GHSA State Playoffs Storylines

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first week of the state tournament has come and gone, leaving us with three rounds to play. Now that the Elite 8 is here, it's time to look at some of the more interesting storylines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Surprises</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year's Class 6A Runner-Up Sequoyah had been on a roller coaster this season with ups and downs, but are on a hot streak, making it to the Elite Eight after winning on the road at Douglas County 65-50 and beating North Forsyth for a third time 59-46. Southern Miss-signee [player_tooltip player_id='154585' first='Elle' last='Blatchford'] has been in the spotlight for the Chiefs but the emergence of Milanni Abdus-Salaam has been equally as important. First-Year Head Coach Martravious Little has had Midtown flying under the radar all season in Class 5A but now finds the Knights one win away from the Final Four. Briaiah Lewis averages 13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 4.4 steals per game as the team's catalyst while sharpshooter Sinclair Richman nets 12.8 points a night. Chestatee made history in Class 4A with their win over Stockbridge, 66-56, holding a double-digit lead for a majority of the night, to reach the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. [player_tooltip player_id='302973' first='Riley' last='Black'] and [player_tooltip player_id='506251' first='Caroline' last='Bull'] have carried the offense while collectively as a group, the team has been stingy on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Dark Horses</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending Class 4A State Champs Marist haven't been ranked all season in Class 6A but that will change once the final polls come out. A weak schedule and graduating their entire starting five kept the War Eagles out of the rankings, but Kim Hixon has tightened the screws as Marist scored a pair of Top 10 wins to open the state tournament, dissecting both Forest Park (51-33) and Tift County (61-37). [player_tooltip player_id='541419' first='Kate' last='Harpring'] has asserted herself as one of the Southeast's best freshmen while Anna Clare Keppen has been a knockdown shooter and Abby Lindsay has provided versatility as a 6-foot junior. If Marist can top River Ridge in the Elite Eight, they will become favorites to win it all. Be very careful of Calhoun in Class 5A. The Region 7 champs have spent significant time in the Top 10 and are a win away from a Final Four berth. The Yellow Jackets have a well-balanced top five headlined by Region Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='154611' first='Britiya' last='Curtis'], a dynamic playmaker and three-level scorer. Lauren Watson is the set the school's single-game record with nine threes in the first round and is second all-time in made three-pointers behind none other than Curtis. Kat Atha provides scrappy defense along with [player_tooltip player_id='426040' first='Sa'Niah' last='Dorsey'], another sharp junior guard. In Class 4A, Tunnel Hill has become a house of horrors for opponents. The Bruins are 8-3 at home and have won tight games over East Hall (58-56) and Westminster (56-54), eliminating McDonald's All-American [player_tooltip player_id='154581' first='Courtney' last='Ogden'], a difficult task. Region 7 Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='467896' first='Kennedy' last='Baker'] has quickly put the rest of the state on notice with her late game heroics while [player_tooltip player_id='838869' first='Sloan' last='Pender'] has been equally as effective. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Individual Standouts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='302973' first='Riley' last='Black'] poured in 34 points in Chestatee's upset of Stockbridge, slicing up the defense and getting to the rim at will. Oglethorpe County's [player_tooltip player_id='507032' first='Kenzie' last='Henderson'] posted 23 points and 10 rebounds to upend Rabun County in the Sweet 16. Georgia College-signee [player_tooltip player_id='213468' first='Hannah' last='Cail'] led Calvary Day to the Elite Eight, scoring 23 points against Peach County. Stock-rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='452438' first='Mikayla' last='Johnson'] overwhelmed Fayette County with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 10 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->