Round 1 of the Class AA playoffs is in the books and the tournament resumes with Round 2 games on Wednesday and Thursday. Let's take a look at the brackets and compare them against my predictions before the tournament started.
Before I get started, a quick editor’s note: Last week, the AJC did in fact release its final regular season rankings following the region tournament, but they weren’t posted until after my predictions blog went live with the previous week’s rankings. So, I’ll go ahead and post the final rankings heading of the regular season a week late. Records do not reflect state tournament results.
Here are the boys rankings.
1. Swainsboro (25-2)
2. Glenn Hills (20-7)
3. Therrell (21-7)
4. Douglass (19-8)
5. Spencer (21-3)
6. Washington County (18-6)
7. Butler (18-6)
8. Laney (20-8)
9. Banks County (23-4)
10. Thomasville (21-4)
And the girls rankings:
1. Laney (25-2)
2. Early County (23-4)
3. Douglass (21-5)
4. Vidalia (22-4)
5. Southwest-Macon (21-3)
6. Washington County (21-4)
7. Josey (22-5)
8. Putnam County (22-4)
9. Bryan County (22-5)
10. Rabun County (23-3)
Boys
(For the official, updated GHSA bracket complete with scores, go here.)
My bracket was nearly flawless, but "nearly" has its implications past the second round. My one incorrect pick was Callaway, and I had the Cavaliers advancing to the quarterfinals. So that's a decent dent. The Cavs were upset at home by the Model Blue Devlis, a No. 3 seed from Region 7, who won 62-60. The Cavs had Model on the ropes, but according to Jonathan Blaylock of the Rome News-Tribune, the Blue Devils used a fourth-quarter rally to advance. Now it's the Blue Devils who will face No. 6 Washington County.
Washington County, by the way, is off to a great start having beaten Berrien 71-16 for the most lopsided win in AA’s opening round.
As for the rest of my bracket, there were three instances in which I picked the No. 3 seed to win on the road and they did. South Atlanta beat Social Circle 60-44, Northeast edged Early County 60-58 and No. 7 Butler squeaked by Vidalia 60-56.
AA’s defending state champions, the No. 3 Therrell Panthers, took care of business with a 78-54, and the top-ranked Swainsboro Tigers, who I have winning it all, beat Jefferson County 72-52.
Games to watch
Douglass Astros (20-8) at Glenn Hills Spartans (21-7)
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Rankings, seeds: Douglass is No. 4 and the No. 2 seed from Region 6; Glenn Hills is No. 2 and the No. 1 seed from Region 4.
Krohn's pick: Glenn Hills
Notes: This top five matchup is being played a round early in my opinion, but this is the way the seeding fell. The Astros are coming off a 63-50 win over Union County and the Spartans beat Woodville-Tompkins 72-58. Seniors Emmanuel Jones (17.9 points) and John Whitehead III (17 points) lead the Spartans, who I have reaching the semis.
Butler Bulldogs (19-6) at Banks County Leopards (24-4)
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Rankings, seeds: Butler is No. 7 and the No. 3 seed from Region 4; Banks County is No. 9 and the No. 1 seed from Region 8.
Krohn's pick: Butler
Notes: The Bulldogs barely escaped Vidalia with a 60-56 win but did so by excelling where it matters most in the playoffs — at the free throw line. According to Bob Roberts of Southeast Georgia Today, they made 13 of their final 14 free throws to cap off a 21-for-27 night from the charity stripe, while Vidalia was just 8 of 19. The Leopards are coming off a 71-45 win over Washington.
Laney Wildcats (21-8) at Therrell Panthers (22-7)
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Rankings, seeds: Laney is No. 7 and the No. 2 seed from Region 4; Therrell is No. 3 and the No. 1 seed from Region 6.
Krohn's pick: Laney
Notes: My pick rests entirely on the health of Panthers junior guard-forward Robbie Armbrester, who has been out almost all season with a wrist injury. The 6-foot-6 Armbrester did not play in the opening round, and I've been told there's a question of whether he'll be ready to go for Round 2. For me, it's simple — if he is on the court and plays with the same effectiveness that has earned him offers from Georgia Tech, Houston and Texas A&M, then the Panthers win. If he can't play, or if he's playing hurt, the Wildcats win. It's my belief that the winner of this game reaches the championship.
Girls
(For the official, updated GHSA bracket complete with scores, go here.)
I wasn’t as successful with my picks on the girls’ side, missing three games. We’ll start with the No. 9 Bryan County Lady Redskins, a No. 2 seed from Region 2 who I had advancing to the quarterfinals. They lost at home to unranked Butler, the No. 3 seed from Region 4, by a score of 58-54. I picked the Lady Redskins to win two playoff games because of senior Olonna Rawls, who averaged 26 points on the season. However, the Lady Bulldogs had Jayla Thomas, who scored 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the field to go with 11 rebounds in the win. The Lady Bulldogs will travel to Union County, a No. 1 seed from Region 8.
I had Thomasville beating East Laurens, but the Lady Falcons won 50-41. They’ll face a Rockmart Lady Yellow Jackets team that I have advancing to the semifinals, a team that beat Callaway 80-58 in the opening round.
I also had Dade County beating Lamar County, but the Lady Trojans won 39-37. Next they’ll play another team I have reaching the semis, the Washington County Lady Golden Hawks, who beat Brooks County 53-34 in Round 1.
In other games of note, we’ll start with the defending state champion Douglass Lady Astros. They perhaps faced the toughest No. 4 seed in the state, regardless of classification, in the No. 10 Rabun County Lady Wildcats, who were ranked No. 3 before struggling to an 0-2 showing in the Region 8 tournament. The Lady Astros prevailed, but barely — they won 44-42.
The Laney Lady Wildcats, who I have winning it all, beat Metter 77-30.
Games to watch
Putnam County Lady War Eagles (23-4) at Laney Lady Wildcats (26-2)
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Rankings, seeds: Putnam County is No. 8 and the No. 3 seed from Region 8.
Krohn's pick: Laney
Notes: This is a matchup of top 10 teams and it is the playoffs, so Laney can't afford to look over any opponent. So far, the Lady Wildcats haven't. Senior Whitney Anderson led Laney with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, eight rebounds and seven steals in the Lady Wildcats' blowout of Metter in Round 1. Regarding Putnam County, the Lady War Eagles were led by senior Jashanti Simmons' 22 points — though she was just 9-for-34 from the field — with 10 rebounds, seven steals and five assists in their 57-44 win over Hapeville Charter.
Josey Lady War Eagles (23-5) at Douglass Lady Astros (22-5)
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Rankings, seeds: Josey is No. 7 and the No. 2 seed from Region 4; Douglass is No. 3 and the No. 1 seed from Region 6.
Krohn's pick: Josey
Notes: I have the Lady War Eagles advancing in an upset because of how competitive they've been against the state's best team — and their crosstown rivals — Laney. In their last two matchups against the Lady Wildcats, they only lost by five. They're off to a strong start in the tournament too with a 48-20 win over Jeff Davis in Round 1. Senior Amani Jones led the way with 15 points and four steals. For the Lady Astros, it's their second ranked opponent in a row and should they win again they'd likely play No. 6 Washington County. In fact, every round they advance they'll most likely play a top 10 team, making their road to a championship the most difficult among AA teams.
Chattooga Lady Indians (21-6) at Early County Lady Bobcats (24-4)
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Rankings, seeds: Chattooga is unranked and the No. 2 seed from Region 7; Early County is No. 2 and the No. 1 seed from Region 1.
Krohn's pick: Early County
Notes: I have the Lady Bobcats reaching the championship game largely because of Makayla Timpson, who had 20 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in their 62-50 first-round win over Northeast. Though Chattooga is unranked, their record suggests they'll be competitive, and had it not been for a 57-56 slip up to Rockmart in the Region 7 championship — their only region loss on the season — they wouldn't even be in this situation. They rebounded with a 76-53 thrashing of Heard County in Round 1 and should give the Lady Bobcats all they can handle.
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