State tourneys get underway
The Georgia High School Association’s version of “March Madness” tipped off Tuesday with eight brackets for the girls.
The eight boys’ brackets tip today (Wednesday, February 25) across the state. The destination is the Macon Coliseum with championships being contested Wednesday, March 11 through Saturday, March 14.
Private and Class 3A will play March 11, followed by Class A DII Thursday, March 12. Class A DI and Class 5A are slated for Friday, March 13. Class 2A, AAASP (American Association of Adapted Sports Programs ) and Class 6A will wrap up the four-day championship drive Saturday.
The Region 1-AAAA third-seed Lady Gators (10-14) will play at Region 8 runner-up Madison County (18-9) in Danielsville in the first of four games between the two regions. The Lady Red Raiders are 7-3 over the last 10 games.
There are three of the Top 10 teams in the Ware County quadrant. Fourth-ranked defending champion Creekside, the Region 4 champion, looms as a hurdle in the second round. Ninthranked Region 2 champion Jones County and seventh-ranked Starrs Mill are in the bottom half of the quadrant.
Tenth-ranked region champion Warner Robins (22-3), winners of 11 straight, is hosting Region 8 fourth-seed Cedar Shoals (16-12). Region runner-up Wayne County (14-9) is hosting third-seed Eastside (1413). Fourth-seed Perry travels to third-ranked region champion North Oconee (21-6), winners in 13 consecutive outings.
In the Class 4A boys’ bracket, region champion Ware County (243), who has set a school record for victories, is hosting upstart fourthseed Walnut Grove (522). The Warriors, who went 0-12 in Region 8 play, upset ninth-ranked top-seed Cedar Shoals in the first round of the region tournament, ending an 11-game losing streak.
Walnut Grove enters having dropped 13 of its last 14 games with the last two in the region semifinals and the consolation game.
Game time is 6 p.m., with a special halftime tribute to the late E.B. Price, who passed away Monday, February 9.
Third-ranked Westminster, the Region 6 runner-up, is the only ranked team in Ware County’s quadrant.
Region runner-up Wayne County (17-10) is hosting third-seed East Forsyth (19-9) winners in four of its last five games. Third-seed Warner Robins (14-13) travels to face eighthranked region runner-up Eastside (20-8), which has won seven of 10 games. Fourth-seed Benedictine visits second- ranked region champ North Oconee (24-3), the two-time defending 4A champion. The Titans, who went 60-5 the previous two years, have won 12 of their last 13 games.
Class AA
Pierce County’s Lady Bears and Bears received invites to the “Big Dance” as No. 31 seeds, after finishing third and fourth in their respective region tournaments.
The Lady Bears (8-17) travel to Chatsworth to tangle with third-ranked second-seed Murray County (22-4), the Region 7 champion. The Lady Indians have won 10 games in a row.
Region champion Appling County (17-10), runner-up Tattnall County (15-9) and fourth-seed Crisp County (10-16) are grouped together in one quadrant, and on the same side of the bracket at PCHS.
The sixth-seed Lady Pirates are hosting 27thseed Coretta Scott King (12-11) of Region 5. The Lady Warriors, seeded 11th, are hosting Drew Charter (14-13, seeded 22). Appling County and Tattnall County could meet in the second round in Baxley.
The Lady Cougars draw second-ranked Columbia (19-6), the Region 6 champion seeded third, who enters on a 10-game winning streak.
The Bears (7-18) have a tough draw opening with third-ranked Region 4 champion Butler (21-4), the second seed in the field. The Bulldogs have reeled off 16 straight victories after a 5-4 start.
Region champion Crisp County (24-3), the fourth seed, is hosting regionmate Appling County (8-19), seeded 29th. Region runner-up Tattnall County (8-19) is seeded 12th and host Region 7’s North Murray (15-14) seeded 21st.
Class A DI
Brantley County’s Lady Herons are one of four girls’ Region 1 programs in the field, and they are all on the same side of the bracket.
The Lady Herons (207), who finished fourth in the region tournament, are seeded 14th and are hosting 19th-seed Central- Macon (15-12) of Region 2. The Lady Chargers, who lost 63-57 in overtime to Region 1 member Bacon County early in the season, are in jeopardy of having a four-year run of 20+ win seasons (98-19) end.
Fifth-ranked region champion Thomasville (22-3), who beat the Lady Red Raiders 61-60 for the title, is seeded second and hosting Region 5 Social Circle (817), the 31st seed. Fitzgerald (18-9), who finished third at the region tourney and is seeded 15th, is hosting Temple (18-9), seeded 18th, of Region 6. Thomasville and Fitzgerald could meet in the second round.
Sixth-ranked Bacon County (24-2) is the sixth seed and in the bottom of the quadrant with the Lady Herons. The Lady Red Raiders will host Dublin (13-15) of Region 2, the 27th seed.
The Herons (13-15) are also one of four boys’ Region 1 programs in the field of 32. BCHS travels to Rome to match up with fourth-ranked Model (20-4), the Region 6 runner-up seeded fifth seed.
Seventh-ranked region champion Fitzgerald (22-4) is seeded third and will host Region 3 ACE Charter (11-15), who is seeded 30th. Thomasville (12-14), the region runner-up seeded 10th, is hosting Region 6 Haralson County (14-14), the 23rd seed. Jeff Davis (18-9), who finished third in the region tourney and is seeded 17th, travels to Lyons to face 16th-seed Toombs County (17-11), a member of Region 3.
