Favorite 1st Round Matchups (3A-1A)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The brackets are now official and it's time for playoff basketball in Georgia. This will be the last year that teams will battle it out in predetermined playoff brackets before we transition into a new format next year where classes will be realigned and the bracket will be determined solely based on seeding. The current setup, however, provides us with some juicy matchups in the early rounds. Here, we break down our favorite Round 1 matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Monroe Area vs. Douglass (3A)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wed 2/21 5:30 PM @ Douglass</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Douglass has looked like a real contender in 3A lately but a tough draw gives them Monroe Area in the first round. Monroe Area is led by a strong group of seniors that have been in this position before. [player_tooltip player_id='1062212' first='Vonte' last='Newell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2303961' first='KD' last='Dawson'] are both capable of creating offense while [player_tooltip player_id='2301496' first='Trip' last='Griffith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2301460' first='Jaiven' last='Todd'] can wear you down inside. Monroe Area won't go down with out a fight but they'll have their hands full with Douglass. This Douglass team features several skilled guards alongside swiss army knife, [player_tooltip player_id='2216281' first='RJ' last='Winegarner'], and 6'9 forward, [player_tooltip player_id='2284246' first='Javonte' last='Floyd']. They feed off of energy and momentum so if they get on a roll early, Monroe Area could be in trouble. I expect a competitive game nonetheless.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Walker vs. Rockmart (2A)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wed 2/21 7:00 PM @ Rockmart</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one jumped off the page as soon as I saw the 2A bracket. Walker and Rockmart are both solid teams but very different. For Walker, everything runs through their 6'11 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1696253' first='Moustapha' last='Diop']. Not only can Diop control the interior, he can hit shots from the mid-range or attack from the perimeter. Rockmart, however, has some star power of their own. Senior guards, [player_tooltip player_id='2176642' first='Treylin' last='Davis'] and Sam Johnson, have been one of the most lethal scoring duos in the state this year. Both guys are rangy shooters that can create their own look on demand. This is a must-see game if you're following the 2A bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Eagle's Landing Christian vs. Union County (2A)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wed 2/21 7:30 PM @ Union County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ELCA will make the trip up to north Georgia on Wednesday night for a first round showdown with Union County. ELCA is having a great year, currently at 21-6. They've received a ton of production from 6'7 forwards, [player_tooltip player_id='1617608' first='Charly' last='Guentio'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2323190' first='Ese' last='Aigbokhae'], while [player_tooltip player_id='1861304' first='Jayden' last='Bone'] is capable of running the show. Union County, on the other hand, has a pair of guards that can light it up. [player_tooltip player_id='1444783' first='Houston' last='Henry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1611592' first='Jude' last='Ellis'] have been steadily proving themselves as some of the best prospects coming out of North Georgia. Eagle's Landing feels like the favorite but if Henry or Ellis heat up, Union County could certainly advance with a win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Francis vs. Darlington (1A-D1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TBD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 1A-D1 bracket pits two title contenders against each other in round 1, Darlington and St. Francis. Darlington is led by senior point guard, [player_tooltip player_id='1227101' first='D'marion' last='Floyd'], who has won back-to-back Region Player of the Year awards. He's capable of taking over a game and has the defensive ability to contain the St. Francis guards. [player_tooltip player_id='2132943' first='Grant' last='Hutton'] could also be an x-factor with his versatility and above-the-rim capabilities. However, St. Francis has more depth and a bit more firepower. [player_tooltip player_id='1966103' first='Greg' last='Howard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1501752' first='Reynolds' last='Escher'] are both aggressive scoring guards that can fill up the scoresheet. This game could go either way but one thing is certain, there will be one less contender after Wednesday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Randolph-Clay vs. Treutlen (1A-D2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TBD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Treutlen has put together a solid season, totalling 20 wins and bringing home a region championship. Unfortunately for them, they drew one of the best 4-seeds for their first round matchup. Randolph-Clay is a competitive bunch and they're going to give Treutlen their best shot on Wednesday. Je'Sus Daniels is the guy for Randolph-Clay and he'll need a big night if they want to pull off the upset. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->