BUFORD
29-3, Region 8
Head coach Gene Durden is in his 10th season as the head coach of the Buford girls team and continues to keep the Wolves at a championship level. Durden has the Lady Wolves playing in their sixth championship game in 10 seasons, and they are looking for their fourth title since the Lady Wolves won three consecutive Class AA titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011. St. Pius superstar and two-time state champion Asia Durr and the Golden Lions ended Buford’s previous two playoff runs before the Wolves were able to return the favor in the Elite 8 this year with a 59-55 home victory. In order out-match St. Pius, Buford would need a career performance from its own star, Camille Anderson. The N.C. State signee carried Buford with a timely 33-point per- formance to balance a 39-point night from the Louisville-bound Durr. The Wolves have progressed through- out the season and after losing to Southeast Raleigh (N.C.) back in late December, the Lady Wolves went on a tear, winning their last 21 games. They took care of Heritage 70-29 in the first round of the state playoffs and followed it with a 46-34 win over Westover and the four-point win over St. Pius before Saturday’s 51-39 win over Fayette County in the semifinals. Anderson scored 17 points against Fayette County in the semifinals and matches her offensive firepower with a lockdown defense mentality. Senior Katy Bisges is another player to watch and she reached double-figures with 11 points last Saturday. Bisges has the ability to score at will and netted 22 points in a win against Morrow to start the month of February.
CARROLLTON
25-7, REGION 5
Carrollton has been in this position before, but it has been a while since the Lady Trojans have hoisted the championship trophy. Head coach Shon Thomaston has been able to get his team back to the state title game for the first time since 2009 when the Lady Trojans won their first and only state championship. His team has made strides from a first round exit in last year’s playoffs and have overcome rough patches to reach the finals well-prepared and battle-tested. After losing their seventh game of the season to Whitewater 43-40, a team they beat by 10 earlier that month, the Lady Trojans were able to get on a roll when they defeated Fayette County 63-46 to win the Region title and earn a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Carrollton started the playoffs strong with a dominating performance against Redan 63-52 before cruising past Mt. Zion-Jonesboro 70-45 in the second round and surviving a 56-51 quarterfinals victory over Americus-Sumter. The Trojans toughest task came in the semifinals where they faced the Veteran Warhawks. Carrollton fell behind 10-0 top open the game but fought back to take a hard-earned 43-42 victory. Alecia North scored 16 points for the Lady Trojans and has embraced her leadership role this postseason. Emily Waters is another player to watch for as she comes off an 11-point night against Veterans. Waters has the ability to take over a game and showcased it earlier in the year when she scored 15 consecutive points in a 66-49 win against Oxford (Ala.) earlier in the season. The the Lady Trojans have size that can create matchup problems in the post and when the deep ball is not dropping, look for Carrollton to take advantage of their post play and four players that stand six-feet or taller.
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