Best Region Tournaments to Watch
What I like to call “February Frenzy” is finally here. Below are some of the most competitive regions across the state with key players highlighted. Region 3-AAAAAAA The Favorites: No. 7 McEachern, No. 8 North Cobb Arguably the toughest region…
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Continue ReadingWhat I like to call “February Frenzy” is finally here. Below are some of the most competitive regions across the state with key players highlighted.
Region 3-AAAAAAA
The Favorites: No. 7 McEachern, No. 8 North Cobb
Arguably the toughest region in Class 7A, Region 3 has seen four out of its six teams hold a state ranking at some point this season. McEachern is nowhere near the dominant powerhouse they used to be, but the competition still hasn’t been able to catch up as they have won four consecutive region championships. Denim Deshields (16.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.7 apg, 2.7 spg), Caelan Ellis (14.1 ppg) and Daelyn Craig (13.2 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.9 spg, 1.1 bpg) lead the Indians. An early 50-35 loss at home against North Paulding has been a distant memory as McEachern has rolled since outside of a recent 61-57 loss at Marietta. North Cobb is the best competition for McEachern, but the Indians have had their number sweeping the series 57-54 and 69-54. North Cobb plays just five girls starred by Alabama A&M-signee Azonya Austin and sharpshooting 5-foot-7 senior Sydney Thomas. North Paulding peaked early in the season but still has the toughest interior player in the region, 5-foot-9 sophomore Aliyah Washington, a pit-bull of a competitor. 6-foot-3 junior Taylor Cullinan can cause problems with her size and shooting touch while the Wolfpack backcourt is void of a star but plays scrappy defense. Marietta disappointed early in the season but looking back on their 11 losses, only their latest to Hillgrove can be deemed a bad loss. 6-foot-2 junior Lauren Walker might have the most diverse skillset in the region, averaging 13.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks during her breakout campaign. Her and 5-foot-11 senior Alexis Brewster (9.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg) give Coach Derek Dewitt a formidable frontline.
Region 6-AAAAAA
The Favorites: No. 8 Harrison, No. 10 Sprayberry
Harrison is the favorite to win the region behind West Florida-commit Amara Newsom and Meredith Ward. An injury to Edith Gordon has thrusted players into bigger roles where they have flourished. At 15-1 in the region, Harrison’s only loss came to Sprayberry 46-28. It’s not often a team can be considered a favorite and a dark horse at the same time, but that is what Sprayberry is. They earned a state ranking in the final week of the season after beating both Sequoyah (69-61) and Creekview (65-61). Second-year Head Coach Kellie Avery saw the Yellow Jackets sitting at 3-5 before finding their groove in January as the team got healthy and impact 5-foot-10 sophomore Flau’Jae Johnson got eligible. The rap star earned First Team All-Region honors and has teamed up with 6-foot-1 freshman Anna Vereen (10.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.5 spg, 2.7 bpg) to form the best front court in the region. Don’t count out young Sequoyah with freshman point guard Elle Blatchford. The Chiefs have thrived with their lineup consisting of one freshman, three sophomores and one junior with seniors Macy Williams and Tatum Dondanville providing a punch off the bench. South Cobb is a threat with Region Player of the Year Kennesaw State-signee Jodi Mullins (23.1 ppg) and now healthy 5-foot-11 post Taylor Gibbs (14.8 ppg).
Region 8-AAAA
The Favorites: No. 8 Stephens County, Madison County, St. Pius X
What a competitive region it has turned out to be. Stephens County is enjoying a dream season and has refused to let the loss of Bre Taylor slow them down. Loaded with seven juniors and only one senior on the roster, Stephens County has asserted themselves and won tight ball games. Just over the past two weeks, they’ve beaten North Oconee 61-58 and 65-61 in OT, Madison County 81-78, St. Pius X 58-56 and Oconee County 45-43. It’s going to be a fun tournament considering everyone but Oconee County has spent time in the Top 10. Ranajah Verdell and Nana Eades both average 13.8 points to lead the balanced Indians. Madison County is powered by reigning Sandy’s Spiel Ms. Basketball Kayla McPherson. The five-star phenom averages 36.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals. St. Pius X has been anchored inside by Wylie Sheridan and has gotten contributions from Lindsey Broadway and Kate McBride. North Oconee finished in last place at 2-6 in the region, but Tennessee Tech-signee Ansley Hall and Jenna Tulenko form a tough inside-out duo.
Region 6-AAA
The Favorites: No. 5 Ringgold, No. 6 Sonoraville, Coahulla Creek
Just like last season, legendary Head Coach Margaret Stockburger has Ringgold peaking at the right time, winning 11-straight games. Rachel Akers, Sydney Pittman and Riley Nayadley were First Team All-Region selections. The Tigers’ only losses came in succession back in early December losing to Coahulla Creek 53-29 and Calhoun 54-46. Ringgold swept top competition Sonoraville 66-30 and 56-49 but 5-foot-10 senior post Maliyah Parks is the Region Player of the Year and is flanked by 5-foot-10 junior Alexa Geary to lead a dangerous Phoenix team. Coahulla Creek spent plenty of time in the Top 10 and sit at 19-5 overall, but all five losses have come in region play with their latest coming against Calhoun 63-53. The Colts were swept by Sonoraville and their big win over Ringgold seems like decades ago. Katelyn Richards is the straw that stirs the drink for Coahulla Creek while Kenley Woods and Emma Turner were also First Team All-Region selections.
Region 7-AAA
The Favorites: No. 4 GAC, No. 9 Lumpkin County
The deepest region in Class 3A hands down is Region 7. Five teams have spent time in the Top 10 with four being in the poll together at one time back in Week 7. GAC is the frontrunner to win the region behind star sophomore Kaleigh Addie (20.4 ppg) but surging Lumpkin County has had their number, sweeping the series to hand them their only two losses 51-38 and 67-35. Finishing 6-6 in the region, at one point Lumpkin County dropped out of the Top 10 completely, but the Indians have now won four of their last five with a loss at Dawson County 63-55 sandwiched in between their latest win against GAC and an impressive 51-36 win over North Hall. Thousand-point scorer Isabel Davenport has led the young Indians who have just Madisyn Echols a senior. Six freshmen paced by Lexi Pierce and Kate Jackson have come up huge along with junior Makenzie Caldwell. At 13-11, Dawson County is still dangerous with Liberty-signee Sophia d’Oliveira, freshman Kirklyn Porter, junior Madison Anglin and senior post Marlie Townley. Fannin County peaked at No. 4 in Week 7 behind 5-foot-10 senior wing Morgan Holt, but has fallen back to the pack. North Hall quietly won the two-seed heading into the tournament at 8-4 and has beaten everybody except GAC, losing 73-66 and 49-47. Seniors Grace Hollifield, Ansley Smallwood and Maci Gillespie have taken turns leading the Trojans.