With the GHSA Class A-DI Boys Basketball State Championship underway, the Southwest-Macon Patriots and the Banks County Leopards will square off in the second round of the tournament.
The Patriots and the Leopards will face off on Saturday at Southwest at a time to be determined in the future.
Both teams advanced to the second round following first round victories as Southwest defeated the Bacon County Raiders, 82-50, as the Patriots outscored Bacon County 48-18 in the first half and continued their dominance in the second half, finishing with a 32-point first round victory.
The Patriots were led by a game-high, 28 points from Chase Dupree as he shot 11-for-20 from the field, shooting 55% in the first round. Brandon Ashley added 17 points of his own as well as Ty’Shaun Brantley’s 15 points added to the Southwest blowout.
For Banks County, the Leopards defeated Chattooga, 81-76 in the first round in a tightly contested matchup. The game was tied up at 41-41 at the half before the Leopards were able to pull away in the second half, lifting them to a five-point victory.
A new challenge now arises for Banks County as they will have to deal with a ferocious attack from Southwest on both ends of the court.
The Patriots are led by Dupree as he averages just over 20 points per game to go along with six rebounds and four assists a game. Ashley as well as junior guard C.J. Howard both average over 14 points per game, as they have continued to make major contributions to the Patriots offense.
Defensively, the Leopards will have to be on the lookout for quick hands and pesky defensive play from Southwest as Dupree, Ashley and Howard each average over two steals a game, blocking the passing lanes as they look to get out in transition.
For Banks County, if they want to have success against Southwest on Saturday, senior forward Kolby Watson will have to play a big part in the Leopards success. Watson averages over 20 points and pulls down over seven rebounds a game to give Banks County offensive production. Defensively, Watson has accumulated 11 blocks and 19 steals on the season keeping opposing offenses on their toes.
Along with Watson’s consistent production, the Leopards have three additional scorers who each average over 11 points per game in junior Dayden Rogers and seniors Luke Dale and Antonio Gonzalez each contributing their own to the Leopards offensive production.
Both teams will have their hands full on Saturday when they will square off at a chance for a quarterfinals appearance.
NOTES:
BOYS: East Laurens defeated Thomasville 71-59 as the Falcons will face Model in the second round of the playoffs…Vidalia defeated Towers 72-45 as the Indians will advance to face Worth County in the second round…Putnam County defeated Central-Macon 90-62 as the top-seeded War Eagles will move on to face Commerce on Saturday…Dublin defeated Heard County 72-49 as the Fighting Irish will move on to face Fannin County.
GIRLS: Putnam County defeated Gordon Lee 46-37 as the War Eagles will now face Lamar County in the second round…Bremen defeated Fitzgerald 50-43 as the Blue Devils advance to face East Laurens on Friday…Rabun County defeated Armuchee 48-47 as the Wildcats will advance to face Worth County in the second round…Lamar County defeated Northeast 54-48 as the Raiders will face Putnam County in the second round.
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