
Class 2A will crown a new baseball champion for the first time in three years. Reclassification has moved two-time defending champions North Cobb Christian into the A-3A private classification, leaving the field wide open. One of the top contenders is Appling County, which is seeking its first championship since 2012 and only its second in school history. The Pirates are coming off two consecutive seasons with more than 24 wins, though they suffered back-to-back playoff losses to North Cobb Christian. Since their last title, Appling County has been remarkably consistent, reaching the second round or better every year and winning 20 or more games seven times. Most impressively, the Pirates have made the quarterfinals or better in five of the past six years. The Pirates return 12 players from last year’s roster, including standout 2026 pitcher Dayson Griffis and infielder Landon Anderson, both of whom made first-team All-Region last year. Additionally, 2026 outfielder Kaden Walls, a second-team All-Region selection, adds to a strong core for Appling County.
Another team looking to make a championship run is Rockmart, which reached the semifinals last year before falling to North Cobb Christian. The Yellow Jackets will be led by last year’s Region Player of the Year and first-team All-State pitcher Hunter Atkins. Joining him is junior outfielder Trey Luke, another first-team All-State selection. Rockmart also returns three first-team All-Region selections and two second-team All-Region players, giving them a level of continuity that will be tough for opponents to match. With seven recognized returners, the Yellow Jackets are well-positioned to chase their first-ever state title.
Other teams to watch include Cook High School, which has won more than 20 games in each of the past three seasons, and Redan, a perennial contender with six 20-win seasons over the past seven years. Additionally, despite a down year last season, Pike County has been a powerhouse over the last half-decade, including winning two championships. They remain a formidable threat to make another title run.
Around the class Boys - Spencer evened the season series with Sumter County on Saturday, edging out the Panthers in a 41-38 slugfest. … Westside-Macon secured a critical region win over Jackson on Friday, 59-53, to stay neck-and-neck with Morgan County. … Tattnall County handed Crisp County its first region loss with a decisive 59-48 victory, remaining undefeated in region play. … Burke County narrowly avoided an upset on Friday, pulling out a nail-biting 70-69 win over Butler. … KIPP Atlanta had a standout week, defeating Lovett 61-55 on Tuesday and dominating Carver-Atlanta 72-36 to climb to second place in the region. … Columbia earned a massive overtime road win on Tuesday, beating South Atlanta 55-51. … Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe snapped Union County’s nine-game win streak with an 85-79 victory.
Around the class Girls - Callaway claimed sole possession of first place in its region with a 62-43 win over Sumter County last Tuesday. … Appling County extended its winning streak to four games with two big region victories, defeating Pierce County 64-17 and Cook 66-34. … Thomson solidified its position atop the Region 4 standings with a commanding 61-49 win over Josey. … Sonoraville handed Murray County its first loss of the season in a thrilling 50-48 contest. … Franklin County and Hebron are on a collision course as the two top teams in Region 8 prepare to face off, with one set to suffer its first loss.
See the boys and girls latest Class 2A basketball rankings schedules below.
Boys Top 10 schedule
1. Carver-Columbus – Tuesday at Kendrick, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Shaw, 6:30 p.m.
2. Columbia – Tuesday at Drew Charter, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday vs. Bettye Davis East Anchorage, 7 p.m.; Jan. 28 at Miller Grove, 7:30 p.m.
3. KIPP Atlanta – Monday at Holy Innocents, 3:15 p.m.; Friday at Therrell, 7 p.m.; Saturday at Washington, 4:30 p.m.
4. South Atlanta – Tuesday vs. Miller Grove, 7 p.m.; Friday vs. Drew Charter, 7 p.m.; Jan. 28 at Redan, 7:30 p.m.
5. Tattnall County – Friday at Crisp County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Claxton, 6:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 at Pierce County, 7:30 p.m.
6. Union County – Tuesday vs. Coahulla Creek, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at north Cobb Christian, 7 p.m.; Jan. 28 vs. Murray County, 7:30 p.m.
7. Laney – Tuesday vs. Burke County, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Thomson, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 28 at Josey, 7:30 p.m.
8. Butler – Tuesday at Thomson, 8:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Josey, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Glenn Hills, 1:30 p.m.
9. Morgan County – Tuesday vs. Westside-Macon, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Rutland, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 28 vs. Jackson, 7:30 p.m.
10. Spencer – Tuesday Hardaway, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at Jordan, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 28 at Shaw, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Top 10 schedule
1. Thomson – Tuesday at Butler, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Laney, 6 p.m.; Jan. 28 vs. Burke County, 6 p.m.
2. Josey – Tuesday at Glenn Hills, 6 p.m.; Friday at Butler, 6 p.m.; Jan. 28 vs. Laney, 6 p.m.
3. Murray County - Monday at Lakeview Academy, 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Rockmart, 6 p.m.; Friday vs. Coahulla Creek, 7 p.m.
4. Butler – Tuesday vs. Thomson, 6 p.m.; Friday vs. Josey, 6 p.m.; Saturday vs. Glenn Hills, 6 p.m.
5. Sonoraville – Tuesday vs. Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe, 6 p.m.; Friday at North Murray, 7 p.m.; Jan. 28 vs. North Cobb Christian, 6 p.m.
6. Hardaway – Tuesday at Spencer, 6 p.m.; Friday vs. Kendrick, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Columbia, 11 a.m.
7. Columbia – Tuesday at Drew Charter, 6 p.m.; Jan. 28 at Miller Grove, 6 p.m.; Jan. 31 vs. South Atlanta, 5:30 p.m.
8. Coahulla Creek – Tuesday at Union County, 6 p.m.; Friday at Murray County, 7 p.m.; Jan. 28 vs. Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe, 6 p.m.
9. Tattnall County – Friday at Crisp County, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Claxton, 5 p.m.; Jan. 31 at Pierce County, 6 p.m.
10. Union County – Tuesday vs. Coahulla Creek, 6 p.m.; Friday at. North Cobb Christian, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 28 vs Murray County, 6 p.m.