The QTRFinals just ended and here is a preview for the semi-finals. Enjoy! remember that I'll be calling Class AAAAA and AAAA semifinal games LIVE from Gwinnett Arena this Wednesday and Thursday.
Boys AAA
Benjie Wood, coach of the North Hall Trojans has been to the Final Four before, though it was with the Johnson girls basketball team in 2005. This will be the Trojans first trip to the Final Four and seniors Robert Humphrey and Chase Syfon will try and get the Trojans two more wins to truly make North Hall history. Trevor Ross had eight points in the 53-49 win over Riverwood in the quarterfinals. Robby Hill will be back after missing the Riverwood game. The Trojans will play undefeated LaGrange. Dionte Mains led the Grangers with 16 points in the quarterfinals 59-51 win over against Dougherty. Mains is one of eight seniors that are experiencing their first success in the playoffs. Jamius Gunsby is a force down low in the post and fellow senior Antione Green lights things up from the backcourt. Finally, don’t sleep on the impact that undersized forward Qua Hardy provides.
The Columbia Eagles managed to run away from Elbert County and have now reached the final four for the fifth straight season. The Eagles won the 2006 and 2008 titles, and came up short in the 2007 title game. The Eagles might just make it three titles in five years with JerShon Cobb in shooting guard. The future Northwestern Wildcat is joined by Chris Grier in the backcourt and the frontcourt is anchored by 6’8 center Darnelius “Tank” Sessions. If the Eagles are to advance to a fourth title game in five years, they must beat Westover. The Patriots knocked off the defending state champions in South Atlanta and now the Pats will need even more from guards Anthony Ball and Malcolm Sapp as well as forward Onochie Ochie. Chris Wheeler is also a threat to explode, as he did for 32 against Cairo earlier this season. Coach Dallas Smith had his team in the finals last year, this year he wants to win that game.
girls AAA
Carver-Atlanta advanced to the semi-finals after besting Franklin Co 43-38. For Coach Cedrick King, his Lady Panthers have won at least twenty games in back to back seasons and now Carver is trying to win at least one more and will start against top-ranked and undefeated Kendrick, who beat Spalding 61-28 in the quarterfinals. The Carver Panthers have a standout junior in Bria Dorsey and two outstanding freshmen that get significant minutes. Meanwhile, Kendrick has a plethora of scorers that can explode at anytime for points. Simone High, Janae Merritt and Deshanti Lewis all reached double digits for Kendrick in the second round against Peach County and with its win over Spalding, the Lady Cherokees improved to 30-0. This is the third trip to the final four in four years and the team is seeking its second title in three years.
LaGrange beat Northside-Columbus 66-64 on a Arneshia Williams basket with 7.6 seconds left. Williams finished the quarterfinal game with 16 points, and in the semis, expect Williams to be joined in the scorer’s book by Angel Penn and Steara Mitchell . The Lady Grangers, Region 2-AAA three-seed, will play Columbia, who beat East Hall 46-17. The Lady Eagles led from nearly the jump in the quarterfinals against East Hall as 6’5 senior center Akila McDonald scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, with Zuri Frost adding ten points. Columbia will be difficult to top on the boards as they have a knack for finding the rebound. The Eagles defense really turned up against East Hall in the quarters, shutting out East Hall for an entire quarter. The Eagles have won 19 straight for coach Chantay Frost. The semifinal may come down to whether LaGrange can force enough turnovers from Columbia, leading to fastbreak points.
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