Girls basketball rankings: Americus-Sumter, Laney move up to No. 1

A third No. 1 team, Class AAAAAAA Westlake, lost last week but maintained its position at the top of the rankings. The Lions beat Newnan 63-31 in a Region 2-AAAAAAA game Tuesday before going 1-1 over the weekend against Nevada’s top two teams, according to MaxPreps, at the Big West Shootout in Las Vegas. The Lions lost to No. 2 Centennial 73-61 on Friday before rebounding the next night with a 61-44 victory over top-ranked Spring Valley. Westlake, the two-time defending champion in the highest classification, is 16-2 overall but undefeated against Georgia opponents.

The other five top-ranked teams also remained the same. They are Lovejoy in AAAAAA, Buford in AAAAA, Johnson-Savannah in AAA, St. Francis in Class A Private and Central-Talbotton in Class A Public. Buford (17-0), a three-time defending state champion, and Americus-Sumter are the only undefeated No. 1 teams.

Nine new teams moved into the top 10s. Rockdale County replaced North Paulding in Class AAAAAAA; Hughes replaced Northside-Warner Robins in AAAAAA; Starr’s Mill replaced Arabia Mountain in AAAAA; White County replaced West Laurens in AAAA; Tattnall County replaced Coahulla Creek in AAA; Bryan County replaced Rockmart in AA; Darlington replaced Trinity Christian in Class A Private; and Dooly County and Lake Oconee Academy replaced Marion County and Turner County in Class A Public.

Class AAAAAAA

1. Westlake (16-2)

2. Collins Hill (19-0)

3. Cherokee (17-2)

4. Campbell (16-3)

5. West Forsyth (16-2)

6. North Forsyth (17-2)

7. Pebblebrook (15-3)

8. Woodstock (17-2)

9. Tift County (13-4)

10. Rockdale County (15-4)

Class AAAAAA

1. Lovejoy (16-1)

2. Valdosta (15-2)

3. Dacula (17-2)

4. Forest Park (14-5)

5. Glynn Academy (14-4)

6. Harrison (15-4)

7. Stephenson (14-5)

8. Alexander (15-3)

9. Hughes (11-5)

10. Brunswick (12-6)

Class AAAAA

1. Buford (17-0)

2. Kell (18-0)

3. Statesboro (15-3)

4. Veterans (15-2)

5. Wayne County (15-1)

6. Villa Rica (16-3)

7. Rome (15-3)

8. Jones County (16-3)

9. Southwest DeKalb (13-6)

10. Starr's Mill (14-3)

Class AAAA

1. Americus-Sumter (15-0)

2. Woodward Academy (17-1)

3. Spalding (13-4)

4. Carver-Columbus (12-4)

5. Troup (13-0)

6. Luella (14-5)

7. Marist (16-1)

8. St. Pius (14-3)

9. Central-Carrollton (15-2)

10. White County (14-5)

Class AAA

1. Johnson-Savannah (13-1)

2. Jefferson (16-3)

3. Beach (11-7)

4. Greater Atlanta Christian (9-9)

5. Pierce County (14-2)

6. Dawson County (11-7)

7. Fannin County (13-5)

8. Cedar Grove (10-4)

9. Tattnall County (12-6)

10. Sonoraville (11-6)

Class AA

1. Laney (15-2)

2. Early County (11-4)

3. Rabun County (16-1)

4. Union County (14-3)

5. Southwest-Macon (14-2)

6. Washington County (13-2)

7. Douglass (11-5)

8. Vidalia (14-3)

9. Josey (13-4)

10. Bryan County (15-3)

Class A (Private)

1. St. Francis (13-3)

2. Hebron Christian (20-0)

3. Wesleyan (13-2)

4. Holy Innocents' (12-5)

5. Mount Paran Christian (14-2)

6. Greenforest (13-4)

7. Calvary Day (14-4)

8. Galloway (13-4)

9. Stratford Academy (13-2)

10. Darlington (15-2)

Class A (Public) 

1. Central-Talbotton (13-1)

2. Wheeler County (18-1)

3. Greenville (12-4)

4. Clinch County (12-1)

5. Calhoun County (11-4)

6. Pelham (11-1)

7. Macon County (11-3)

8. Bowdon (14-4)

9. Dooly County (11-5)

10. Lake Oconee Academy (13-4)