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The 2022 Georgia High School Association Class 3A state basketball championship is a matchup of two teams who played against each other in a classic state semifinal game last year. 

 

Defending state champion Cross Creek takes on Savannah’s Windsor Forest this Friday in Macon. Windsor Forest represents Savannah’s only chance at winning a GHSA state championship this year. Savannah;s most recent state championship was won by the Johnson Lady Atomsmashers in 2018. The Knights are representing the city, sure. But they have their own program in mind as they are looking to claim the school’s first state championship in any (team) sport. It’s Windsor’s first time in a state basketball title game, but the Knights have been knocking on the door over the last four seasons, reaching the Final 4 three times during that stretch.

 

The Prep Sports Report has you covered with everything you’ll want to know heading into the state showdown.

 

NEED TO KNOW

WHO: No. 7 Cross Creek Razorbacks (25-6) vs No. 3 Windsor Forest Knights (23-5)

WHAT: GHSA Class 3A Boys Basketball State Championship

WHEN: Friday, March 11, 2022; 3 p.m.

WHERE: Macon Centreplex; Macon, Ga

WATCH: www.gpb.org/sports

FOLLOW: Live stats at … www.ghsabasketball.weebly.com

 

BY THE NUMBERS

WINDSOR FOREST

Points scored per game: 64.1

Points allowed per game: 52.1

Poll ranking: 3

Computer ranking: 1

 

CROSS CREEK

Points scored per game: 66.1

Points allowed per game: 53.1

Poll ranking: 7

Computer ranking: 3

 

SCOUTING WINDSOR FOREST

Windsor Forest is taking aim at accomplishing what its other Region 3-3A teams have not been able to do: beat Cross Creek. The Razorbacks knocked off Groves (3-3A’s 1-seed) in the Elite 8 before handling Beach (4-seed) in the Final 4. But, the Knights can still hang their hat on the fact that they just beat Thomson – a team which defeated Cross Creek three times this season – in the semifinal round last week.

 

Region 3 Player of the Year and Georgetown signee D’ante Bass leads head coach Aaron Clark’s team into the state title game as the senior forward (6’6”) averages 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest.

 

The Knights have been without the services of all-region guard Quarahn Anderson (9.1 points per game) for their last two playoff wins as the junior has continued to deal with a nagging injury. He will not be playing in the championship game but is expected to be one of the top players in the area next year as a senior.

 

In his stead, seniors Javonte Landy (11 points in the Final 4) and Mike Cabellero (nine points in semifinal) have carried the load in the WF backcourt. A pair of junior forwards have been crucial in the playoffs alongside Bass in the frontcourt as Donte Dorman and Larry Pounds each scored eight points in the semifinal win and senior swing man Abasi Scott adds even more length to an already physically impressive rotation of players.

 

Dorman (Bethesda Academy) and Pounds are both transfers in their first year with Windsor Forest.

 

Cabellero, a star running back on the football field, serves as Clark’s de facto coach on the floor from the point guard position. He says he hasn’t forgotten about the pain of falling just short in two semifinal losses in previous seasons, and he’s using that to motivate himself and his teammates come Friday afternoon.

 

“We want to finish the job this time around for (Coach Clark),” Caballero told PSR on Tuesday. “It’s long overdue for us to be here and we’re looking to get him that ring Friday. We ended those other seasons crying. I remember that feeling and I don’t want to have it again.

 

“This year, we’re gonna’ be smiling at the end of our season.”

 

SCOUTING CROSS CREEK

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).

 

The 2-seed out of region 4-3A, Cross Creek won its first state championship in program history last season after beating Windsor Forest 77-76 in a thrilling semifinal game. The Razorbacks are balanced and deep, oftentimes winning games with poise and patience down the stretch of tight contests.

 

Head coach Lawrence Kelly’s team is paced by three seniors – Jaquez Ellison (12.3 points, 7.6 rebounds), Jayden Pack (12 points) and Terrenice Streetman (8.8 points, 6.6 rebounds). Junior Antoine Lorick (12.2 points, 7.7 rebounds) scored 20 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked five shots against Beach.

 

Cross Creek lost three times to Thomson during the season, but the Bulldogs were eliminated by Windsor Forest last round to set up a rematch from the 2021 Class 3A Final 4.

 

Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.