GHSA State Championship Preview: 5A-4A
Class 5A No. 1 Buford (30-1) vs. No. 2 Kell (32-0) Experience vs. youth. Buford has been there, done that, looking for their fourth consecutive title and fifth in six years. Kell leapfrogged the competition behind their exciting freshman class…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingClass 5A
No. 1 Buford (30-1) vs. No. 2 Kell (32-0)
Experience vs. youth. Buford has been there, done that, looking for their fourth consecutive title and fifth in six years. Kell leapfrogged the competition behind their exciting freshman class and are on the verge of completing a perfect season behind Crystal Henderson. The freshman phenom scored 25 points in the Longhorns’ 60-55 win over Eagle’s Landing. She is an elusive ballhandler and passer that is a lights out shooter with deep range. Kell has athleticism and length that could pose problems for Buford. Sophomore Amya Moss and freshman Jada Green are both long athletes while freshman Jamiah Gregory is an explosive forward. Senior Kya Williams pairs well with Henderson as a quick slashing guard. Buford will run and hunt and look to exploit any of Kell’s weaknesses. Expect both teams to press and play fast. The veteran leadership of Furman-signee Tate Walters will be enormous. She must have a strong game and protect the ball against Kell’s pressure. Ashyia Willis has a chance to jump start her recruitment with a big game on the big stage. She’s a quick point guard that gets into the lane and creates for others while not turning the ball over. Sara Viti, Tamori Plantin and Abbi Perkins must rebound when they are shuffled into the game. While Buford has to track Henderson on the perimeter, the same can be said for the Longhorns of Blair Wallis. She is a knockdown three-point shooter that can swing the momentum of the game quickly if left open.
Class 4A
No. 2 Americus-Sumter (28-2) vs. No. 7 Troup County (27-1)
An ejection and suspension of Olivia Cochran changed the course of the state playoffs as Carver-Columbus couldn’t keep pace with Troup County in the Final 4. The Tigers earned a 56-47 win over the defending state champs as 6-foot sophomore wing Aniya Palmer had her coming out party. Palmer, long, athletic and active, posted 13 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 9 blocks. She will hook up with another high energy exceptional athlete in Troy-signee Jelissa Reese, who had 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals and 1 block in Americus-Sumter’s wild 56-51 win in overtime over Luella. Both Palmer and Reese are two-way players. Palmer can be dominant defensively with her length while Reese uses her powerful body to physically shutdown opposing players. Troup County’s front court will be tough to handle with leading scorer 5-foot-9 senior Amber Gilbert (14.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and ballhawk freshman 5-foot-8 Alexcia Murphy (9.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg). The trio of Palmer, Gilbert and Murphy all crash the glass extremely hard with Gilbert and Murphy using their strength to fight for caroms. Americus-Sumter is more guard oriented behind Trinity Jones (15) and Tiffani Goodman (12) who combined for 27 points in the Final 4. Troup County plays fundamental defense while still being aggressive. Jada Green and Monyia Murphy made hustle plays throughout the game to frustrate Carver.