hillgrove has some more talent coming in. Wheeler needs to win and keep the power on Holt Road.
Also, another note… who has Hillgrove played? I just don’t see any teams that have had deep runs in state. I think Roswell and Walton would both beat Hillgrove. Wheeler beat Alpharetta, Berkmar, and now Peachtree Ridge. I haven’t seen Hillgrove this year so you never know.
HS-BB fan
February 28th, 2013
10:08 am
Tifon thought they had it made with their crazy music, show-boating etc, to many stars,bow tie coaches ,,,bought players. In last quarter the stars forgot to play as a team, which star was going to jack it up. Coach lost control of his team in last 5 mins. (where was your #15 the last half)
Congrat to North Cobb Coaches who out coached Tift Co coaches and players who were very fundamentally prepared and Never gave up!
To the Lady Warriors love your style of play (very good coach). Hope #11 is ok.
WHAT? LOL
February 28th, 2013
10:12 am
@Wildcat who have you played that is left… Crickets………….. What? More Crickets………….
Buzz 2011
February 28th, 2013
10:30 am
My old high school North Cobb is producing great ball teams.
The Warriors went deep into the football playoffs and now the
boys and girls basketball teams are into the playoffs. The athletic
director and coaches deserve a raise!! 68 Great!!!
wheeler doesnt exist
February 28th, 2013
10:37 am
Why are the wheeler fans even commenting? I dont even see there name in this article! to AJC “wheeler doesnt exist”
athensbball
February 28th, 2013
10:49 am
Athens Christian starts 5 sophmores and beat an AAU All-Star team in North Cobb Christian. Wow they were a great team and had great talent. ACS does not have one kid taller than 6′4, and starts 2 kids under 6 feet tall. ALL 5 have been there since middle school. What an accomplishment from a great group of kids and a great hall of fame coach! It wont get any easier though, Greenforest is MASSIVE with kids from all over the world.
G
February 28th, 2013
11:05 am
63 teams in AAAAAA. 7 from south GA. Can you really compare chamionships? Not to mention the competition ATL sees during the season, summer,and on the playgrounds. South GA has one maybe two schools in a county. Players become satisfied to be the best in town and stop working on their game. In ATL kids know someone around the corner is better so they grow and develop throughout their HS careers.
*Hillgrove is great team, well coached. They play solid defense and they have savvy and a calmness beyond their years. Hopefully the future Pirates at BHS saw what it takes to be a great team. Patience, Energy, Control, Desire, Effort, Defense….. Each day is important. If you dont get better each day- you fall behind. Catch up is &$))!!! or impossible
Greene
February 28th, 2013
11:09 am
@VC you told him “BG” and coach were “arguing” in the huddle, I can understand that interpretation (they were debating what adjustments to make).However, Andre Elam said “BG” got a technical, I cant understand his lying on the kid. Or any kid for that matter.Especially since,Again, the kid did not even have a foul.
THE_ULTIMATE_WARRIOR
February 28th, 2013
11:26 am
@TIFT COUNTY
Thanks for the pat on the back but excuses are tools used by the weak. Not having your starting guard is no excuse. We lost our starting PG Saxon Steele over a month ago and we just kept on pushing. We made no excuses. The next man just stepped up. With all the superstars you guys purchased maybe you should have written another check and picked up a PG in free agency. I’m sure you could have signed a kid to a 10 day contract. Oh well…..good luck with that program.
o-me
February 28th, 2013
11:33 am
@11:26 agree!
Dwayne
February 28th, 2013
11:39 am
I know what Effingham has, what does Gainsville got?
The Truth
February 28th, 2013
11:45 am
Dunk of the year was last night at the Norcross game. 22 for Norcross posterized a player from Berkmar in the 3rd quarter.
The Truth
February 28th, 2013
11:46 am
Dwayne – Gainesville has Deshaun Watson. That is all you need to know.
Shaunster
February 28th, 2013
11:59 am
Putting this post on a couple of seperate blogs to cover the bases.
Ran my mouth on here in a couple of posts predicting a big PTR win.
Didn’t happen because Wheeler is just that much better across the entirety of their rotation. Looking at the schedule, don’t see how this team lost any of their instate games.
Will be monsterous next year, maybe on the national level as well, particularly if Love comes back.
NCC fan
February 28th, 2013
12:32 pm
@athensbball – sheesh can you post one thing on here without being negative and bad mouthing another team. You guys won, be happy for your team and move on. It shows no class to throw shots at an opponent that you just played and beat. If you are the best team, it will be proven on the court, not need to talk trash about another team. SMH
TIFT COUNTY
February 28th, 2013
12:33 pm
HS-BB FAN leave the venom at home. That was a great game last night between # ranked Tifton and #2 ranked North Cobb and they did not disappoint. That was a good hard clean fought game. Congrats to North Cobb, but I have been to other venues Valdosta, etc. who have the same type of game music. It is just to get the place rocking and you have to admit, the gym was electric. That is what it is about putting a good product on the court and giving the fans their money worth. Other than Tift fans with the lost, the overall experience of a state playoff game against #1 & #2 was great. I read another blogger who said the game was probably the best he has seen this year, I agree.
Tift Co Resident
February 28th, 2013
12:52 pm
I picked Tift to beat North Cobb by atleast 8 points, they were very well on their way to doing just that until after the half as I stated before, once Tift gets a lead they ease up off the throttle & let teams creep dangerously close back into games. They led North Cobb by 17pts at one point last night. North Cobb is a great team & I admire their poise under pressure. Tift threw away that game completely last night. The starting PG for Tift was out, but that’s not the reason they lost, they lost because of their lack of effort, they play hard but they do not play hard 32min of the game. That will forever be their downfall. When it came down to the wire Tift folded under pressure, Brannen Greene drove for a layup with 3 N.Cobb defenders collapsing on him when he could have PASSED the ball to a wide open D.J. Greene #15 for a 3pointer. D.J. shot better from the field than Brannen the whole night. I felt that was completely selfish of Greene, instead of losing by 4 they could have won by 2. That play is not why they lost the game though, that play was only why they didn’t win, they lost the game do to laziness. Laziness has been the difference from the them beating teams by 18-20+ to possibly beating them by 30 or better. I hate the mentality athletes in Tift Co have, it’s just pathetic. Football players have no heart here & they think everything is funny, basketball players are too big headed & big slackers. They just don’t want it bad enough down here, this was as best a time as ever for Tift to make a statement & they blew it. Congrats to a well coached N.Cobb team, they deserved that win, they earned it.
black12
February 28th, 2013
1:02 pm
athens u always say they been there since middle school, but turtle hasn’t or the other kids he get at middle school. Link recruit at the middle school level so all ACS can say is he been there since middle school. Please!!! No one really wants to play for ACS unless its a free ride. When u got bigger private schools u can play for. Save that crap!!!! Stop talking about other private schools
bball time
February 28th, 2013
1:17 pm
Is the kidd from wheeler really patrick ewing son?
Wildcat
February 28th, 2013
1:48 pm
There are no crickets? You don’t agree that Wheeler’s schedule is more impressive than Hillgrove’s?
athensbball
February 28th, 2013
2:20 pm
@ncc: i complimented NCC on how great they were….thats hardly a cutdown. @black12: first of all, take an english class and learn how to speak in complete sentences. Turtle moved from franklin county in 7th grade. that is middle school. eric williams also moved from franklin county to our rival athens academy in 7th grade, but no one ever says anything about that. franklin county has a pathetic school system, thats why both parents moved them. same with monroe public schools. thats why kids are leaving there too. no one at ACS gets a free ride. Link doesnt recurit at the middle school level. He has gotten more kids a college scholarship then the number of people you even know that went to college. kids leave their sorry public schools at the middle school level for a chance at a private school education and to play for a coach that actually has a clue in hopes they can get a college scholarship. link has the second most wins among active coaches in georgia. and whos your team again?
Andre Elam
February 28th, 2013
2:22 pm
Greene quite crying VChandler already cleared up that untruth I spoke. Man!!!! I’m a huge Westlake fan mainly because my son was on the team, but I called it like it was last Saturday when Tift Co. and their fans took it to WHS. “BG” is not a saint…1st a technical in the Westlake game because he got frustrated with the tight defense we had on him, then the heated argument with his COACH because he was frustrated. But I’m lying on the kid….he need to check his attitude before he got off the plane in Lawerence, KS. Bill Self will not have one second of it. All you Tift Co. fans will be watching him on the bench wondering why he’s not getting in the games. Holla at your boy!!!!! State of Georgia GREAT High Schools playoffs this year both the Boys and Girls team. Who said that talent in Georgia was down this year.
rmbuck1
February 28th, 2013
2:23 pm
Excuses, excuses. Going to the hole against 3 players is called frustration. The frustration that a more matured, discipline, and better coached team was patient long enough to take the other team out of it’s game and take the opportunity at the right time to rise to the occasion. You can probably make a case for every team since round one that has lost, an extra pass, a box out, a steal here, a block there, a better coach and the result could have gone the other way. Those things are all part of the game, it’s going to happen and shouldn’t be used as an excuse. Pulling back on the throttle is the coach’s fault for not getting the best from your players. I am pretty sure that if you ask any team in the tourney that at one time or another someone was hurt, suspended or sitting for disciplinary issues or not at full tilt due to players commitment to another sport, someone else has to step up. So congrats to all the final 4 teams accross the board, it was a tough road and many have won because they play team ball and don’t depend on 1 or 2 stars to get them over the hump. Poise, discipline, effort, coaching, etc all parts of a great team.
Greene
February 28th, 2013
3:46 pm
Thankyou
Karma is a Mutha
February 28th, 2013
4:44 pm
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!!!!!!
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.!!!!!!!
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!!
HENJAMCOL
February 28th, 2013
4:52 pm
WELL FOLKS I’VE READ MOST OF THESE COMMENTS & THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT NORTH COBB WENT TO TIFT WITH A TEAM NOT JUST 1 OR 2 PLAYERS,THATS WHY THEY WON.THEY LOST STEELE TO A KNEE INJURY A MOUTH AGO & STILL KEPT WINNING.THE OTHER GAURD ON THIS TEAM IS DYC,ASK ANY PLAYER ON THIS TEAM WHO IS THE GLUE & THEY ALL WILL TELL U IT’S DENNIS YOUNG COLEMAN. HE WON’T WOW U WITH DUNKS OR SHOOT THE LIGHTS OUT HE JUST RUNS HIS TEAM & MAKES EVERYONE BETTER.A TRUE POINT GAURD PLAYS AT NORTH COBB.SEE U AT GEORGIA TECH. CONGRATS TO DYC
VChandler
February 28th, 2013
5:13 pm
@HENJAMCOL I am tired as all get out, but I am running on the adrenaline of how our boys and girls went into the belly of the beast and came out victorious. I love our TEAMS. No 7 star ESPN top 100, just girls and boys that go hard and play as a team. We were getting abused in the stands and it felt so good to walk out saying Scoreboard. DYC is holding it down, JB, Lee, Neff, Leon and the whole crew are playing like they love each other and will go through a wall for their brothers. We give coach G grief from time to time, but I have to say he is doing a great job. Also hats off to the officials in both games for calling a fair game for the most part (should’ve been intentional foul when they slammed Lee). See you saturday at GT.
black12
February 28th, 2013
7:55 pm
Athens don’t worry about what typed when u need to do the same! This is a blog stop getting mad about Ac because u the only one riding link basketballs. No one cares about covering them, stop trying make them relevant
Wilt Chamberlain
February 28th, 2013
9:16 pm
I want to see a Wheeler-North Cobb final, with North Cobb winning because Wheeler will have everyone back next year. Win or lose, Terry Gorsch is coach of the YEAR!
NCHS FAN
February 28th, 2013
10:21 pm
I have to give big ups to Coach Gorsuch. He has a team that can just go out and outscore most teams they play but he coaches his team for games like last night. He coaches his team to be well disciplined and PLAY DEFENSE unlike many teams that have an offense like NC. He gets grief from parents, players, and fans at time for quote “not letting his team loose” but it showed last night he knows what he is doing.
VChandler
February 28th, 2013
10:43 pm
NCHS Fan I agree with you. Coach G gets a lot of grief but we have to give him his props, for the job he is doing. We outplayed and outcoached Tift last night. 2 more to go. See you in Macon
Athensbball
March 1st, 2013
12:32 am
@black: to use your quote ” Don’t worry about what typed”… Given that intelligent statement it’s obvious that u didn’t even make it through middle school so I can understand why u wouldn’t understand the difference between a middle school transfer and a high school ” recruit”. Also noticed u didn’t deny anything else I said and didn’t say who ur team was. So I can only guess… Ur either a cedar fan who is upset that Link had to retire from teaching after being at that awful school or ur a Clark central fan who hates that Link beat ur butt while he was at cedar and when he was at south Gwinnett. Or ur for another team in region 8 who is tired of losing. Or more logically ur one of the many Athens dropouts where your only highlight is the 3rd of the month collecting your government check
forealtho
March 1st, 2013
7:10 am
@What LOL the only reason Hillgrove is left, is because they havnt played anybody. And if you guyd were in our region, you would have had more than 3 region losses. The best team you guys playedwas North Cobb and they beat you 3 times. You guys beat NCC but they werent as good as advertised. I will promise you that Hillgrove have not played a team like this Wheeler team! We are big, fast & very Athletic! Great season Hillgrove, but it ends tomorrow!!
forealtho
March 1st, 2013
7:24 am
I hate to say this but I will.. Some who knows will agree and some wont. The N Cobb coach sucks!!! That group of SR’s are winners! They have been since 8th grade or even before that. Those kids are doing that by themselves!! Yea Isaidit!
(black) wheeler parent
March 1st, 2013
7:29 am
Elijah Staley is not Patrick Ewings son. His mom has a son by Patrick Ewing. (Pat Jr) who is Elijahs older brother. NOT half brother. Black folk dont do it like that. If you come from the same Mother you are Brothers!! Lol
black12
March 1st, 2013
8:30 am
wow Athens no you are wrong I am an educated man typing from a kindle while looking at NBA and College basketball while exercising. And I have a Masters Degree in Sports Adm! I get a check from government but its legal.I don’t do spell check because its a blog!!!! And you are a grown man that got cut from your JV tennis team or one of Link’s former ball boys. Like I said Class A is watered down because they split. You come on here talking bad about other team recruiting, when ACS was caught doing the same thing. So get a life and I usually don’t respond to people like you but as you see I am the only one making you relevant. Like I said, Nobody cares about Link!!! Stay on Athens Banner Herald and see all comments about Link!!!!
Wilt Chamberlain
March 1st, 2013
8:34 am
@forealtho — really? The group of seniors won an 8th grade ccjbc championship, but what happened as 7th graders? What happened as 6th graders? It took a minute for the North Cobb coach to teach that talented group his system, get them to take the breasts out of their mouths and forget about the haterz like you after they got to high school and now you are seeing the results! He has them ready for the next level!!! Did he cut you? Just askin …
bball time
March 1st, 2013
8:52 am
Wheeler parent you might want to tell his dad to get a blood test! Or find out Pat was 9 months before he was born!
Reggie Miller
March 1st, 2013
8:54 am
He does look like Ewing a little.
(black) wheeler parent
March 1st, 2013
9:58 am
@bball time… chill with the disrespect homie. You need to figure out who u talkin to before you talk reckless..
@Wilt Chamberlain Man that dude cant coach. Those kids were good before they got to him. Coach Chris is the best coach in that program. (The8th grade coach). You can put that group at any school and they will win regardless of who is coaching them. Now dont make me tell all the dirt on this blog. Cause im friends with a couple of the parents. And Im from Atlanta, not Cobb Im older than the coach. Ive NEVER BEEN CUT!
Mike Steele
March 1st, 2013
10:08 am
Wilt chamberlain N COBB did win region in 6th grade CCJBC, lost to HILLGROVE due to terrible 6th grade coach , who was removed after season, but that 6th grade coach was on point about JB being a future big time contributor, I’ll give him credit on that, in 7th grade Mike & Gary coached to another region championship , & CCJBC runner up in tournament, lost to a stacked S COBB team that had so many stars they had to break the team up , with players moving to LASSITER, MC EACHERN & WALTON, & CHRIS MYERS coached them in 8th grade to another region championship as well as the 8th grade CCJBC champion , knocking off OSBOURNE , loaded with Lee Moore & the triplets from CAMPBELL, knocking of a loaded MC EACHERN team with REED DUNGAN & others , & a LOADED TEAM KELL with RICO OVERALL ,GRANT BRYANT, & BRENT PICKENS. In the Championship , & in 9th won region & lost in 9th grade championship game to a loaded MARRIETTA TEAM that featured LEE MOORE, DENNIS YOUNG , ANTHONY JENNINGS, the triplets from CAMPBELL by 2 points , then in 10th DYC came over to link up with Saxon Steele & go 17 – 3 , & lost in JV final 4 , with JORDAN NEFF & JB only playing VARCITY that year or we would have won that championship also, like the other teams let there VARCITY kids play in JV , in order to win that tourney, which pissed me off , & also DYC & SAX were better than both SENIOR guards on that team that year too, & finally when SAXON & DYC became starters on VARSITY in 11th grade we won region championship reg & tournament too, with SAXON winning REGION 4 AAAAA player of the year, 1st team all county, as well as Lee Moore , 1st team all county & State honors , JORDAN all county team & state honors & if there were enough spots JB & DYC would have won awards also, 12th grade REGION CHAMPS , SEASON & TOURNEY CHAMPS AS WELL A FINAL 4 state to this point, so FORREAL THOUGH is correct in saying THEASE boys have allways been WINNERS!!! But I will say TERRY GORSUCH has improved light years as a coach over the last 3 years, changing how he handles the different personalities of THEASE players, !
Mike Steele
March 1st, 2013
10:08 am
Enter your comments here
Mike Steele
March 1st, 2013
10:14 am
Coach Gorsuch is a great defensive coach as well, !
VChandler
March 1st, 2013
10:20 am
MikeSteele I respect the fact that you use your real name and I respect your last comment the most. It’s easy for people to sit in the stands and bang on coaches. I agree that coach has learned how to handle the personnel he has over the years. In the stands we are all undefeated Phil Jacksons. It is not always easy to adjust to different personality and styles of play and coach G has done that in the 2 years I have been at N.Cobb. He clearly outcoached the Tift Cty coach and props go to him. Of course Sax(he is still here baby), DYC, Lee, Neff, JB, Leon and the whole crew are doing their things on the court. I can name you a bunch of teams with talented players that are at home because adjustments weren’t made by the coach. We will be unified as WarriorNation Saurday down at Tech. Let’s go Warriors girls and boys.
(black) wheeler parent
March 1st, 2013
10:21 am
@Mike Steele thanks homie for breaking it down.
Mike Steele
March 1st, 2013
10:47 am
Another thing I forgot to mention, Leon Jordan, & Austin Jacobs were full time starters on N COBB , for 6th, 7th,8th,9th,&10th grade, that was losing Saxon for season has not hurt us because THEASE team is full of KIDZ with major HEART, DESIRE, TENACITY,BALLS,FEARLESSNESS,& OVERALL WANTING TO WIN AS MUCH AS THEY WANT TO BREATH! I love them all & they have giving me memories that I will have forever , that make me smile, win or lose SATURDAY this is the best TEAM OF BOYS TO EVER COME THROUGH NCOBB HIGH IN THE EXISTENCE OF THE SCHOOL!! Period point blank!
(black) wheeler parent
March 1st, 2013
11:07 am
@mike steele also If they would have let that group play more as 10graders.. (saxon on the point), they would have had a better season then! And those kids pretty much run there own offense. lol
@VChandler my name is Black. Im not hiding. lol. And if I told you my real name, you still wouldnt know who I was. Everybody calls me Coach Black
Mike Steele
March 1st, 2013
11:54 am
Black, I’m still looking for that fool SHAUNSTER , with his picks, lets see he had ,
PTREE Ridge by 15, WHEELER WON BY 13
TIFT by 20+,N COBB WON BY 5
BRUNSWICK by 6 to 8 , HILLGROVE WON BY 11
He did pick NORCROSS correctly , I guess 1 out 4 ain’t bad! LOL GENIUS! Where u at SHAUNSTER , where u at!?????
VChandler
March 1st, 2013
12:04 pm
@Black That comment wasn’t directed at you Sir.
(black) wheeler parent
March 1st, 2013
2:17 pm
@VChandlerCool.. nice to meet you sir.
@MikeSteele lol That dude is on the other blog.. He took back everything he said about Wheeler.. P’ Ridge..
NCHS Fan
March 1st, 2013
3:06 pm
I’d have to say Coach Gorsuch runs his team how colleges do. I feel like he has learned a lot from coaching these boys because he’s never had this much talent in his program. He always had to coach Okay teams and try to win with that and I think thats where he gets his great defensive coaching from. Since the start of last year to this year he has really become a much better offensive coach by letting his players have a little more flexibility to make plays on their own together and let his team throw oops to Neff and be okay if they missed one every now and then because he’s learned how it fires his team up more when they make plays like that, which at the begginning of last year he never would allow.
HENJAMCOL
March 1st, 2013
6:02 pm
@MIKE STEELE IT’S BEEN A GREAT TIME THE LAST 4 YRS.I WAS HEART BROKEN WHEN SAX WENT DOWN.THERE’S SO MANY DYNAMICS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED THE LAST 4 YRS.THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THESE KIDS ARE WINNERS & IT SHOWED NOT JUST SAT. BUT THE WHOLE SEASON.I HAD MY ISSUES WITH COACH G BUT WILL SAY THIS, THAT HE HAS DONE A DECENT JOB COACHING & GETTING THE BEST OUT OF THIS TEAM.HE TOOK A LOT OF CRITICISM THROUGHOUT THE THE LAST FEW YRS,& LIKE VCHANDLER SAID IT’S EASY TO SAY THOSE THINGS FROM THE STANDS. WIN OR LOSE THE NEXT 2 GAMES IT’S BEEN A WONDERFUL RIDE.GO DYC & THE NC WARRIORS LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!
Mike Steele
March 1st, 2013
7:06 pm
Henry u hit it on the head, this team is an AWSOME group of BALLERS I’m gona miss watching the play together, just happy I have Asa to get a do over LOL!