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Savannah had six high school boy’s basketball teams playing in the GHSA state basketball quarterfinals earlier this week across the state of Georgia. Half of them have reached this weekend’s semifinal round.
In terms of rankings, predictions and polls, two of these three squads are Cinderella stories and one has been pegged as a state championship contender since Day 1. No matter how they got here, Windsor Forest, Beach and Woodville-Tompkins have arrived in the state playoff Final 4.
Here’s a look at each team’s matchup from the Prep Sports Report. Rankings are from Sandysspiel.com unless otherwise noted.
CLASS 2A
WHO: Woodville-Tompkins Wolverines (18-10) vs. No. 3 Butler Bulldogs (21-6)
WHEN: Friday, March 4th, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville)
Woodville-Tompkins and head coach Lenny Williams arrive in the Class 2A Final 4 having been through the fire with a tough regular season schedule out-of-region and within Region 2-2A. WT was unranked in the final regular season rankings among Class 2A teams, but the Wolverines wouldn’t be denied in back-to-back overtime playoff wins in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8.
It’s the first Final 4 appearance in program history for Woodville.
Senior Lukas Platuna has scored 60 points for Woodville in his last two games, and Zion Powers added 12 in the 54-51 overtime win at Model.
The Wolverines semifinal opponent is Butler out of Augusta. Like Woodville, Butler is a 2-seed out of its region (four) after losing in the region title game. The Bulldogs are led by a trio of upperclassmen, including its senior leader Kedar Bodie.
Bodie averages 13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Junior Kendrell Glover is the resident sharp-shooter for Butler, as the junior averages 11.5 points and 5.6 rebounds. He has a team-high 40 made three-pointers on the season.
Senior Elijah Martinez leads the club in rebounding with 6.9 on average while chipping in 8.8 points per game.
CLASS 3A
WHO: No. 5 Thomson Bulldogs (23-3) vs. No. 3 Windsor Forest Knights (22-5)
WHEN: Saturday, March 5th, 4 p.m.
WHERE: Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville)
Head coach Aaron Clark has his Windsor Forest Knights back in the state semifinals for a third time in the last four years after the school went from 1996-2018 without making the Final 4. Windsor Forest is 84-20 in its last four seasons under Clark.
This may be Windsor’s best shot at winning it all, something they haven’t been able to do in two previous trips to the state semis. Georgetown signee D’Ante Bass leads a talented, veteran group of Knights into the Saturday afternoon showdown with Thomson, who will be playing in its first Final 4 game since 1992.
Bass, the Region 3-3A Player of the Year, scored 20 points in the first half victory over No. 2 Sumter County last round. But he is far from the only weapon in the regular WF rotation. Forwards Abasi Scott and Donte Dorman are capable double-digit scorers and a backcourt of Javonte Landy, Mike Cabellero and Qurahn Anderson is as steady as they come.
Thomson enters the game having won seven straight, and the Bulldogs knocked off Windsor’s region rival Johnson last round. Thomson averages over 75 points per game, but Windsor’s defense has been dominant in the playoffs to this point, giving up an average of just 39 points to opponents through three playoff games.
The Bulldogs will look to push the pace of the game and they’ll be depending on star senior guard Ty Braswell to keep up his great play in this one.
CLASS 3A
WHO: Beach Bulldogs (16-8) vs. No. 7 Cross Creek Razorbacks (24-6)
WHEN: Saturday, March 5th, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville)
The Cinderella run continues for head coach Simon Heyward and the 4-seeded Bulldogs. Unranked for most of the season, including in the final regular season polls, Beach has defied the odds to make its first Final 4 since 2006.
Sophomore Larry Johnson has been terrific alongside junior Shamarrie Hugie to lead Heyward’s tough team. Beach’s 16-8 record could look a lot different had some close games gone its way this season. BHS has lost six games by four-points or fewer this year, but in the playoffs, the Bulldogs have begun winning those close affairs.
Beach has won its three playoff games (all on the road) by a combined 15 points. Hugie scored 27 points in the Sweet 16 at White County and Johnson scored 20 in the Elite 8 win at Burke County.
Cross Creek is the defending Class 3A state champion and they’ll present a stiff test for Beach in the nightcap Saturday in Milledgeville. The Razorbacks are led by a trio of excellent scorers in seniors Jaquez Ellison (12.3 ppg; 7.6 rpg) and Jayden Pack (12.0 ppg; 2.8 apg) along with junior Antoine Lorick (11.9 ppg; 7.9 rpg).
Photo - Dwashawn the Photographer
Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
