The Wilcox County girls were the first team to earn a trip to the Macon Coliseum on Friday after scoring a 75-47 victory over Screven County. Georgia College and State University is the site of all four Class A Div. II matchups and the Lady Patriots opened the slate with a 28-point victory to stamp their 26th-straight victory. Wilcox County opened the playoffs ranked No. 1 in Class A Div. II and had won 23-straight games since their lone loss (56-50) to Class 5A’s Lee County back on Dec. 7. Wilcox County has not lost within the classification this season and is now one win away from capturing its first-ever state title. Last season, Wilcox County finished 27-3 and fell 57-42 to eventual state champion Greenforest Christian—which is now in the Class A-3A Private field.
In Friday’s 75-47 victory, Wilcox County dominated from start to finish and built a 51-28 lead at the half. Zariah Martin closed out the third quarter with back-to-back field goals to help grow the lead to 60-37 at the end of the third quarter before the Patriots outscored the Gamecocks 15-10 in the final frame. Wilcox County will take on the winner up Macon County and Washington-Wilkes. A first-time champion is guaranteed in Class A Div. II girls this year and all four semifinalists were in the hunt for a first-ever state title.
On the boys side, the semifinals will be Region 8’s top two teams against Region 3’s top two teams. In Region 8, No. 1 seed Greene County is taking on Region 3 No. 2 seed McIntosh County Academy and No. 2 seed Warren County is taking on Region 3 No. 1 seed Savannah. As a result, rematches would be guaranteed if either region sweeps its way to the finals.
Around the classification: Outside of the GHSA Basketball State Playoffs, the biggest news this week in Class A Div. II happened on Thursday with the announcement that long-time veteran head football coach Mike Nash accepted the coaching vacancy at Chattahoochee County. ash will be the fifth head coach at Chattahoochee County in as many seasons, following Pierre Coffey in 2021, Ryan McKenzie in 2022, Josh Jacobson in 2023 and Bruce Figgins in 2024.
Nash is taking over a Chattahoochee County football program that has totaled nine wins in the last three seasons, including three wins a season ago.
The Panthers haven’t made the postseason since 2022 as they were eliminated in the first round by Johnson County, 34-21.
The opportunity to land in Cusseta came to fruition this season after there were preliminary talks a year prior.
“I actually interviewed for this job last year and it just didn’t work out because the timing wasn’t right. Now, I think everything fell in place at the right time, just to be honest, my daughter had my first grandchild around four months ago and her husband (his offensive line coach) wanted to come home and it just worked out this time,” said Nash.
Class A Div. II Semifinal Schedule
At Georgia College and State University
Girls
R4#1 Wilcox County 75, R3#1 Screven County 47
R6#1 Macon County vs. R8#1 Washington-Wilkes, 5:00 p.m.
Boys
R8#2 Warren County vs. R3#1 Savannah, 3:00 p.m.
R3#2 McIntosh County Academy vs. R8#1 Greene County, 7:00 p.m.
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