WHO'S HOT: Laney's Lady Wildcats. A state title for veteran coach Otis Smart seems possible the way the Class AA bracket sets up given the level the team is playing at right now. Laney's Ty Johnson, Kami Phillips and Glentrice Sapp have shown the ability to get the team through the next two weeks.
WHO'S GOT IT ROUGH: Hephzibah's Lady Rebels. Hephzibah (26-3) faces Southeast Macon (27-1) at Columbus State on Friday. The prize for the winner is a date with Kendrick (27-1) on Saturday. Any of those teams can win the Class AAA title, but only one gets the chance to.
BEST WIN LAST WEEK: Thomson 79, Carver-Columbus 77: The Bulldogs shocked the Region 2-AA champ on its home floor and saved some dignity for Augusta basketball in the process. Thomson (17-10) was the only team from the area to beat a Columbus area team in the boys' bracket of the Georgia High School Association Class AAA state tournament.
MR. WEBSTER: Josey's Ismail Tolbert took a moment to define what the phrase "Josey basketball" means to the team this year.
"It's hard-nosed defense and in your face basketball. It's also physical. Very physical."
BELIEVER: Richmond Academy coach Steve Nobles has a new opinion about Amateur Athletic Union basketball.
"I used to be skeptical," he said. "I had two guys play AAU ball this summer and they came back improved players. They did my program right with the work they did. A lot of coaches in Augusta don't like AAU ball, but I'm a believer now."
AUGUSTAN's IDOL: Richmond Academy senior Loce Hill shared an item about the affection teammate Trevor Welcher has for NBA star Steve Nash. Hill couldn't help but snicker when talking about it.
"Trevor is a little Steve Nash," Hill said. "He loves him some Steve Nash. He's always doing Nash's little floaters and no-look passes and stuff. He's definitely got a thing for the way Steve Nash plays the game."
GOES TO SHOW: The fact North Augusta's Lady Jackets aren't playing for the Class AAAA state title in the South Carolina state playoffs this week is proof it takes the right amount of luck and talent to win it all. The knee injury to point guard Alniecia Allen robbed them of that chance.
Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.
SIZING UP THE FIELD
The chances of each of the 11 Georgia teams still alive in the GHSA playoffs winning a state title next month according to staff writer Jeff Sentell and his magic 8-ball.| BOYS | |
| TEAM | PREDICTION |
| Aquinas | Don't count on it |
| Warren Co. | Outlook not so good |
| Josey | Could exceed expectations |
| Swainsboro | Outlook hazy |
| Thomson | Very doubtful |
| Richmond | Signs point to no |
| GIRLS | |
| Laney | Outlook appears favorable |
| Screven Co. | Road appears blocked |
| Glenn Hills | Outlook not so good |
| Hephzibah | Ask again later |
| Greenbrier | One tall hurdle in the way |
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