The Class A-Div. I Basketball State Championships are set to tip off as teams look to etch their names in the record books as 2025 state champions. Here are four quick team previews to get caught up on everything going on for the boys and girls Class A-Div. I state championship matchups tip-off on Saturday:
CLASS A DIV. 1
BOYS
3.8.25 – 1:00 PM
SOUTHWEST vs. B.E.S.T. ACADEMY
DID YOU KNOW?
Southwest is looking for the program’s sixth state championship and their first since 1989, B.E.S.T. Academy is searching for its first title in boys basketball.
SOUTHWEST | PATRIOTS – 27-2 – REGION 2
Southwest is a basketball program that has continued to prove time and time again why they have been considered as one of the most dangerous basketball teams all season long. The Patriots are led by a handful of upperclassmen such as junior Chase Dupree, C.J. Howard and Brandon Ashley as they continue to perform on a high level leading Southwest to victory. In the semifinals against Toombs County, the Patriots defeated the Bulldogs 65-54 after being down by six at halftime. After out-scoring Toombs by nine in the final frame, Southwest was able to punch its ticket to the title game. Howard led the Patriots with 23 points followed by Dupree’s 21 points and Ashley’s 17 points to carry them into the state championship. The Patriots have caught lightning in a bottle throughout the postseason and want to continue their impressive run. The program is currently on a 13-game win-streak dating back to the regular season including a three-overtime victory over Dublin in the region championship. As the Patriots have reached the state title once again, the program will be looking for its first state championship victory since 1989 and the teams seventh state championship overall in program history. The Patriots will need to continue playing the same basketball they have been playing in hopes of being crowned champions. Southwest is led by head coach Monquencio Hardnett as he looks to bring the Patriots back to glory for the first time in over three decades.
B.E.S.T. ACADEMY | EAGLES – 24-7 – REGION 5
The B.E.S.T. Academy boys basketball team is seeking the programs first-ever basketball state championship as the Eagles roll into Macon on a five-game winning streak with something to prove. The Eagles have lost just seven contests on the season and have been playing good basketball as of late, winning 10 of their last 11 matchups. The Eagles finished second in their region in the regular season compiling a 13-2 record, finishing second behind Walker. In the postseason, the Eagles beat Bleckley County, Rabun County, Fannin County and a tough East Laurens team to earn their spot in the state championship game. In their semifinal matchup against East Laurens, the Eagles outscored the Falcons 48-22 in the second half, running away with the victory. The roster for this season’s Eagles team has been led by mostly upperclassmen with the likes of the Mickell brothers, Jacob and Joshua, as well as Xion Evans and Nicholas Dozier who have all been excellent contributors for the Eagles this season. The Mickell’s are the top scorers on the team as they each average close to 18 points per game followed by Evans’ 12 points and Dozier’s 11 points to help round out the scoring for the Eagles and give them options at the offensive end of the floor. The Eagles will have their hands full with a stout Southwest team seeking its first title since 1989.
GIRLS
3.8.25 – 11:00 AM
BANKS COUNTY vs. FANNIN COUNTY
DID YOU KNOW?
The Banks County girls basketball program is looking for the programs’ first-ever state championship.
BANKS COUNTY | LADY LEOPARDS – 25-5 – REGION 8
After scoring the final 12 points in their state championship semifinal-matchup against Model, defeating the Blue Devils 51-44 in overtime, the Banks County Lady Leopards are in the state championship where they will look to continue the run. This will be the Lady Leopards second state championship game in three seasons as they will look to bring home their first-ever girls basketball state championship. After trailing Model by five points with 40 seconds left in the semifinals, the Lady Leopards held Model scoreless in overtime, outscoring the Blue Devils 7-0 in the extra frame to earn a berth in the Class A-DI state championship game. The defensive pressure from the Lady Leopards was the story of the game and of the season, helping them ultimately reach the state championship. The No. 2-seeded Lady Leopards will have a lot on their plate going up against top-seeded Fannin County and will have to regroup following their semifinal overtime victory. Ryleigh and Reese Murphy (the Region 8-ADI Player of the Year) will look to come up big as they did in the previous round with their stout defensive pressure, forcing turnovers leading to easy baskets on the other end for the Lady Leopards. In their most previous trip to the state championship game in 2022, Banks County was defeated by Mount Paran Christian by 23 as the Lady Leopards look to write the ship in 2025, putting the past behind them.
FANNIN COUNTY | REBELS – 28-2 – REGION 7
Seeking their first state championship since the 1990s, the Fannin County Rebels are back on the loose and are seeking their third state championship in program history, their first since 1999. The Rebels, led by head coach Ryan Chastain, have won 19 consecutive games and have continued to showcase their talents throughout the rest of the postseason. The Rebels are led by junior center Reese Lewis as she was named Region 7-ADI Player of the Year along with a couple all-region selections to round out the roster. Maggie Ledford and Izzie Jabaley are names to note that were awarded First Team All-Region honors followed by second teamer Emma Buchanan and honorable mention selection Avi Ethington. The Rebels have depth that can really make a difference on any game. The Rebels will look to rely on that depth against a very good Banks County team that has won 22 games in a row. Having only lost two games all season, the Rebels are more than capable of taking over a game and have compiled a 4-0 record when playing on a neutral site court this season. The Rebels finished first with an undefeated 16-0 record in Region 7-ADI, winning the region tournament by defeating teams such as Christian Heritage, Gordon Lee and Armuchee in the region championship. This is the Rebels’ first appearance in the state championship game since 2021.
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