The games begin Wednesday through Saturday with the CO-ED 3-point contest Thursday, the girls 3-point contest Friday and the slam dunk contest Saturday following the AAASP Wheelchair state championship game.
WE JUST WANT ONE
Entering the championship games are programs looking for their first-ever state titles and on the boys side, those teams are North Cobb Christian (Private), Holy Innocents’ (Private), McIntosh County Academy (A-Division II) and B.E.S.T. Academy (A-Division I).
The girls teams trying for their first championship are Cherokee Bluff (3A), Hardaway (2A), Creekside (4A), Wilcox County (A-Division II), Washington-Wilkes (A-Division II), Langston Hughes (5A), Banks County (A-Division I) and Newton (6A).
SOUTHWEST-MACON, MAKING MACON PROUD
Teams returning to Macon wanting to add another trophy to their cases are in abundance, and on the boys side, Southwest-Macon enters the championship looking for the team’s first title since 1989.
But throughout the 1970’s, Southwest was one of the best teams in the nation.
The Patriots won state championships in 1973, 1975, 1978 and 1979. But it was the 1979 season where the Patriots finished 28-0, earning the national championship that’s most-memorable. In 2019, the GHSA honored the 40th anniversary of the Patriots No. 1, nationally ranked program.
For the boys, Savannah (A-Division II) has 11 championships to lead the pack. The Bluejackets won in 1930-32, 1937, 1941, 1946-47, 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1998. Sandy Creek (3A) has two titles (2023-2024), Cedar Grove (3A) has one title (1997), Butler (2A) has one title (1966), Union (2A) has one title (1967), Pace Academy (4A) has five titles (2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2023), and North Oconee (4A) has one, last season in 4A. Woodward (5A) has one title (2020) while Tri-Cities has two (2019, 2022). Wheeler (6A) has nine titles – 1994, 2002-03, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2020, 2021 and 2023. Newton (when it was Newton County) has one title in 1964.
On the girls side, Hebron Christian (Private) has three titles – 2021, 2023 and last season – while Holy Innocents’ has four championships – 1999, 2016, 2019-20. Baldwin (3A) has four championships – 1986-88 and last season. Murray County (2A) is trying for its second title and first since 1965. Jackson-Atlanta (5A) won its first-ever title last season and is back for second helpings. River Ridge won its first title in 2023 and wants another. Grayson (6A) won its first title last season and wants to repeat.
CLOSE CALLS AND NARROW MARGINS
Some teams are just happy to still be playing basketball in March after surviving one, or more, close calls throughout the playoffs.
On the boys side, Class 6A finalist Newton narrowly advanced past the semifinals with its 56-53 victory against Pebblebrook. Woodward Academy (5A) outlasted Milton 58-56 in the second round, Winder-Barrow 64-57 in the quarterfinals and Hughes 63-58 in the semifinals. North Oconee (4A) advanced past Mays 64-59 in the quarterfinals. Sandy Creek (3A) survived a 53-52 scare against Cross Creek in the quarterfinals. Cedar Grove (3A) beat Luella 56-50 in the second round and Baldwin 56-49 in the quarterfinals. Butler (2A) narrowly beat Carver-Columbus 78-73 to earn its title berth. B.E.S.T. Academy (A-Division I) had its scare in the 58-51 first-round victory against Bleckley County. McIntosh County Academy outlasted Greene County 49-41 in the semifinals. North Cobb Christian (Private) narrowly escaped the semifinals with a 57-51 victory against Greenforest.
On the girls side, Grayson (6A) beat Lowndes 57-54 in the quarterfinals and Cherokee 53-48 in the semis while Newton narrowly beat North Forsyth 55-47 in the semis. Jackson-Atlanta (4A) had narrow playoff victories against Kell 53-48 in the second round, Northview 45-39 in the quarterfinals and North Oconee 80-79 in the semis. Cherokee Bluff relied on a buzzer-beater to beat Jenkins 56-55 in the semis while Baldwin narrowly beat Adairsville 60-52 in the first round, Heritage-Catoosa 50-49 in the quarterfinals and Fayette County 62-55 in the semis. Murray County (2A) outlasted Morgan County 71-66 in the semis. Banks County (A-Division I) narrowly advanced through the semis against Model 51-44. Washington-Wilkes (A-Division II) outlasted Telfair County 54-51 in the quarterfinals. Hebron Christian (Private) moved past Mount Paran 53-46 in the quarterfinals while Holy Innocents’ edged St. Francis 63-61 in the semis to earn a title berth.
For live stats on each of the 2025 GHSA basketball state championship games, click here!
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