Georgia’s high school track and field athletes in all classifications now have one more hurdle to jump before the annual state championships in May. In past years, the athletes would use this weekend’s regional meets to qualify for the state championships. Starting this spring, the top four placers in each region event qualify for sectionals, and the top performers at next week’s sectionals qualify for the state meet.

While the new system definitely adds a wrinkle and is a little confusing to some at first glance, the intent is very clear: get the best track and field athletes into the state meet. In the past, regions have only sent their top two placers in each event to state. Now, four athletes from each region will compete at one of two sectional meets in each class. (Every classification will have an east and west sectional with four regions represented). Read more >

The McEachern Indians could not have made any stronger of a case for a national championship this season. Phyllis Arthur’s squad marched through every opponent on its schedule, going 33-0 and capping the year with a GHSA Class AAAAA state championship last week in Gwinnett.

The Indians defeated two-time defending champion Norcross to open the season and then again in the semifinals, and McEachern defeated three Tennessee powers, and schools from Alabama and Florida. After winning the Region 4-AAAAA title, the Indians won each playoff game by an average of 32.8 points.

The championship game against Hillgrove was a runaway as McEachern began the game on a 20-4 run en route to a 69-36 victory. Read more >

As the clock on the high school basketball regular season ticks down to double-zero, the top boys teams are gaining momentum. Milton, the AJC’s top-ranked team in Class 5A, won twice last week in region games by a gaudy average of 51 points.

Most of the ranked teams have completed playing in national tournaments and “showcases” against out-of-state powerhouses. Because the big boys were back to playing cross-town rivals and region bottom dwellers, the AJC’s newest rankings were relatively flat. All of the No. 1’s in every classification remained on top. Read more >

The craziness in Georgia girls basketball is settling down, just as region and state tournaments are about to commence. Last week, we saw three new teams ascend to the top spot of the AJC’s weekly poll. This week, all five of the No. 1’s remain in the pole position.

Three of the top teams are local schools. Norcross is tops in Class 5A, Chamblee is tops in Class 4A and Wesleyan is still the team to beat in Class A. Chamblee is undefeated this winter, while Norcross and Wesleyan have just two losses apiece. Read more >

As the top boys basketball teams in the state make their playoff pushes, teams from the metro area continue to dominate in the AJC’s weekly polls, especially in the larger classifications. Every No. 1 ranked team (with the exception of Class A) is inside or within shouting distance of I-285.

Milton remains in Class 5A’s top spot after beating No. 3 Wheeler 77-59 on Saturday night. With the emergence of Walton to the ninth spot, every Class 5A team is from metro Atlanta.

Seven ranked teams in Class 4A are locals. Miller Grove has only one loss this season, to Florida’s Dr. Krop, and remains No. 1.

Columbia lost, but was still able keep the top spot in Class 3A. Their loss came against highly regarded (but unranked) Tucker from Class 4A, 62-54. Read more >