Americus-Sumter and Laney moved into the No. 1 spots in their classifications in this week’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution girls basketball rankings.
Class AAAA Americus-Sumter moved up from No. 2 after a 3-0 week that included a 58-53 victory over Carver-Columbus, the previous No. 1 team, in a Region 1-AAAA game Friday. Americus-Sumter is 15-0 overall and leads the region with an 8-0 record, one game ahead of Carver, which is the defending state champion. Americus-Sumter won a state title in 2016.
Laney moved up two spots to No. 1 in Class AA after previous No. 1 Rabun County suffered its first loss, 58-54 to Putnam County on Friday. Laney is 15-2, with both losses coming against higher-classification teams. The Wildcats won state championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Rabun County fell to No. 3 behind Early County, which remained No. 2.
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)
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