BASKETBALL
Eleven Atlanta Public Schools (APS) teams earned spots in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state basketball playoffs this weekend, while three will take the floor as region champions.
The Carver boys sent shockwaves throughout the state as they made an improbable run to the Class AAAAA – Region 6 championship. Going into the region tournament, the Panthers had lost three consecutive games to Riverwood (52-20), Grady (71-66) and North Springs (71-61). But they enacted their revenge in the tournament defeating Grady (58-57) in the first round, North Springs (72-55) in the second, Maynard Jackson (47-32) in the semi-finals and finally Riverwood (49-46) in the finals. Carver (15-13) will host Loganville (Walton County), the No. 4 seed from Region 8, Saturday at 3 p.m., in the first round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs. The Red Devils have a record of 13-14.
The Maynard Jackson girls won their second consecutive region championship, improving
their record to 21-2 with a 55-39 win over Lithia Springs (Douglas County) in the Class AAAAA – Region 6 championship game, played last Saturday on their home floor. Last season, the team advanced to the Class AAA state title game before losing to Morgan County, 68-61. The Jaguars will now host Clarke Central (Athens-Clarke County) in the first round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs, Friday at 6 p.m. The Gladiators, the No. 4 seed from Region 8, have a record of 11-15.
The South Atlanta boys (24-1) went into the region tournament as the No. 1 team in the Atlanta Journal Constitution Class AA Top 10 poll, and they played like it. The Hornets won their third consecutive region championship last Friday, with a 73-57 win over Hapeville Charter (Fulton County) in the Class AA – Region 6 title game. Last season South Atlanta was knocked out of the state playoffs in the semi-finals by eventual champion Morgan County, 64-61. South Atlanta will host Elbert County (14-14) in the first round of the Class AA state playoffs, Saturday at 6 p.m.
Here is a look at the other APS teams that advanced to the first round of the state playoffs (Tickets are $7, all games begin at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted):
Friday, February 17
The Douglass girls (17-7), the No. 2 seed from Class AA – Region 6, will host Putnam County, the No. 3 seed from Region 8. The Eagles have a record of 15-12.
The Mays girls (17-9), the No. 3 seed from Class AAAAAA – Region 5, will play at Alpharetta (Fulton County), at a time that has yet to be determined. Alpharetta, the No. 2 seed from Region 7, has a record of 18-10.
The South Atlanta girls (11-11), the No. 3 seed from Class AA – Region 6, will play at Banks County, the No. 2 seed from Region 8. The Leopards have a record of 19-8.
The Therrell girls (6-13), the No. 4 seed from Class AA – Region 6, will play at Regtion 8 champion Rabun County (25-2).
The Therrell boys (16-7), the No. 3 seed from Class AA – Region 6, will play at Monticello (Jasper County), the No. 2 seed from Region 8. The Purple Hurricanes have a record of 18-8.
Saturday, February 18
The Maynard Jackson boys (19-8), the No. 3 seed from Class AAAAA – Region 6, will play at Cedar Shoals (Athens-Clarke County), the No. 2 seed from Region 8, at 5 p.m. The Jaguars have a record of 23-8.
The Mays boys (10-14), the No. 4 seed from Class AAAAAA – Region 5, will play at Pope (Cobb County), the Region 7 champion. The Greyhounds have a record of 24-4.
The Washington boys (8-19), the No. 4 seed from Class AA – Region 6, will play at Banks County (22-4), the Region 8 champs.
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