GHSA TOC Semifinal #2: No. 2 Woodward Academy vs. No. 3 St. Francis
There are a lot of items on GHSA basketball fans’ wish lists. One that we may never see is a tournament of champions. All eight classification champs grouped together and seeded or even paired at random to set up a…
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Continue ReadingThere are a lot of items on GHSA basketball fans’ wish lists. One that we may never see is a tournament of champions. All eight classification champs grouped together and seeded or even paired at random to set up a bracket to determine the overall champion of the state. With no basketball being played currently, why not breakdown some hypothetical matchups in this new series and let the fan vote determine who will advance to the next round?
We will provide a preview, a thoughtful prediction and let you – the fans – decide the fate of each game.
No. 2 4AWoodward Academy vs. No. 3 A-PrivateSt. Francis
Georgia’s two best private schools from the 2019-20 season hook up to determine who will play for the mythical GHSA Tournament of Champions Championship.
Woodward Academy took 100 percent of the vote against Swainsboro while St. Francis edged Pace Academy by one vote.
The War Eagles overpowered Class 4A with their mixture of size and skill, but after seeing what St. Francis did against the state’s biggest team in Greenforest, don’t expect them to be afraid of attacking Walker Kessler Walker Kessler 7'0" | PF Landmark Christian | 2020 State #17 Nation GA inside.
Kessler will need to have his A-game to be the difference maker. While he will likely still put up his customary 15-10-3 as a floor, St. Francis has the talent to hold him in check from exploding. Kai Simmons Kai Simmons 6'8" | C St. Francis | 2021 State GA , Jusaun Holt Jusaun Holt 6'6" | SF St. Francis | 2021 State #110 Nation GA and Chase Ellis Chase Ellis 6'4" | SF St. Francis | 2020 State GA will be tasked with keeping him off the glass and limiting second chances. The Knights can’t get overly focused on Kessler however as Will Richard Will Richard 6'5" | SF Woodward Academy | 2021 State GA and Jacorrei Turner Jacorrei Turner 6'3" | SF Woodward | 2020 State GA are strong athletes that need to be accounted for as well.
Woodward Academy will need to decide who will defend Dwon Odom Dwon Odom 6'1" | PG St. Francis | 2020 State #52 Nation GA . Will they go with Lee-commit Michael Whitmore Michael Whitmore 5'9" | PG Woodward Academy | 2020 State GA or a bigger guard in Davidson-bound Emory Lanier Emory Lanier 6'3" | PG Woodward Academy | 2020 State #370 Nation GA ? If the game breaks out into a track meet, it will favor St. Francis. No one in the state is better than Odom in transition and if the Knights get up and running, it could limit Kessler’s effectiveness by avoiding a half court game.
The outside shooting of Jordan Brown Jordan Brown 6'1" | CG Pebblebrook | 2022 State GA and Seth Hubbard Seth Hubbard 6'4" | SG Huntington Prep | 2022 WV will be critical. The ancillary options are more than capable of providing double-digit scoring and if they do so, St. Francis’ balance will be tough to slow.
Vote below to decide who advances to the GHSA Tournament of Champions Championship.
Voting ends on 4/20