Different backgrounds for teams in state

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February 18, 2013

Different backgrounds for teams in state

Becky Taylor CNHI The Tifton Gazette Mon Feb 18, 2013, 08:44 PM EST

TIFTON — There are 320 teams competing from classes AA through AAAAAA. Another 64 will join them when the pairings for Class A private and public divisions are announced Wednesday. For the 320 already in there are vast differences, in not just geography, team colors and nicknames. Some schools are newcomers, some are veterans to the 2013 state tournament. Some have enjoyed great success, while some just want any success.

They are the champions (boys): Milton (AAAAA), Miller Grove (AAAA), Columbia (AAA), Laney (AA) and Whitefield Academy (A). Milton was ruled ineligible this year. Miller Grove won 6-AAAAA, Columbia is No. 2 out of 6-AAAA, Laney is No. 2 out of 3-AA. Class A has not been officially announced, but Whitefield is a shoe-in.

They are the champions (girls): McEachern (AAAAA), Miller Grove (AAAA), Columbia (AAA), Lovett (AA) and Wesleyan (A). McEachern is No. 2 out of 4-AAAAAA, Miller Grove is No. 2 out of 6-AAAAA, Columbia won 6-AAAA, Lovett is No. 3 out of 6-AA and Wesleyan won the packed 6-AA.

New divisions: Class AAAAAA has been added this year and Class A has been split into public and private divisions. It is the first new classification added since AAAAA was introduced in the 2000-01 season. The last time the GHSA split a division was 1934, when the original all-classification tournaments were divided into Classes B and C. The GIAA, mostly made up of schools from major metro areas, served as de-facto Class A in basketball until the 1949-50 season.

Riding the metro: Tift County's boys are ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAA going into state. In the last 20 years, metro Atlanta schools have dominated the winners, including all of them starting in 1999. Since 1993, only three non-metro schools have won: Griffin (1993), Tift County (1996) and Savannah (1998). The girls list is worse. Only Savannah's Beach (2000) has captured a title in the largest division.

Rings on their fingers: Wesleyan's girls have won six straight titles, the first in AA and the rest in AA. In total, they have won nine crowns in the past 11 years. They are looking to tie Hart County, who won six straight from 1989-94. Miller Grove has four consecutive boys titles and Columbia has three, also in boys competition. No boys team has ever won five straight. Macon's Lanier (1925-28) and Westover (1990-93) also won four in a row.

Making their grand debut: Hapeville Charter (boys), Langston Hughes (girls), Lambert (boys), Luella (boys), Mountain View (girls), Northgate (boys), River Ridge (boys), Sonoraville (girls) and Whitewater (girls).

Gone so long, it might as well be a debut: The big winners are the Jeff Davis boys. The last year they saw a state tournament -—1974 -—Gerald Ford was President. Others returning for their first big dance in a long time are Evans (girls, last appeared in 1982), Gilmer (boys, 1991), Harlem (boys, 2002), Paulding County (girls, 1991), Pike County (girls, 1982), South Forsyth (girls, 2002), Thomson (girls, 2002) and White County (girls, 2002).

Death, taxes and ...: Dodge County's girls and Tift County’s boys. The last time Dodge missed the state tournament was 1991. They host Peach County in the first round in 2013. Tift’s last miss was 1993. They are hosting McEachern this year.

It's not the same without: Lowndes. The Vikings and Vikettes have totally been shut out of state for the first time since 1992.

Looking for their first victory in the tournament: Model's boys and Savannah's girls are the most eager. Model has gone to state 11 times since their first appearance in 1936 and have played only 11 games. They are the No. 2 seed in 8-AA this year and host Westminster. Savannah is 0-6 and is hosting Douglass. Other longtime programs without a win in this year's tourney are Alexander (boys), Bleckley County (girls), Effingham County (boys), Evans (girls), Gordon Central (boys), Northwest Whitfield (boys) and Paulding County (girls).

V for ?: Rabun County's boys last won a state tournament game in 1951. Gilmer's boys last tasted success in 1958. That was Jeff Davis's last year as well, but at least theirs was a state championship (the girls won a Class AA title as well). The boys from Harlem last won in 1969.

Going-for-0: Four girls squads hope to emerge with perfect records, though it will be possible for only three. Two are in the same class. They are Parkview (AAAAAA, 28-0), Cross Creek (AAAA, 27-0), Laney (AA, 26-0) and Kendrick (AA, 27-0).

No boys teams are undefeated. Vidalia (AA) and Cartersville (AAA) come the closest. Both are 26-1.

Headed in the wrong direction: Northgate plays Northside. Northgate, from Coweta County, will have to go south to get to Northside, as the game will be in Columbus.

Worst road trip: In mileage, Campbell's boys traveling to Brunswick. In terrain, Rabun County's boys going to Columbus to play Spencer. At least Campbell has interstates for all of their journey.

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