HOOPS PREVIEW: Defending champions look strong

Squeaks, streaks, swishes and slam dunks will be all the rage over the next few weeks as five girls state champions will emerge from the state playoffs. Schools such as Washington County, Buford, Norcross and Wesleyan will be out to defend titles from one year ago, while challengers like Calvary Day and Morgan County will look to prevent repeats and three-peats.

The Wesleyan girls have won three straight Class A titles as well as a Class AA crown in 2008. Meanwhile, Buford has taken the last three titles since Wesleyan moved down in classification. Andraya Carter is back from injury and would like nothing more than to leave for Tennessee with a fourth state title in her back pocket. Buford junior Kaela Davis won a state title with Norcross in 2010 before picking up a Class AA title with the Wolves last year. Wesleyan, meanwhile, will attempt to win the title without a No. 1 seed, the first time that has happened since the Wolves moved down to Class A. The Wolves won the 2008 AA title as a No. 2 seed.

The Washington County Golden Hawks have won 59 straight games entering the playoffs and are looking to capture a second straight Class AAA girls title. Junior point guard Allisha Gray was hot in the region tournament and look for her to explode in the state playoffs.