Two Class 4A showdowns highlight the action this week in high school hoops. On the girls side, two undefeated powerhouses, Mays and Fayette County, will clash for Region 5 dominance, while Dunwoody will try and avenge an early-season loss to North DeKalb rival Chamblee. Here’s what to look for in these two important region matchups.
Any true fan of sports knows that all teams face rebuilding years at some point. With only three seniors, the Dunwoody Wildcats are led by juniors Shane Porchea and Darrell Strozier. Along with freshman point guard Javon McCay and junior Julian Goode, the Wildcats are 8-11 on the year with three tough losses against out-of-state opponents. One year removed from graduating current Florida State standout Chris Singleton—who led the team last year in rebounds and points—Dunwoody looks to salvage its season by beating Chamblee (12-5). If Dunwoody wants to beat Chamblee, the Wildcats will have to find a way to neutralize 6-foot-7 power forward Marcus Cowan, a reliable scorer who can dominate the opposition on the boards.
This will be the second time these two teams battle this year. On Dec. 2, Dunwoody hosted Chamblee and lost, 71-59. In the first matchup, Chamblee demonstrated a balanced scoring attack behind Wayne Hunts’s 16 points, David Mason’s 15 and Marcus Cowan’s 14. After going to the state Final Four last year in Class 4A, Dunwoody has players who have experienced big games. If Dunwoody can beat Chamblee at the end of the season, it will surely be a step in the right direction. Coming off a second-round loss to South Atlanta in the state tournament last year, however, Chamblee hopes to make Dunwoody another afterthought as the Bulldogs prepare for the playoffs this year.
GIRLS MATCHUP
In a true clash of the titans, the Fayette County Lady Tigers face the Mays Lady Raiders on Friday night in a battle of unbeatens. Both teams were 21-0 at press time and were ranked No. 2 (Fayette Co.) and No. 7 (Mays) in our Score Atlanta Power 15 Poll. Led by point guard Tessah Holt, the Lady Tigers have been carving up the competition all year long. For the basketball enthusiasts out there, Holt is the epitome of the classic pass-first point guard, who is not afraid to drive to the basket or knock down jump shots. With help from teammates such as 5-10 power forward Anma Onyeuku and 6-0 center Sasha Sims, Fayette County has created a matchup nightmare for opponents with its inside-outside style of play. In 21 games this year, the Lady Tigers have beaten other teams by an average of 22-plus points per game. Their largest margin of victory was a 57-17 win over Villa Rica. After finishing runner-up last year in Class 4A, Mays looks to be the last major hurdle in a perfect season for the Lady Tigers, who are looking to complete their quest for the state title.
With title aspirations of their own, Mays is not going to do Fayette County any favors on the court. The Lady Raiders have proved that they have the athleticism and prowess on defense to force turnovers and score easy buckets in transition. If you’re not exited to see outstanding Mays point guard Kendra Long go up against Tessah Holt, you may want to check your pulse.
Gupta can be reached at rgupta@scoreatl.com.
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