The Sequoyah boys basketball team got back on track, pushing its current win streak to five as the region championships are quickly approaching. After an impressive start to the new year, highlighted by a key win over Region 7-AAAA leader Hillgrove, the Chiefs fell on hard times, suffering a tough 55-54 loss to Osborne which triggered a four-game losing streak. However, after beating Creekview on Jan. 23, the team went on to win five straight, most notably a recent win on Saturday night over Allatoona, 56-50. The five-game win streak is the team’s longest of the season and coupled with a four-game streak in December, the Chiefs are currently 16-7. Against Allatoona, senior point guard Tyler Deihl was at it again scoring 19 points, while senior shooting guard James Clark added 14. Allatoona battled all game, but a late 7-0 run by Sequoyah ultimately sealed their fate. Looking ahead to the region tournament, Sequoyah surely must feel as though they still have much to prove as they lost to Dalton, Hiram and Sprayberry to round out that four-game losing streak. All three teams are currently ahead of the Chiefs in the standings, yet at times this season, the team has proved that it has the talent to compete with anybody in the region.
After playing region leader McEachern close, but eventually losing 63-59, it would have been tough to foresee a Friday night let-down for Woodstock against Harrison. However, the Wolverines fell to the Hoyas 76-71, leaving the team in third place behind Etowah and McEachern. Woodstock had an early edge against Harrison, but lost its lead in the second quarter and never regained a grip on the game. Junior power forward Cedric Bowen led Woodstock with 27 points and senior small forward Kent Emanuel had 13. Senior guard Ryan Blumenthal scored 26 for Harrison along with sophomore shooting guard Julian Lavender, who netted 16. Woodstock wraps up its regular season on Friday night against Kennesaw Mountain on the road. In one previous matchup earlier this year, the Wolverines won 71-63.
Kennesaw Mountain has struggled as of late, losing to North Cobb by three points in overtime and falling in an 18-point decision to 4A Hillgrove. With the regular season going down to the wire as another big region matchup will take place the same night in Etowah vs. McEachern, there is sure to be some shakeups in the standings with teams looking to move forward.
ON THE GIRLS SIDE …
With the victory over Lakeside-DeKalb to the tune of 58-35, the Forsyth Central Lady Bulldogs have the opportunity to finish second in region 6A-AAAA. However, it will have to come by ending the season strong against some of the area’s top competition. Central’s last game of the regular season will be against region leader Chamblee on the road. Chamblee has lost only three times this season, twice to Southwest DeKalb and once to 5A Stephenson by four points. In one previous matchup in December, Chamblee beat Forsyth Central 58-48. Nonetheless, like the games above, this season finale could have an important effect on region championship seeding, so hopefully all teams will be playing with a sense of urgency.
West Forsyth continues to earn accolades during its current wrestling season by qualifying 11 wrestlers for the state sectionals. Cody Westray (103 lbs), Robbie Kudella (112 lbs), Garrett Tedone (119 lbs), Tyler Lott (125 lbs), Evan Burchett (135 lbs), Will Dickman (145 lbs), Ross Anderson (152 lbs), Tyler Everton (160 lbs), Colton Cloud (171 lbs), Reice Thompson (189 lbs), and Jeff Sayer (275 lbs) all earned spots by qualifying through the Area 7-AAA tournament. West Forsyth finished second as a team to Gilmer at the tournament.
Etowah had three wrestlers win individual titles and the team finished third at the Area 5-AAAAA tournament over the weekend. Walter Leyva (119 lbs), Zach Rogers (135 lbs), and Jarrod Thomas (285 lbs) won titles. By winning individual area titles these individuals have qualified for the state sectionals. They will also be joined by teammates Jeremiah Lutz, Hudson Rechsteiner, Maveric Rechsteiner and Jake Smith. Lutz and Rechsteiner were area runners-up. The three area titles are a great accomplishment considering that last year the team had only one area champion.
Cherokee also qualified six for the sectionals out of the same area tournament. John Manous was runner-up in the 152-pound division and was the highest finisher of the Warriors. He lost to defending area champion and state champion Jonatan Rivera of Kennesaw Mountain. Nick Walker (112 lbs), Cole Anderson (119 lbs), Dylan Barone (145 lbs), Brady Sandercock (160 lbs), and Patrick Beal (285 lbs) qualified for the sectionals as well for Cherokee.
Gupta can be reached at rgupta@scoreatl.com.
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