Class AAAA - Boys

Fayette County Tigers (19-9, 15-4 region) vs. Upson Lee Knights (18-7, 10-2 region), Friday, Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m.

The Tigers couldn’t get past the No. 1-ranked team in Class AAAA for the third straight time this season, but their only other region loss this year was an upset at the hands of Whitewater.

The Tigers defeated Woodward Academy (69-35) and Creekside (67-53) last week before the loss to Westlake (73-58) in the region final. Brandon Boykin led the Tigers with 18 points against Creekside, while Addison Flynn added 17, Noel Johnson scored 15 and Cuincy Carruthers added 13. Johnson led Fayette with 19 points against Westlake, while Terrance Turner added 16 and Carruthers scored 10.

Fayette County had two five-game winning streaks this season following losses. Boykin, a senior, directs the team from the guard position and Johnson, a junior, leads the team in points, but the Tigers are a deep squad that can score from in the paint and on the perimeter. There have been a lot of players that have stepped up and given the team a boost all year, including Carruthers, Flynn and Turner, among others. Boykin and Johnson were both named to the all-region tournament team.

The Knights have won seven of their last nine games and were the region leaders in their sub-region. Upson Lee had one four game winning streak and two three game winning streaks this season. Nine of their games were against opponents outside of Class AAAA and the Knights went 6-3 in those games. There are seven seniors on this year’s squad from Upson Lee, five of which are 6’2” or taller.

The winner of this game will take on the winner of Thomas County Central and Ware County on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Class AAA - Boys

Sandy Creek Patriots (18-9, 13-1 region) vs. Oconee County Warriors (14-13, 5-7 region), Saturday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m.

The Patriots defeated Carrollton 52-47 in the Region 6-AAA semi-final but lost to Cartersville 68-62 in the Region 6-AAA championship game. It was their second loss in three games. Prior to their loss to Villa Rica in the regular-season finale, Sandy Creek had been on a seven-game winning streak. The Patriots have had outstanding senior leadership from Darius Harris, Josh Williams and Blake Brewer, among others, while numerous members of the team have stepped up and played spectacularly throughout the season, including Teddy Day and Malcolm Jackson.

The Warriors avenged two regular season losses to Stephens County in the Region 8-AAA third place game last Saturday. The win was their sixth in eight games. There are six seniors on the Warriors roster this year.

The winner of this game will meet the winner of Flowery Branch and Southside on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Class AAAA - Girls

Fayette County Lady Tigers (22-5, 14-2 region) vs. Forest Park Lady Panthers (12-14, 6-8 region), Friday, Feb. 22, 6 p.m.
The Lady Tigers defeated Westlake, the third-ranked team in Class AAAA, 49-34 on their third try and it was good enough for their fourth region title in five years. All-region tournament selections Anma Onyeuku and Tessah Holt were Fayette County’s leading scorers in the final with 16 points and 10 points, respectively. Fayette County made the final by edging out Woodward Academy 41-38. Onyeuku led the team with 24 points, while Holt chipped in 10.

This may be the most talented team in that run, though. Fayette County is getting great play from Onyeuku, a sophomore, and has had solid games all year from Holt, Sasha Sims, Chasity Welch, Kristene Walker, Dekota Walton and a slew of others. There are seven seniors on the team, but the team will bring back most, if not all, of their starting five next year.

The Lady Panthers have won six of their last eight games, but they had a very tough stretch early on that featured four wins in 16 games. Half of Forest Park’s losses were by double-digit margins.

The winner of this game will meet the winner of the Greenbrier-Bainbridge game on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Class AAA - Girls

Sandy Creek Lady Patriots (21-5, 12-3 region) vs. Stephens County Lady Indians (15-9, 7-5 region), Saturday, Feb. 23, 4:30 p.m.

Sandy Creek took on Central-Carroll in the semifinals of the region 6-AAA tournament and won 43-31 behind 14 points from Jaquaye Okai. In the Lady Patriots 56-35 loss to Carrollton in the final, Okai scored seven points. Four of the Lady Patriots losses were to Carrollton, a team they won’t have to see until the state championship game, (should both teams make it that far) and Sandy Creek had two six-game winning streaks between the last two losses to the Lady Trojans. The Lady Patriots have two seniors on the squad, Okai and 6-foot center Lilia Stokes. The team has had awesome performances throughout the season from players like Morgan Toles, Kenneshia Rich, Aleah Hordges and Kafi Hemphill, among others. They have also been a team known for stifling defense.

The Lady Indians enter the Class AAA state tournament on a bit of a cold streak. They have lost four of their last five games. Stephens County only has a few seniors as well: shotting guard Danae Martin, center Ellen Black and power forward Victoria Grimsley.

The winner of this game will face the winner of Gainesville and Southside on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Class A - Girls

Landmark Christian Lady War Eagles (24-2, 11-1 region) vs. Monticello Lady Hurricanes (12-13, 8-2 region), Saturday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m.

Landmark’s road to the state playoffs saw them go 3-0 in the Region 5-A tournament. They defeated St. Francis in the opening round 62-21 behind 19 points and nine rebounds from Diamond Hunnicutt, 12 points apiece from Sarah Todd and Dee Terrell and 11 points from Jo’el Christian. Landmark then defeated Fellowship Christian 47-35 in the semi-final with Hunnicutt scoring 14 points and Christian once again adding 11. In the final against Southwest Atlanta Christian (SACA), the Lady War Eagles eked out a 61-59 win with 15 points and 15 rebounds from Hunniccutt, 15 points from Todd, 14 points from Hall and 11 points from Christian.

The Lady War Eagles lost the Class A state championship in the final minutes of last year’s title game. They are hoping return to the Class A final to avenge that loss, and their journey starts with this game. Since a late-season loss to SACA that snapped an 18-game winning streak, Landmark has won five games in a row. Hunnicutt has stepped in and filled her sister’s shoes admirably (Christian Hunnicutt was the team’s leading scorer last season) and players like Terrell, Tiffany Taylor, Todd and Christian have played just as well. They have won three region titles in a row.

Monticello has gone 6-4 in their last 10 games and only one of those wins was not by a double-digit margin. After opening the season 3-9, the Lady Hurricanes heated up in 2008 and have played much better of late. There are three seniors on Monticello’s squad and only one junior, so regardless of how far the Lady Hurricanes go in this year’s state tournament, the future looks bright.

The winnner of this game will face the winner of Towns County and Bowdon.