Region Tournaments to Watch: Class 3A

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Region 1</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TEAMS: Monroe, Dougherty, Carver-Columbus, Columbus, Crisp County, Thomasville<br>FAVORITE: Monroe<br>DARK HORSE: Columbus</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heading into the final week of the season No. 5 Monroe, No. 6 Dougherty and No. 8 Carver-Columbus are all deadlocked at 6-2 in the region. Losses to Crisp County (55-48) and Dougherty (59-49) this past week erased a commanding lead for the Golden Tornadoes. [player_tooltip player_id='1630105' first='Justin' last='Burns'] is a front runner for region player of the year if Monroe can take the title. Dougherty always peaks at the end of the season, winners of five of six but a 54-53 loss at Columbus hurts. The Trojans are balanced on offense led by [player_tooltip player_id='2337612' first='Kaleke' last='Singletary-Jinks'] (12.8 ppg) and Jaion Burns (11.6 ppg). [player_tooltip player_id='2046341' first='Markelle' last='Jones'] plays a huge role defensively. &nbsp;Don't sleep on Columbus, currently in fourth-place at 4-4. Robert Hartford, [player_tooltip player_id='1059177' first='Karson' last='Baldwin'] and Savon Kelly have played well this year. 6-foot-9 [player_tooltip player_id='1139579' first='Oakley' last='Koontz'] is an impactful rim protector. [player_tooltip player_id='1383038' first='Tony' last='Montgomery'] is averaging 21.9 points per game for Carver-Columbus. The Tigers face their toughest challenges of the season to close the regular season against Monroe and Dougherty who both have beaten Carver this year. Crisp County has the best long-term prospect in the region with 6-foot-6 [player_tooltip player_id='1617669' first='Zakariyya' last='Dwight'], a dynamic swingman that wrecks games with his athleticism, averaging 17.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Region 3</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TEAMS: </strong>Liberty County, Groves, Long County, Johnson-Savannah, Calvary Day, Beach, Savannah Country Day, Savannah Christian<strong><br>FAVORITE: </strong>Long County<strong><br>DARK HORSE: </strong>Calvary Day</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region 3 is a jumbled mess with all eight teams having a shot at making the state playoffs and winning a region title. The title runs through Savannah, with Johnson still a serious threat with the dynamic duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1810045' first='Joshua' last='Quarterman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2333097' first='Favion' last='Kirkwood']. Long County has the best overall record at 18-5, with Liberty County second-best at 12-6. Long County plays tough defense but can sometimes live and die by the three-point shot with [player_tooltip player_id='2333094' first='Roderick' last='Randall'], Kaleel Anderson and Keshawn Smith the three-headed monster in the backcourt. Groves' [player_tooltip player_id='2343787' first='Sidney' last='Flaggs'] leads all players in scoring, averaging over 20 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id='2165512' first='Robert' last='Spaulding'] and Rudy Anderson are a strong tandem at Savannah Country Day but are long shots to make state. Liberty County has a chance to hang onto the top seed, currently 9-3 with Groves, Long County and Johnson all 8-4 heading into the final week. The Panthers visit Johnson on Tuesday, who beat them 36-33 earlier in the season and then close against Long County, who they lost to 54-49. Calvary Day is the biggest team in the region and has loads of talent on the roster. If they can figure out how to gel, they could be scary. The Cavaliers hold two-point wins over Long County (53-51) and Johnson (61-59).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Region 4</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TEAMS: </strong>Salem, Cross Creek, Richmond Academy, Morgan County, Harlem, Hephzibah<strong><br>FAVORITE: </strong>Salem<strong><br>DARK HORSE: </strong>Morgan County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region 4 has been hotly contested throughout the year with close game after close game. No. 7 Richmond Academy and No. 10 Salem are in the Top 10 after Salem knocked Cross Creek from the rankings. Salem and Cross Creek are deadlocked at 7-2 atop the standings, but the Seminoles have swept the defending champs. Richmond Academy has the best overall record at 17-5, but were swept by Cross Creek but did beat Salem 56-54. The Musketeers travel to the Seminoles to close the regular season. [player_tooltip player_id='1625538' first='Justin' last='Mims'] has carried Richmond Academy this year while Cross Creek has gotten major contributions from the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='1702258' first='Jaden' last='Priester'], Kylen Clark, Ja'Kell Dowdy and [player_tooltip player_id='1742858' first='Quavon' last='Henry'] with freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='2165518' first='Derrick' last='Shine'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2125529' first='Frashad' last='Tisby'] seeing steady minutes. [player_tooltip player_id='1797539' first='Jakorri' last='Arnold'] has scored the ball consistently for Salem. Morgan County is currently 11-13 overall but have had some close calls, losing to Salem twice by a total of five points and splitting with Richmond Academy. The Bulldogs take turns scoring the ball with Jacoby Simmons, Jaylen Elder and Ryan Moore among many that balance the attack. Harlem has an explosive duo with [player_tooltip player_id='1300714' first='BJ' last='Reese'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2120812' first='Lemar' last='Edmond'], two big guards with exciting athleticism. Hephzibah is led by Traeon Brown's 13.8 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->