Friday, Saturday updates from GHSA Basketball semifinals

The opening day of the GHSA basketball semifinals Friday set the state championship schedules for Classes 5A, 3A, 2A, Class A Division II and 1A-3A Private while Classes 6A, 4A and Division I will take to the court Saturday.

See the boys or girls brackets or check out how each team advanced below.

Saturday's semifinals update

Wheeler will play for its 10th state championship after moving past Grayson 68-53 behind double-digit performances from Kevin Savage (18 points), Mansur McClain (16 points) and Tylis Jordan (14 points). Wheeler won its first state title in 1994 and from 2001-2023, the program won titles in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2020, 2021 and 2023.

Newtons boys advanced to the championship against Wheeler after outlasting Pebblebrook 56-53 behind a 15-point effort from Jordan Green.

On the girls side, Grayson has a chance to defend last years title after beating Cherokee 53-48 in a come-from-behind victory. Tatum Brown led with 21 points for the Rams. Newtons 56-47 victory against North Forsyth allows the program a chance for its first-ever title and a 28-point effort from London Smith powered the victory.

Top-ranked Pace Academy will try to win its sixth title and will have to beat the defending champions North Oconee to do it. The Knights moved past Tucker 76-40 in the semis and Chandler Bing led with 24 points with 10 rebounds while Eric Chatfield added 20 points and Hayden Clay tallied 11 points.

North Oconee was led by Khamari Brooks 22 points in a 70-60 victory against McDonough. Last years championship was the first-ever for the Titans. Pace last won a title in 2023.

On the girls side, Creekside beat Marist 54-43 to remain undefeated and will play defending-champion Jackson-Atlanta after it moved past North Oconee 80-79. Jackson-Atlantas Aaliyah Weaver converted two free throws in the waning seconds after drawing a foul on a drive down the lane to secure the victory.

In Class A Division I, Southwest-Macon will be welcomed loudly at the Centreplex as it tries for the teams seventh overall title and first since 1989 after beating Toombs County 65-54. CJ Howard led with 23 points, Chase Dupree added 21 points and Brandon Ashley finished with 17 points.

BEST Academy upended East Laurens 73-58 to earn the title berth and a chance for its first-ever. Nick Dozier scored 20 points to lead the Eagles ahead of Jacob Mickell (17 points), Xion Evans (16 points) and Josh Mickell (14 points).

On the girls side, Fannin County will meet Banks County in the finals. Banks has never won a state championship while Fannin will try for its second, but first since 1999. Fannin defeated East Laurens 72-63 while Banks outlasted Model 51-44 in overtime.

Friday's Semifinals update

Hebron Christians girls have a chance to win the teams third-straight title under head coach Jan Azar after beating Galloway in the Class 1A-3A Private semis 74-32.

Jakerra Butler finished with 23 points with 10 rebounds and three blocks to lead Hebron, the two-time defending Class 3A champions which reclassed to 1A-3A Private this season. Danielle Osho scored 15 points with 11 rebounds and two blocks while Mia James scored 17 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists and Alanna Beckham added 10 points with five assists and four rebounds for Hebron.

The Holy Innocents girls will challenge Hebron after beating St. Francis 63-61 on a game-winner with 10 seconds left from freshman Loriel Murray.

On the boys side of Class 1A-3A Private, Holy Innocents beat Mount Paran 84-42 and will try for the teams first state championship. The Golden Bears will face North Cobb Christian after it moved past Class A Division II defending champion Greenforest 57-51. North Cobb will also try for its first-ever title.

Langston Hughes will face top-ranked River Ridge in the Class 5A girls state championship game after Hughes beat Bradwell Institute 66-46 behind a 24-point effort from Karrell Greene. River Ridge downed Milton 91-64 to earn the teams second title berth in three seasons. Finley Parker (22 points), Kayla Cleveland (20 points), Kyla Cantey (16 points), Makayla Roberson (15 points) and Sophia Pearl (11 points) led River Ridge.

On the boys side, Tri-Cities will try for its third overall title and first since 2022 after outlasting Lee County 75-63. Woodward Academy, a team with one state title (2020), defeated Langston Hughes 63-58 to advance. Jarvis Hayes scored 18 points to lead Woodward with Zac Foster adding 18 points.

In Class 3A, two-time defending champion Sandy Creek moved past Windsor Forest 71-42 and will face Cedar Grove in the championship game after the Saints defeated Monroe 53-45. Kingston Hawkins had 18 points, Jared White scored 15 points and Avohn Florence tallied 14 points. Manny Green paced Cedar Grove with 18 points.

The defending champion Baldwin girls upended Fayette County 62-55 and will face Cherokee Bluff in the 3A championship game after the Bears defeated upset-minded Jenkins 56-54. Baldwin has four titles but last years was the first since 1988. Janaye Walker led Baldwin past Fayette with 21 points and 18 rebounds. Cherokee Bluff has never won a championship but will ride momentum from Bristol Kershs game-winning layup against Jenkins in the semis. Kersh finished with 17 points behind Claire Carlsons 23 points.

Murray Countys girls will play for the programs second state championship and first since 1965 after beating Morgan County 71-66. On the other side of the bracket, Hardaway defeated No. 1 Josey 65-45 to have a chance at the programs first-ever title.

On the boys side of Class 2A, Butler outlasted an overtime thriller against Carver-Columbus 78-73 and will try for the teams first champion ship since 1966. Union County upended Tattnall County 54-38 and has a shot at the teams first-ever state title.

On the boys side of Class A Division II, Savannah has a chance for the teams 12th state championship but first since 1998 after beating Warren County 64-55. Savannah won titles in 1930-32, 1937, 1941, 1946-47, 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1998. McIntosh County Academy will be the title contender after the Buccaneers moved past Greene County 49-41 in the semis. Wilcox Countys girls had little trouble moving past Screven County 73-47 and will have to beat Washington-Wilkes to earn their first-ever title in the Class A Division II title game. Wilkes moved past Macon County 66-55 to advance.

Semifinals schedule

Class 6A

Saturday at Georgia State

Girls R4 #1 Grayson (29-1) vs. R5 #1 Cherokee (26-4), 1 p.m.

Boys R4 #1 Grayson (28-2) vs. R5 #1 Wheeler (27-3) , 3 p.m.

Girls R6 #1 North Forsyth (30-0) vs. R4 #2 Newton (23-5), 5 p.m.

Boys R3 #2 Pebblebrook (22-8) vs. R4 #2 Newton (21-9), 7 p.m.

Class 5A

Friday at Georgia State

Girls R3 #1 Langston Hughes (29-2) 66, R1 #1 Bradwell Institute (26-4) 46

Boys R4 #1 Woodward Academy (27-4) 63, R3 #1 Langston Hughes (24-9) 58

Girls R6 #1 River Ridge (30-1) 91,R7 #1 Milton (24-7) 64

Boys R4 #2 Tri-Cities (25-6) 75, R2 #1 Lee County (25-6) 63

Class 4A

Saturday at Fort Valley State

Girls R4 #1 Creekside (30-0) vs. R7 R5 #1 Marist (29-2), 1 p.m.

Boys R4 #1 Pace Academy (26-4) vs. R5 #1 Tucker (25-6), 3 p.m.

Girls R4 #3 Jackson-Atlanta (19-7) vs. R8 #1 North Oconee (29-1), 5 p.m.

Boys R8 #1 North Oconee (28-2) vs. R2 #1 McDonough (25-5), 7 p.m.

Class 3A

Friday at Fort Valley State

Girls #4 Cherokee Bluff (24-8) 56, #8 Jenkins (20-9) 54

Boys #1 Sandy Creek (28-3) 71, #5 Windsor Forest (25-6) 42

Girls #7 Baldwin (25-6) 62, #3 Fayette County (25-6) 55

Boys #3 Cedar Grove (27-3) 53, #7 Monroe (21-10) 45

Class 2A

Friday at Georgia Southwestern

Girls #1 Murray County (30-1) 71, #5 Morgan County (21-10) 66

Boys -- #4 Butler (20-8) 78, #1 Carver-Columbus (27-3) 73 OT

Girls #3 Hardaway (24-6) 65, #2 Josey (24-4) 45

Boys #6 Union County (26-5) 54, #2 Tattnall County (25-5) 38

Class A-Division I

Saturday at Georgia College

Girls #1 Fannin County (27-2) vs. #5 No. 2 East Laurens (22-5), 1 p.m.

Boys #1 Southwest-Macon (26-2) vs.#5 Toombs County (18-11), 3 p.m.

Girls #2 Banks County (24-5) vs. #3 Model (24-5), 5 p.m.

Boys #14 East Laurens (20-7) vs. #15 BEST Academy (23-7), 7 p.m.

Class A-Division II

Friday at Georgia College

Girls R4 #1 Wilcox County (27-1) 73, R3 #1 Screven County (23-6) 47

Boys R3 #1 Savannah (26-4) 64, R8 #2 Warren County (21-10) 55

Girls R8 #1 Washington-Wilkes (14-8) 66, R6 #1 Macon County (22-4) 55

Boys R3 #2 McIntosh County Academy (26-5) 49, R8 #1 Greene County (22-8) 41

Class 3A-1A Private

Friday at North Georgia

Girls #1 Hebron Christian (29-1) 74, #5 Galloway (20-9) 32

Boys #1 North Cobb Christian (28-3) 57, #4 Greenforest (23-6) 51

Girls #3 Holy Innocents (24-5) 63, #2 St. Francis (28-3) 61

Boys #3 Holy Innocents (26-4) 84, #7 Mt. Paran (20-14) 42