Normally the first-round games in the state tournament are a waste of time. The two top seeds almost always win. Last season only two girls teams (Columbia and Fayette County) and one boys team (Lithonia) defeated a higher seeded teams in the first-round games in Class AAAAA.
This year’s playoffs, which start Friday and Saturday around the state, look a little different. Because of the number of upsets in the region tournaments, there are some pretty good first-round games – a couple that are exceptional.
The highlight game on the boys docket features No. 4 Columbia at No. 10 Maynard Jackson, a contest better suited for the quarterfinals or semifinals. They meet Friday at 7:30 at Jackson, part of a double-header that begins with a girls game featuring Jackson and Miller Grove at 6:30 p.m.
“It’s a tough draw,” said Jackson coach Travis Williams. “But that’s why we played so hard to get a home game. Our guys will have to be ready to play their best.”
Columbia (19-9) had won 10 straight games before losing to Lithonia in overtime in the Region 5 semifinals. The Eagles then dropped the consolation game to Miller Grove, making them possible the best fourth-seeded team in the tournament. The Eagles are led by 6-8 sophomore Josh Taylor and senior Lorenzo McGhee.
Jackson (24-2) won the Region 6 championship by beating North Springs by two points in the semifinals and beating Riverwood 69-62 for the title. Jackson and Riverwood had split two regular-season games. The Jaguars are led by senior guards Marquavis Carter and D.J. Johnson. Carter averages 23.4 points, the second-most in Class AAAAA.
“We have to play our type of basketball,” Williams said. “Columbia has a great program and coach (Phil) McCrary is one of the best coaches in the business. But we have to focus on what got us here … offensive execution, limiting turnovers and defending the basket.”
Here are four other good first-round matchups:
Flowery Branch at Villa Rica boys: No. 9 Villa Rica (24-2) lost to Hiram (for the second time this season) in the Region 7 final. The Wildcats will have their hands full with a Flowery Branch team (17-11) that nearly knocked off defending state champion Buford in the Region 8 semifinal last week.
Eagle's Landing at McIntosh boys: Eagle's Landing (21-6) fell out of the rankings with a loss to Dutchtown in the Region 4 semifinals. The Golden Eagle's are led by guard Brandon Thomas, who has signed with Mercer. McIntosh (18-9) brings a balanced attack that has four players averaging nine or more points, led by senior Chaz Hardin with 11. 6.
Decatur vs. Arabia Mountain girls: Weird circumstances threw these two teams together. Decatur (18-8) lost in the Region 6 tournament semifinals and wound up with a No. 3 seed. The Bulldogs, led by junior Olivia Stephenson (13.8 points, 5.9 rebounds), now must travel to play their first-round game. Arabia Mountain (20-2) were beaten by Southwest DeKalb in the Region 5 title game. The Rams are led by all-region picks Iyania Kitchens and Iyanna McMillin.
Rome at Flowery Branch girls: Rome (23-5) has lost three of its last five games, two of them to No. 10 Carrollton, one to No. 5 Villa Rica. The Wolves have a balanced attack that includes Katie Beth Davis, Tava Gibson and Tarrah Gibson. No 3 Flowery Branch (22-6) has the misfortune to be in the same league with No. 1 Buford, losing three times to the defending state champions. Flowery Branch likes to play a fast-paced game and is led by versatile guard Taniyah Worth and point guard Lexie Sengkhammee.
First-round schedule
Friday – Boys
Woodland at Starr’s Mill, 7:30 p.m.; Cass at Buford, 7 p.m.; Morrow at Dutchtown, 8 p.m.; Columbia at Jackson, 7:30 p.m.; Ware County at Warner Robins, 6 p.m.
Friday – Girls
Decatur at Arabia Mountain, 5:30 p.m.; Clarke Central at Villa Rica, 6 p.m.; Statesboro at Bainbridge, 6 p.m.; Union Grove at Fayette County, 6 p.m.; Miller Grove at Jackson, 6 p.m.; Kell at Buford, 6 p.m.; McIntosh at Eagle’s Landing, 7 p.m.; Cedar Shoals at Carrollton, 6 p.m.; Riverwood at Southwest DeKalb, 6 p.m.; Woodland at Starr’s Mill, 6 p.m.; South Effingham at Harris County, 5:30 p.m.; Rome at Flowery Branch, 7 p.m.;; Chamblee at Lithia Springs, 6 p.m.; Griffin at Dutchtown, 6 p.m.; Veterans at Ware County, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday – Boys
North Springs at Southwest DeKalb, 3 p.m.; Cedar Shoals at Hiram, 7 p.m.; Wayne County at Harris County, 6 p.m.; Miller Grove at Riverwood, 4 p.m.; Bainbridge at Statesboro, 5 p.m.; Flowery Branch at Villa Rica, 6 p.m.; Banneker at Lithonia, 5 p.m.; Eagle’s Landing at McIntosh County; Paulding County at Clarke Central, 6 p.m.; Fayette County at Stockbridge, 7 p.m.; Thomas County Central at New Hamstead, 4 p.m.
Saturday – Girls
Warner Robins at Wayne County, 6 p.m.
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