GHSA Semifinal Saturday - Takeaways

We had Georgia’s version of Super Saturday going with GHSA playoff semifinal action all over the state, and the games delivered with a slew of fascinating storylines. We highlight a few of them below: VETERAN POWER I’ve been highlighting teams with veteran presences and how successful they’ve been in these highly competitive playoffs. That trend continued yesterday with teams featuring tons of experience pushing through the tough moments and showing the need for the kind of poise which only comes from having been there before. Mt Pisgah, A-Private (W, 66-57 over Christian Heritage) - Five seniors in the starting lineup (and two highly regarded and experienced juniors first off the bench) is all you need to say about this run for the boys from Johns Creek, winners now of 18 of their last 19. Love seeing [player_tooltip player_id="806742" first="JoJo" last="Peterson"] show off his unquestioned talents, my experience seeing him in the past has been a ton of wow moments but a few too many head-scratchers for someone with his kind of ability, but in this his final year he’s doing it all and showing why he has been so highly regarded for so long. The Patriots get ample help from center [player_tooltip player_id="806777" first="Nate" last="Gordon"], one of the best rim protectors and rebounders in metro-ATL, wing [player_tooltip player_id="1047095" first="Chase" last="Tucker"] has been among the most-feared 3-point bombers for several seasons now, and guard Nick Speros and 6-4 forward Garrett Sutherland give them much-needed steady play in the scoring, defense and hustle categories. UP NEXT: A-Private Final Wednesday vs Holy Innocents (in Macon) Wheeler, 6A (W, 73-63 over Centennial) - This was a highly competitive game before it was stretched out with free throws late, and both teams feature veterans in key spots. But few teams can boast the kind of state-championship returning upperclass mettle that the Wildcats put on the floor each night. Wheeler too ha been impressively consistent, since the calendar turned having only lost on the road at Milton and in double OT in the Region finals to Kell. They’ll head to Macon trying to make it 2-straight titles (they took home the 7A crown last year) buoyed by the core group of 2021s [player_tooltip player_id="806719" first="Ja’Heim" last="Hudson"] (another elite rim protector, has seen more space to show off his varied low-post game this season), [player_tooltip player_id="869608" first="AJ" last="Burke"] (high IQ speedy guard who can really guard) and [player_tooltip player_id="869595" first="Max" last="Harris"] (do-it-all wing can play with or off the ball and be effective, guards 3 spots), all key players in last year’s run. They added our #6-ranked 2021 Kaleb Wahington from Pebblebrook, 6-4 Khedric Oliver has taken a big step at the forward spot this year as a senior, and add juniors [player_tooltip player_id="870166" first="Juvon" last="Gamory"] and Cam Johnson and sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id="820278" first="Isaiah" last="Collier"] (our #3 2023, a starter most of last year before a shoulder injury sidelined him late) and [player_tooltip player_id="598758" first="Amir" last="Green-Jones"] (a 2023 riser who came over after starting at Walnut Grove), and the stable of talented and experienced players is evident. UP NEXT: 6A Final Friday vs Kell (in Macon) Holy Innocents, A-Private (W, 59-46 over St Francis) - The Golden Bear triumvirate of seniors got the better in this one of their St Francis 2021 counterparts [player_tooltip player_id="754239" first="Jusaun" last="Holt"], [player_tooltip player_id="806775" first="Kai" last="Simmons"] and Toby Gaynes. It’s been no secret that [player_tooltip player_id="806722" first="Garrison" last="Powell"] has been living under the radar down inside the perimeter off Mt Vernon Hwy most of his career, but to anyone who’s spent any time watching him we’ve known how much game is there, a true scoring guard who is part grinder and part explosive athlete. His backcourt running mate Justin Wilson can make a claim as far too underrated as well, he’s been a consistent producer playing multiple positions for years, and has a propensity for turning it on when teams pay too much attention to Powell. Thirdly, the grinder category was made for senior Landon Kardian, a physical 6-4 forward who teases double-doubles every game and has plenty of skill to go with the hustle and smarts that define his play. The trio had 50 of the 59 points for the Bears Saturday. UP NEXT: A-Private Final Wednesday vs Mt Pisgah (in Macon) Milton, 7A (W, 74-67 over Pebblebrook) - You don’t run off 25-straight wins without experience, but what’s ironic about Milton’s core lineup is that it features just one senior, clutch shooter [player_tooltip player_id="806726" first="Broc" last="Bidwell"] (who had several key 3-balls in the 2nd half to spur Milton and stave off Falcon rallies), but the other 5 players who see significant minutes include 3 juniors and 2 sophomores, yet all of whom were either starters or big-time rotational guys during last season’s run to the 7A semifinals. The things 2nd-ranked 2022 guard [player_tooltip player_id="870146" first="Bruce" last="Thornton"] (pictured above) can do are well documented, but it’s still a blast to watch as he shows off the kind of D1-variety Ohio St fans will love for however long he decided to stay in Columbus. In addition to Bidwell’s big shot-making, [player_tooltip player_id="820272" first="Kanaan" last="Carlyle"], our #1-ranked 2023, was spectacular yet again and has consistently played at the highest of levels at both ends of the floor for much of the season, cementing his status as not only Georgia’s best player in the class but a no-brainer top 15 player in the country as well. Pieces 4, 5 and 6 of this short but talented rotation include versatile small forward Cam Walker and the two big guys, a pair of top 10 ranked forwards who can each dominate in close in spurts but don’t have to for the Eagles to win - 6-7 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="810374" first="Kendall" last="Campbell"] and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="957114" first="LT" last="Overton"] (one of the country’s best defensive line prospects in football). UP NEXT: 7A Final Saturday vs Berkmar (in Macon) Pace Academy, 2A (W 56-44 over Thomasville) - It can be argued there isn’t a better trio who play together and know each other better than 2021s [player_tooltip player_id="754231" first="Matthew" last="Cleveland"], [player_tooltip player_id="754260" first="Madison" last="Durr"] and [player_tooltip player_id="806717" first="Cole" last="Middleton"]. Not only do they make for the perfect combination of nationally-ranked, D1-level wing attack (Cleveland, headed to Florida St), big physical PG-play at both ends (Durr), and bruising interior muscling and glass-cleaning (Middleton). Winners of 27 in a row since an opening day loss to Sandy Creek (playing in the 3A Finals), and not against small division cupcakes either (wins over playoff teams South Cobb, North Gwinnett, Grayson and Tucker), the Knights will look for 2 state titles in a row with largely the same crew as 2020 (eyes on rising junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="677695" first="Josh" last="Reed"], who’s taken his game to a whole new level this season), and you can bet that if the game is in someone’s hands late with a chance to win or seal it, it will be one of the 3 key 2021s who sets up or makes the big play to push them over the top. UP NEXT: 2A Final Thursday vs Columbia (in Macon)