Quarterfinals battles await Central Georgia girls teams: Warner Robins, Baldwin, Central, Northeast, Dublin, Taylor County, Hancock Central
GHSA Quarterfinals
Tuesday
Class 5A
Greenbrier, R8/1, at Warner Robins, R1/1
Class 4A
Northwest Whitfield, R7/1, at Baldwin, R4/1
Class 3A
Central, R2/2 at Pierce County, R1/1
Class AA
Laney, R4/2, at Northeast, R3/1, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Class A Public
Dublin, R4/2, at Taylor County, R5/2
Hancock Central, R7/1, at Montgomery County, R4/1
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
The March and Macon Madness picks up a chunk of intensity as the calendar flips to the month that indicates hoops hysteria, a basketball bonanza.
And the quarterfinal round of the GHSA girls basketball tournament has some big-time matchups with Central Georgia teams, all playing Tuesday night.
Eighth-ranked Northeast is the only Central Georgia boys team playing Tuesday, traveling down I-16 to take on No. 5 Vidalia. And the girls team is playing on Wednesday.
Four of the remaining girls teams ended the regular season ranked in both Sandy’s Spiel and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution polls: Warner Robins, Baldwin, Northeast, and Taylor County.
One matchup pits Central Georgia teams against each other, Dublin winding its way to Taylor County. The host Vikings are 22-4, and ranked at 9 and 5. Dublin is 22-8, and No. 9 in the AJC poll.
Taylor County lost 59-40 t0 Schley County in the region tournament finale, and has won its first two playoff games by 10 and four. Dublin’s Terrianna Wilburn averages a double-double, 11.5 points and 10 rebounds.
Dublin won its first-round game a year ago while Taylor County was knocked out in its opener.
Hancock Central has the toughest task. The unranked Bulldogs are 16-3, and take on Montgomery County, ranked 1 and 2 at 25-2 and undefeated since losing 49-47 to Telfair County on Jan. 7.
Hancock Central has played fewer games, but it’s been longer than that since the last loss, 65-36 to Class AA Washington County. And the Bulldogs are off a 56-48 overtime win.
Warner Robins and Greenbrier are ranked right next to each other in both polls, with each ahead of one in a poll. The Demons are sixth and the Wolfpack seventh in one, and Greenbrier is third and Warner Robins fourth in the other.
Last year, both teams lost in the second around, Warner Robins 51-25 to Forest Park and Greenbrier 55-49 to New Manchester. And both of those teams are still alive this season.
Baldwin hosts unranked Northwest Whitfield, both Central and Pierce County are 23-5, and Northeast faces an upstart Laney team that is ranked in both polls at 17-7.
The Class 5A and 4A semifinals are at Fort Valley State, with 3A and A at Georgia College, A Public at Valdosta State and A Private at Buford City Arena.
Seven area teams remain after two rounds. Last year’s still-alive teams at this point: Upson-Lee and Washington County.