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GHSA State Tournament Final Four: Friday Preview

RYZE Hoops Staff


AAAAA

Jones County vs. Eagles Landing

These two teams are very familiar with each other, having already played each other three times in Region 2-5A. Jones County has made a great run to get here behind a great group of guards including senior PG Jaylen Sanford. Eagles Landing has been one of the best teams in the state all year long and Mercer commit David Thomas has had a huge season, and they are one of the favorites in 5A with Kell. However, the Greyhounds have played them tough twice this season so expect a battle here.


Kell vs. Chapel Hill

Kell has been a juggernaut all season with a ton of wins by large margins. However, Dutchtown played them close in the Elite Eight and some big defensive plays and buckets from CJ Brown and Jaylen Colon made the difference. They will take on Chapel Hill, who is led by senior guard Oray Towns. It will take a big effort from the Panthers to stop Kell on both ends, but expect the unexpected at this point in the season.


AAA

Douglass vs. Cedar Grove

Douglass has been one of the Cinderella stories in the postseason and find themselves a win away from Macon. Sophomore guards Josh & Jacob Mikell have been great for the Astros all season and have made their mark on this tournament. Cedar Grove is led by outstanding freshman wing Manny Green, who has the ability to take over games with his athletic abilities. This should be a good one featuring some great underclassmen.


Sandy Creek vs. Cross Creek

Two years ago, these teams met in Macon for a state championship with the Razorbacks pulling off a big upset. They followed it last season with another state title. While these two teams are very different now, the big pieces remain intact and will remember that game two years ago. Micah Smith & Amari Brown had huge games down in Savannah to beat Johnson in the Elite Eight. Antoine Lorick had a big game two years ago defending now Houston Rocket Jabari Smith, and he will likely try to do the same with Smith, who was a freshman in that game.


A-Division I

Mount Pisgah vs. Swainsboro

Mount Pisgah takes on the only public school remaining in the classification. The Patriots are led by sophomore guard Micah Tucker, who is a fantastic playmaker off the dribble. He is joined by senior Grant Randall and a great group of freshmen and sophomores. Swainsboro are no strangers to deep postseason runs in recent seasons, and they are led by Demello Jones & Carmello Lewis, who can both put big numbers in the scoring column.


Kings Ridge vs. Mount Vernon

Kings Ridge is one win away from making it back to Macon, where they almost pulled an upset over Greenforest a year ago. Like last season, they have great guards that can really shoot the ball led by senior Isaac Martin and are anchored down low by Micah Hoover, who plays well on these big stages. He will have to deal with the size of Mount Vernon, who are the biggest team remaining with Xavier Shegog, Dennis Scott, and Keith Williams. This battle between two good private school programs should be fun.

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