Class A Div. II Blog: Schley County's Alford retires; Wilcox and Telfair girls clash in Region 4

Schley County has an opening at head coach following the retirement of Darren Alford this week. Coach Alford spent 18 years in his hometown of Americus coaching and was the offensive coordinator for West Laurens before taking over at Schley County. Prior to coach Alfords arrival in February of 2016, Schley County was coming off an 0-10 seasonthe only winless season in program history. Coach Alford turned the program around quicklyproducing a 4-6 record in 2016 and then achieving winning seasons in seven of the next eight years. The Bobcats finished 2021 with a school-record 10-2 campaign and then earned back-to-back region titles in 2022 and 2023 with 12 wins in each of those seasons. Last year, Schley Countys young team that replaced the core from those two historic seasons finished 6-5. Alford compiled a 72-34 record in his nine seasons with the schoolaccounting for more than half of the programs wins in its 127-142 all-time record.

Chattahoochee County (Bruce Figgins), Emanuel County Institute (Chris Kearson) and Greene County (Terrance Banks) join Schley County as remaining vacancies within Class A Div. II.

Notes:

BOYS: Wrestling does not split Class A into a Div. I and Div. II and it also does not have a separate private division. As a result, Class A Div. II teams will be competing in the duals this weekend in a loaded Class A bracket. McIntosh County Academy, Irwin County, Trion and Toombs County are among the programs that qualified for the tournament. McIntosh County Academy opens up against Social Circle, Trion will take on Elbert County, Irwin County faces Dublin and Toombs County takes on Berrien County in the first round.

GIRLS: The top 10 teams will be busy this weekend and early into next week with some MLK Day games slated and also a busy Tuesday slate. The most impactful matchup with implications in the rankings will be Friday night as No. 3 ranked Wilcox County hosts No. 4 Telfair County. Wilcox County (12-1) is 4-0 in Region 4 and has won 11-straight games heading into tipoff. The Patriots only loss came back on Dec. 7 to Class 5As Lee County (56-50)resulting in a flawless record within Class A Div. II so far for the program. The teams still have to cross paths again in Feburary for a regular season finale on Feb. 7 that will be at Telfair County. The Trojans are 11-2 and also have a perfect 4-0 Region 4 record and flawless record within Class A Div. II. Telfair Countys only two losses came to Wayne County and Appling County in cross-classification play. Wilcox Countys team is young, but filled with talent as junior Zaraiah Martin (13.7 ppg), sophomore Tyliah Benjamin (13.5) and sophomore Shamauri Martin (12.3) are all scoring in double-figures. Benjamina 5-foot-11 post player is also averaging three blocks per game and a team-high 13.5 rebounds per game. Telfair County is paced by senior Passion Claywho is averaging a team-high 14.4 points per game. Freshman Tykristiany Jones has stepped up big this season with 9.1 points per game and she scored a career-high 10 points earlier this month in the Trojans 57-31 win over Montgomery County on Jan. 4.

Boys Top 10 Schedule

1. McIntosh County AcademyFriday at Groves, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Jenkins County, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Claxton, 7:30 p.m.

2. SavannahFriday vs. Emanuel County Institute, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Beach, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Screven County, 7:30 p.m.

3. Calhoun CountyFriday at Mitchell County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Randolph-Clay, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Seminole County, 7:30 p.m.

4. Randolph-ClayFriday vs. Terrell County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Calhoun County, 7:30 p.m.; Monday vs. Bainbridge, 1:30 p.m.

5. ManchesterFriday vs. Atlanta Classical Academy, 7:00 p.m.; Saturday at Harris County, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Bowdon, 7:30 p.m.

6. Macon CountyFriday at Hawkinsville, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Central-Talbotton, 3:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Chattahoochee County, 7:30 p.m.

7. Taylor CountyFriday vs. Schley County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Webster County, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday at Manchester, 7:30 p.m.

8. Clinch CountyFriday vs. Lanier County, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Pierce County, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Irwin County; 7:30 p.m.

9. Early CountyFriday at Pelham, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Miller County, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at Terrell County, 7:30 p.m.

10. Mt. Zion-CarrollFriday at Trion, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Lithia Springs, 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday at Elite Scholars Academy, 7:30 p.m.



Girls Top 10 Schedule

1. Taylor CountyFriday at Schley County, 6:00 p.m.; Wednesday at Manchester, 6:00 p.m.; Friday at Crawford County, 6:00 p.m.

2. Bryan CountyFriday at Portal, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Metter, 6:00 p.m.; Friday at Savannah, 6:00 p.m.

3. Wilcox CountyFriday vs. Telfair County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday at Hawkinsville, 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday at Crisp County, 6:00 p.m.

4. Telfair CountyFriday at Wilcox County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday at Toombs County, 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday at Hawkinsville, 6:00 p.m.

5. Early CountyFriday at Pelham, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday vs. Miller County, 6:00 p.m.; Friday at Terrell County, 6:00 p.m.

6. Macon CountyFriday at Hawkinsville, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday at Central-Talbotton, 2:00 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Chattahoochee County, 6:00 p.m.

7. Seminole CountyFriday vs. Miller County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday at Pataula Charter, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday at Calhoun County, 6:00 p.m.

8. Screven CountyFriday at Metter, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday vs. Burke County, 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Savannah, 6:00 p.m.

9. Brooks CountyFriday vs. Atkinson County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday vs. Turner County, 6:00 p.m.; Monday vs. Madison County, 6:00 p.m.

10. Randolph-ClayFriday vs. Terrell County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday vs. Calhoun County, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Pelham, 6:00 p.m.