Skip to main content

Grovetown upsets Wheeler: Recapping the first night of the Georgia high school basketball quarterfinals

The Wildcats' hopes of a three-peat are over, while Grayson falls to Harrison on the girls side.
Ed_Turlington_Wheeler_Newton_boys.31

By Zach Shugan | Photo by Ed Turlington

In the upset of the boys basketball quarterfinals, Grovetown pulled off the takedown of Wheeler with an 82-76 overtime victory, ending the Wildcats’ hopes of a three-peat. 

The Warriors earned a weekend trip to the University West Georgia for the Class 6A final four, where they will take on the winner of Langston Hughes vs. River Ridge.

Class 7A

Berkmar fended off Grayson on the road, winning 62-57 to reach the final four for the second year in a row. Ole Miss signee Malique Ewin went for 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Jameel Rideout added 18 points. 

The Patriots take on the winner of Milton vs. Pebblebrook on Friday at Buford City Arena with a spot in the state championship up for grabs.

Norcross held on for a 58–55 win on the road at North Gwinnett. The Blue Devils had four players finish in double figures in scoring, with junior guard London Johnson (16 points) leading the charge. 

Norcross matches up with the winner of Archer vs. Newton in the final four, which will be played Friday night at Buford City Arena.

Class 5A

Led by Simeon Cottle’s 42 points, Tri-Cities outlasted Chapel Hill in overtime for an 86-81 win. The Bulldogs secured a fourth consecutive spot in the final four, where they await the winner of Woodland vs. Calhoun.

Eagle’s Landing defeated Hiram 70-54 to keep its chances of repeating as the state champion alive. 

AJ Barnes (25) and David Thomas (23) combined for nearly 50 points for the Eagles, who face the winner of Jonesboro vs. Loganville in the final four Saturday at Fort Valley State University.

Class 4A

In a battle of three-loss teams, Westover came out on top against Jefferson by a score of 63-55. The Patriots booked a spot in the final four Friday at Fort Valley State University against the winner of Druid Hills vs. McDonough.

Class A Private

King’s Ridge made the trip south to Calvary Day and left with a 62-47, reaching the final four for the first time in program history. 

The Tigers have a much easier drive to Buford City Arena on Saturday, where they will see their rival and neighbor St. Francis or First Presbyterian Day.

Photo by Jamie Spaar

Photo by Jamie Spaar

Girls basketball

Norcross ended Brookwood’s hot season and punched a ticket to the Class 7A final four, and they did it rather handily. 

The Blue Devils won 77-60, as Jania Akins (28 points) came close to a 30-piece, and Zaria Hurston added 23 points and 13 rebounds. 

Norcross, which returns to the final four for the first time since 2017, will square off with Campbell on Friday at Buford City Arena.

Harrison let it fly from long range en route to a 57-49 win over a Grayson team visiting with championship hopes. 

Anna Gernatt tallied 20 points, with 18 of them coming from beyond the arc. The Hoyas meet Archer in the final four Saturday night at Buford City Arena.

Class 5A

Woodward Academy won 84-58 over Maynard Jackson in a rematch between two of the state’s top-ranked teams, getting revenge for a four-point loss to the Jaguars in November. 

With a win against Warner Robins on Saturday at Fort Valley State, the defending state champions would return to the title game.

Class 3A

Lumpkin County got some payback for a loss to Cross Creek in last year’s final four, defeating the Razorbacks 49-37 at their place. 

Sophomore guard Averie Jones (26 points) led the Indians, who will see either Westminster or Sumter County this weekend in Milledgeville.

Class 2A

Rabun County cruised in a 73-34 win over Chattooga, with Sophie Woodard (25) and Gracie Deetz (22) both going for over 20 points. 

The Wildcats will have their eyes on Laney at Northeast-Macon on Wednesday to see who they will meet up with this weekend at GCSU in the final four.

Josey got the better of Fannin County, winning 61-53 in a battle between region champions. 

The next obstacle in the Eagles’ path as they seek a second consecutive state title is Elbert County, which rolled to a 30-point win at Callaway in the elite eight.