With the state championships in 5A just a few days away, let’s take a look at the matchups and what to watch for in each game.
Boys
Tri-Cities vs Woodward Academy- Another great showdown between two region rivals who will meet for the fourth time this season. They each have a lot of familiarity not just this year but over the course of their history. Here is what the Tri-Cities head basketball coach had to say about the matchup a week ago
“Very well-coached team with elite talent led by some very good seniors. We have had battles with Woodward Academy for years and have been in a region with them multiple times before. I look forward to continuing that tradition. Our schools are less than five minutes away from each other. They came out on top twice this year and won both games at their gym. We won at ours,” said Forts.
Woodward Academy and Tri-Cities split the season series during the regular season with each team winning at home. Woodward Academy clinched a region championship and the No. 1 overall seed in the region title game against Tri-Cities. The War Eagles have won the matchups by an average of 13 points this far.
Key players to watch for the War Eagles will be Jarvis Haynes Jr. who is continuing his ascent into stardom. He is already rated as a national prospect via On3 and 247Sports. Haynes Jr has already captured a magical moment this offseason by hitting a game-winner to lift Woodward Academy past Milton. In that game, he finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. He’s certainly continuing to make a name for himself.
Clemson commit Zac Foster is a prolific scorer who can take over a game whenever he wants. He had another big game and was instrumental in helping Woodward Academy get to the title game, dropping 18 points. He leads the team in scoring this year averaging 17.2 PPG for the War Eagles.
Tre Keith has also been superb this year and leads the team with 17.9 points per game. He also has improved his averages in assists from 2.4 to 4.2 and rebounding from 3.7 to 4.0. Keith recently poured in 34 points, five rebounds, five steals, and four assists in a victory over Habersham Central. During the playoff run, Keith surpassed 20 points in every contest. In addition to his scoring prowess, he also is an underrated passer who has a good feel for the game and can make any read on the floor. His presence will be a valuable reason if the Bulldogs can hoist a championship.
The true X factor in this game is Jalan Wingfield who can cement his status in the glory of Tri-Cities basketball by delivering a state championship victory. He is already considered one of the best prospects in the country. This season he is averaging 16.1 PPG, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Wingfield can guard 1-5 on the basketball court and is one of the rare front-court players who can guard the perimeter. He has an elite feel for the game and a high basketball IQ. Offensively, he has a versatile skill set and can hit a shot from anywhere on the court. If you let him heat up, he can be lethal. His head coach talked about what has made him take to the next level this season.
“The biggest thing with him and where he has grown since this summer when he was playing with us after sitting out last year is maturation. Under the why behind what we do and the how. There is still some growth in that area but he is immensely talented. As he continues to gain experience, he is going to grow and continue to get better and better. He is the most talented player I have ever had,” said Forts.
Girls
Langston Hughes vs River Ridge- River Ridge is in a position to clinch its second championship in three seasons thanks to their well-balanced attack on offense. They are 30-1 on the season heading into the state championship. Head coach Jason Taylor always has his team playing at an elite level, especially during the postseason. River Ridge is averaging 81.5 points per game during the postseason run and is holding teams to an average of 51 points. The Lady Knights defense has been just as impressive as the offense as they have stifled teams and made it tough to score on them.
Sophia Pearl recently crossed 500 assists for her career in a 91-63 semifinal victory over Milton finishing with 11 points and nine assists. Pearl leads the team with 6.5 assists per game and is averaging 11.8 points per game.
Kayla Cleveland has been elite on both ends for the Lady Knights, averaging 15.1 PPG and 7.5 rebounds. The three-sport star is averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, and blocks in her senior season. She has scored 20 points in three of her last five outings.
Kyla Cantey can potentially be dangerous because of her ability from long range. She hit four threes and scored 19 points in the win over Milton. She is averaging 10.2 points per game. A lot of teams may forget about her because of how good this roster is with elite talents like Pearl, Cleveland, Makayla Roberson and Finlay Parker.
Hughes is another team that has been impressive this season with a 29-2 record and 14-0 region record to go along with a region title. Their last loss was on January 25th at Carrollton. Since that 54-52 loss, the Lady Panthers have won 11 consecutive games and are holding opponents to an average of 34 points during the winning streak.
Hughes is led by Cornelia Ellington who is averaging 13.2 PPG and 4.4 assists. Karrell Greene was a big factor in their 20-point victory over Bradwell Institute finishing with 24 points. Georgia Tech commit Jocelyn Faison is a vital frontcourt player for the Lady Panthers. This season she is averaging 12.7 PPG, seven rebounds, and a block per game. Faison is a dominant post player who can defend at a high level on defense using her length and athleticism to punish the glass.
Hughes has notable wins on their schedule defeating Holy Innocents, Hoover (AL), Morrow, Sandy Creek, Hebron Christian, North Paulding, St. Francis, and Bradwell Institute. They are a battle-tested bunch who have been put to the test this season and have come out on the other side victorious more often than not.
Around the class boys- Tri-Cities is gunning for its third title in program history and first since 2022. You can make the argument that this is probably one of the most talented groups head coach Omari Forts has coached. The Bulldogs also have two four-star prospects in Jalan Wingfield and Tre Keith. Woodward Academy has proven they have been a state title contender all year with wins over Newton (6A state title berth), Kell, Tri-Cities, Milton, and Hughes. The War Eagles have a well-rounded group and are looking to win a championship for the first time since 2020.
Around the class girls- Hughes is looking to make history and win its first state championship in program history. It certainly won’t be easy, especially going against such a talented team with a bevy of experience in River Ridge. However, the Lady Panthers have a good amount of upperclassmen on the team with seven of their 13 players being juniors or seniors. River Ridge has established itself as a playoff fixture and a team that can make noise when they get into the dance. They can add another state title to the coaching pedigree of head basketball coach Jason Taylor with a good bit of core players all returning next year.
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