Top Teams Yet to be Ranked: Class 5A

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Eastside (19-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Wins: </strong>Heritage-Conyers by 2, Butler by 27, Winder-Barrow by 12, Flowery Branch by 14<br><strong>Notable Losses: </strong>Tucker by 5, Flowey Branch by 4, Heritage-Conyers by 16, Social Circle by 9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eastside has played a tough schedule, not loaded with complete juggernauts, but very solid competition with multiple Top 10 teams. The Eagles have earned three wins over teams that have spent time being ranked. Eastside doesn't have one star player, using a balanced attack with seven players averaging 4 or more points. 6-foot-2 senior Kassen Saunders leads Eastside in scoring at 12.9 points, a lethal shooter that has drained 44 threes in 21 games. Region 8 is a dog-fight with Eastside in first at 9-2, but Winder-Barrow (8-2) and Heritage-Conyers (8-2) right behind.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>McIntosh (16-7)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Wins: </strong>Newnan by 4, South Paulding by 4, Paideia by 1, Northside-Columbus by 17<br><strong>Notable Losses: </strong>Fayette County by 7, Walton by 22, Sandy Creek by 10, Union Grove 2x</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been a tale of two seasons for McIntosh, opening 1-6 but 15-1 since. The Chiefs know how to win the close games, capturing three overtime victories and six wins by four points or less. [player_tooltip player_id='1715102' first='Uche' last='Iloh'] has had a breakout season averaging 17.8 points, 14 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. 6-foot senior Brandon Cheri is a steady playmaker averaging 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals while 6-foot-5 junior Landon Dolhancyk is a stock riser, averaging 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists as a versatile swingman that can score inside and out. Currently 6-0 in Region 3, the Chiefs have the inside track on claiming the one-seed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Union Grove (15-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Wins: </strong>McIntosh 2x, Northside-Columbus by 1, Jones County by 8, Dutchtown by 2<br><strong>Notable Losses: </strong>Woodward Academy by 1, Peachtree Ridge by 25, Fayette County by 17, Jones County by 2, Dutchtown by 3, Eagle's Landing by 25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union Grove got off to an inauspicious start to the season under first-year Head Coach Thomas Berry going 1-5, but have ripped of 14 wins in their last 18 games including a stunning 68-66 upset of Dutchtown right after the Bulldogs upended Eagle's Landing. Union Grove plays hard and they have tons of interchangeable pieces with a plethora of 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-5 wings. [player_tooltip player_id='1594553' first='Tony' last='Colley'] has made a name for himself with his diverse offensive skill set and high energy, averaging 13.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while leading the Wolverines in three-point shooting, hitting two per game. [player_tooltip player_id='1408561' first='Caleb' last='Johnson'] (8.9 ppg) and Chance Whitfield (8.7 ppg) are savvy backcourt veterans while Chase Williamson, [player_tooltip player_id='1045088' first='Eric' last='Garcia'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1227099' first='Nile' last='King'] are all difference makers as swingmen. [player_tooltip player_id='1574210' first='Caleb' last='Samples'] is a talented sophomore that is capable of making an impact in spurts. Region 2 is deep with talent, but if Union Grove, currently the three-seed, clinches a state playoff berth they will be battle-tested.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->