A top 5 matchup between Rockdale County Bulldogs and Forest Park Panthers is tonight. Forest Park are winners of five straight and has been outscoring opponents by 21 points. Rockdale County’s four-game winning streak ended last week in a 54-50 loss to Forest Park on the road. Forest Park is 14-3 and has dominated region play with an 8-0 record in a region that includes Rockdale County, reigning state champions Lovejoy, and Woodward Academy. All three teams are capable of winning a region title in a tightly contested three-team race.
Rockdale County comes into this game with a 14-4 record and a 5-2 region record. Rockdale started the season out hot going 8-0 scoring above 70 points in all but two games. The Bulldogs look to avenge last week’s road loss. Danielle Carnegie has been a force on the offensive end. She is averaging 20.8 points per game. Carnegie also leads the team in rebounds per game, assists per game, and steals per game. Her impact has been invaluable to the Bulldogs. Carnegie won region 3 Class 5A player of the year last year and has continued to build off last season.
Lia Edwards has been a great complement to Carnegie in the backcourt. The senior is averaging 12.6 points per game and 1.5 steals per game, both second on the team.
Junior Yasmine Allen leads the Panthers in scoring this season. She is averaging 18.4 points per game, which is top eight in Class 6A. Allen is also #4 in Georgia with 45 made three-pointers.
Jayda Brown is second on the team in scoring 14.4 points per game and leads Forest Park in steals and blocks per game. In their matchup last week vs. Rockdale County, freshman Mikayla Dunston went off for 19 points (led the team in scoring), shot 60% from the field, and was a pest on the defensive end, racking up three steals. Dunston has scored in double figures in three of the last five games.
A key element in this game will be rebounding. Both teams are great on the offensive glass. Forest Park is averaging ten offensive rebounds a game, and Rockdale County averages 12.3 per game. Either team will make you pay for second-chance opportunities, which is undoubtedly a thing to look out for in the rematch.
Forest Park currently holds a two-and-a-half game advantage in the region against Rockdale County. With the season dwindling, a win would put the Panthers in a favorable position to help secure a #1 seed come region tournament time. A loss for Rockdale County puts the Bulldogs in a tough spot to land the number #1 seed, but they would still be in prime position to have a top seed come region tournament time.
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