Grovetown and Westside End Exciting First Week with Impressive Victories
Full Highlights from Grovetown-Augusta Christian and Westside-Evans; plus a look ahead at this week's high profile games involving Butler, Grovetown, Westside, Jones County and more
A 72-60 win by #3 Westside (class 2A) over Evans (6A) Thursday and a 79-62 victory for Grovetown (6A) against Augusta Christian Friday headlined the finish of the first full week of high school basketball for the area’s Georgia teams.
Grovetown defended its home court Friday against a buzz worthy Augusta Christian bunch. 6’6” junior Frankquon Sherman scored 21 points, and fellow juniors Khaleed Heywood (12 points) and Malik Ferguson (10) also finished in double figures for the Warriors. Sophomores Darrin Shine (23 points), Elijah Crawford (13) and Braylen Smith (11) led the way for Augusta Christian in defeat.
After topping #7 Peach County (3A) at Jones County two Saturdays ago, #3 Westside earned another win over a ranked team by prevailing over Evans, who entered Thursday’s contest ranked #9 in class 6A. The Patriots were able to earn the impressive win at home even while playing without junior AuMauri Tillman, who scored 32 points in Westside’s opener before spraining his ankle prior to game two. Junior Jalexs Ewing played an incredible floor game, scoring 24 points, dishing assists, limiting turnovers and scraping the boards.
Junior Khalon Hudson (14 points) and sophomore Marco Middleton (13) also scored in double figures for the Patriots. Evans was led by senior Brasen James (17 points) and junior Jacob Tutt.
Another Week Peppered with High Profile Games Ahead
The first seven days of the season featured several high profile matchups, like the two just noted, as well as several more during the Hoopin’ in Middle Georgia event at Jones County High on November 13.
Jones County’s Coming for Augusta Christian and Westside
Jones County, ranked #6 in class 5A by Sandysspiel.com, picked up a 63-55 win over #4 Butler (2A) in the night cap for the Middle Georgia vs Augusta themed invitational. Of course Jones County is coached by Buck Harris, the well known Augusta native and former Laney and Augusta University coach who also played for Augusta and Westside High School. Harris’s hounds also scored a victory over then #9 ranked Warner Robins (5A) Tuesday to give Jones County added momentum heading into this Tuesday’s away game against a talented Augusta Christian (0-1) squad.
Prime Time Matchup: Butler-Grovetown
#4 Butler (0-1) will have had ten days to recoup from its loss on the road to Jones County by the time the Bulldogs meet up with Grovetown (2-0) at home Tuesday night. I think Grovetown and Butler might have the area’s two best teams. It’s too early to know for sure, but that’s what my eyes tell me currently.
Yet this week, Butler will also face #6 Warren County (1A) at Augusta University on Friday in the 100 Black Men Thanksgiving Classic. And #3 Westside will take on Jones County in the same event.
Cross Creek Will Shake Up the Rankings
Defending class 3A state champion Cross Creek (1-0) will take its first big test of the new season Monday night at Dutch Fork in the opening round of the Tip-Off at the Dam invitational. Last season Dutch Fork lasted all the way to the semifinal game in South Carolina’s largest class (5A) before falling 45-43 to eventual state champion River Bluff. I expect Cross Creek to quickly prove it is a top 10 caliber team, as they have been pretty much ever since Lawrence Kelly became the head coach 4 years ago.
More notes from week 1:
Cross Creek’s Lady Razorbacks topped Josey 41-34 Friday in a matchup between defending state champions. Cross Creek (2-0) is ranked #6 in class 3A, and Josey’s #2 in class 2A.
Senior Rico Gonzalez scored 38 points, including the game winning bucket, in Lakeside’s 62-61 win at home over Harlem last Wednesday.
Freshman Aamere Tolbert scored 25 points in a season opening 79-61 win for Hephzibah against Aquinas Tuesday. The Rebels (2-0) followed with a victory over Lakeside Friday.