After a frantic week of postseason high school basketball action, one Augusta-area team took home a state championship, one came up short of a three-peat while another still holds out hopes of winning a third straight state title.
While Augusta Christian came up short of a three-peat via a 71-61 loss to Cardinal Newman in Friday’s SCISA Class AAAA state title game, Curtis Baptist captured the SCISA’s Class A crown Saturday morning by dispatching Riverpointe Christian Academy 62-57.
Ty Shine scored 24 points in the win and was named All-Tournament MVP.
Meanwhile, seven of the Augusta area’s GHSA programs remain in the state title hunt. We’ll unpack the matchups as three local girls squads — Cross Creek, Butler and Josey — and four boys squads, Grovetown, Westside, Butler and Warren County continue their championship pursuit.
GHSA Girls Elite Eight Matchups
The Matchup: Wesleyan (25-3) at Cross Creek (24-4), Tuesday 6 p.m.
The Path: Wesleyan defeated LFO 72-45 and Oconee County 46-26 in the first two rounds while Cross Creek defeated Thomasville 60-32 and Savannah Country Day 77-42 to arrive in the Elite Eight.
The Outlook: Most experts have already pegged a nationally ranked Hebron Christian squad to be the last team standing in Class AAA. But that doesn’t mean Wesleyan and Cross Creek won’t want their shot. Aside from Hebron, these may be the two best teams in Georgia. Cross Creek, for sure, boasts one of the top floor generals in the state, regardless of classification, in Morgan State-bound Michaela Bogans. Her and senior teammate Tahjae Hawes have been a nearly unstoppable tandem this season. But if there’s one better than Bogans, Georgia Tech commit Chazadi Chit-Chat Wright may be that one. It’ll be an epic battle of Class AAA point guards in this Elite Eight matchup.
The Prediction: This should be an evenly matched game with a chance for us to see some real fireworks from each team’s backcourt. Wesleyan’s only losses have come to Class AAAAAAA No. 1 Grayson, national powerhouse Montverde Academy and state stalwart Buford. Home crowd will be give Cross Creek some juice. We think Wright may prove too much to handle in the end, though. Prediction: Wesleyan
Murray County (23-6) at Butler (21-9), Tuesday, 6 p.m.
The Path: Murray County defeated Washington 70-34 and Union County 46-41 while Butler won against Fitzgerald and Tattnall County, 57-42 and 64-47, respectively.
The Outlook: Nobody in Class AA is as hot as Butler is right now. After knocking off top five teams Thomson and Josey in back-to-back fashion, en route to a Region 4-AA championship. Karen Nimo has figured her game out in the postseason and has been on fire scoring 17.5 points per game during the last four — that’s seven points up from her season-long average. Nimo and Brayla Harris have proven tough to stop, and sophomore Paris Floyd has logged quality minutes as well lately. For Model, Javia Samples, Rachel Burkhalter and Sadie Raughton make up a formidable “big three” for the Indians who haven’t lost a game since a 40-39 heartbreaker to Model back on Jan. 17.
The Prediction: As hokey as it may sound to some, Butler seems to be a team of destiny right now. The Lady Bulldogs haven’t had to leave the confines of their home gym yet, and won’t have to in this matchup either. That should help tip the scales. Prediction: Butler
The Matchup: Josey (26-3) at Banks County (25-4), Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
The Path: Josey won against Worth County and Brantley County, 71-32 and 65-35, respectively while Banks County defeated McNair 73-17 and Model 43-29.
The Outlook: There may not be a more balanced, well-rounded squad in Class AA than Josey with its four players averaging double figures in points per game. Six-foot sophomore Za’miyah Jenkins averages a double-double per contest (12 pts., 11 rebs.). The Eagles have been dominating with a fairly young group of mainly sophomores and juniors generating all the production. That’s a stark contrast from the Leopards who also boast four double-figures scorers in their lineup. Except their four, Carly Seagers, Addison Hoard, Reese and Ryleigh Murphy are seniors and juniors.
The Prediction: Banks will be a tough place to play for a young Josey squad, but Josey’s athleticism could give Banks fits. Josey hasn’t had many close games this season. And they’ve shown no signs of slowing down on the road. Prediction: Josey.
GHSA Boys Elite Eight Matchups
The Matchup: Grovetown (20-9) at Alexander (27-2), Wednesday, 7 p.m.
The Path: Grovetown defeated Rockdale County 55-43 and North Atlanta 59-36 while Alexander beat Gainesville 70-47 and Alpharetta 69-53.
The Outlook: As we mentioned in an earlier story, this Grovetown squad does a lot of things right, has a dynamic point guard in Zay Howard and plays good, fundamental basketball. Since finding their stride in late December, Grovetown’s shown itself to be a tough out in a Class AAAAAA that, aside from Alexander, doesn’t boast a ton of star power. Speaking of Alexander, the defending state champs have been dominant on its 14-game winning streak where only two of those 14 wins have come by less than a 12-point margin. Braedon Lue is a load, standing 6-foot-8, 210 pounds while averaging 18 points and eight boards a game. But Grovetown’s got the kind of size that can keep the Kennesaw State commit from completely dominating. Sophomore point guard Gregory Duncan is a budding, major prospect.
The Prediction: On paper, these two teams matchup well with Grovetown’s size and guard play seemingly a good fit to stymie Alexander’s athleticism. If this one were being played in Grovetown, we’d likely choose different. Going to be a bonafide upset if Grovetown can knock off the defending state champs on their home floor. Prediction: Alexander.
The Matchup: Model (22-7) at Westside (25-4), Wednesday 6 p.m.
The Path: Model beat Drew Charter 49-43 and ELCA 63-40 while Westside defeated Cook 98-28 and knocked off Vidalia 67-37.
The Outlook: Who can beat Westside right now? The way the Patriots have been playing in the postseason especially, it seems like the answer to that question is a resounding, “nobody.” Westside isn’t just winning. Coach Jerry Hunter’s bunch is pulverizing the opposition. Since losing 53-49 to Butler just before the region tournament, Westside’s beaten its last five opponents by an average margin of victory of 34 points — in the part of the season where things are supposed to be getting harder. We know about DeMarco Middleton. We know about Lavonta Ivery. But the emergence of junior Jarious Adkinson as a dynamic, above-the-rim scorer has given this two-time defending state champion squad another gear. For Model, Chase Allen and Jeremias Heard are first-team all-region performers who give the Blue Devils decent scoring punch.
The Prediction: No need to make this one complicated. Prediction: Westside.
The Matchup: Butler (23-6) at South Atlanta (23-8)
The Path: Butler won at Dodge County 49-45 and at Spencer 58-49 while South Atlanta defeated Fannin County, 66-50 and Callaway, 47-43.
The Outlook: Coming into the Class AA state tournament as arguably the best No. 3 seed in the whole bracket — and also holding the distinction of being the only team to beat No. 1 Westside twice in a season — Butler hasn’t been afraid of doing its work on the road. It’ll have to travel again in the Elite Eight, this time to a streaky South Atlanta team that’s raised a few eyebrows with its deep tournament run. The Hornets like to get up and down the floor fast, and combo guard Saku Hurst (15 ppg) helps make that easy for them. The big concern here for Butler is size. The Bulldogs are scrappy but not big. Meanwhile, South Atlanta’s Duor Duor is a 6-foot-7 sophomore who averages close to a double-double (12.8 ppg, 9 rbg), along with his two blocked shots per contest. Butler will have to continue relying on active hands on defense and balanced scoring on offense to offset the Hornets’ size advantage.
The Prediction: Much like the Butler Lady Bulldogs, the boys’ squad seems to be catching its stride at just the right time. This one could be an entertaining, up-tempo game that goes down to the wire. Prediction: Butler.
The Matchup: Portal (28-1) at Warren County (23-5), Wednesday, 6 p.m.
The Path: Portal beat Charlton County 85-41 and Early County 54-50 while Warren County won against Wilkinson County 67-44 and Christ Heritage 64-56.
The Outlook: The Screaming Devils come into this one riding the crest of a 14-game winning streak that dates back to early January. But Warren County is young as one of its leading scorers is 6-foot-1 freshman Torossie Leslie. The other top performers are sophomores and juniors. Portal comes in No. 2 in the state with just one loss, that coming to the same Vidalia team Westside defeated in the Class AA Sweet 16 round. Portal has a dynamic scorer in senior Joseph Thomas (17.1 ppg) and a seasoned playmaker in senior point guard Elijah Coleman (12.4 ppg, 4.6 assists, 3.3 steals). Four major contributing seniors make this one of the most experienced teams in Class A.
The Prediction: Though Warren County has the talent to battle, we think Portal’s savvy and experience will eventually take over. Prediction: Portal
