Warner Robins and Kell are both mighty hungry for a rare state championship

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

🏀🏀🏀Wednesday’s Central Georgia matchups🏀🏀🏀

5:30 p.m., Class AAAA Girls: Warner Robins, 28-3, vs. Kell, 25-5

          Welcome to the rare case of the consensus top two teams playing each other.

          Warner Robins is ranked No. 1 in ScoreAtlanta and No. 2 in Sandy’s Spiel, and Kell is the reverse. And both did plenty of film study, what with no common opponents.

          Kell played more neutral site games, according to MaxPreps info, than home or away games, so the stage is unlikely to be an issue.

          The Longhorns have won 13 straight, the Demonettes 12. Keep an eye on the fourth quarter of a close game and composure: Kell had one one-possession win in that stretch, with only three other games between 13 and 15 points, while Warner Robins has had 10 games in the streak with a margin of 15 points or less.

          So it would appear the Demonettes are more accustomed to close games and finding ways to win or to close things out.

          Warner Robins head coach Rebecca White is 101-40 in her fifth season in charge at her alma mater, after serving as an assistant.

          Both teams are dealing with a key injury. South Carolina State commit Jada Morgan of Warner Robins has a knee injury that’s limiting her, and Kell’s Makayah Harris suffered an ankle injury in the semifinals and was carried off the court.

          Morgan keys Warner Robins’ attack, along with Tasia Agee and 3-point threat Tori Davis.

          The Longhorns average 65.2 points a game to 57.3 for the Demonnettes, and there’s a one-point difference in points allowed.

          Despite being about 110 miles from Macon, compared to 25 for Warner Robins, expect Kell to have a notable crowd advantage. Kell’s boys are ranked first and play second-ranked Eagle’s landing after the girls game. With the rare chance to pull the sweep, and with both teams going for their first state titles, the Longhorns should have the best support of the day.

          The Demonettes are trying to bring Central Georgia its first girls title since Taylor County’s girls in Class A in 1985, and Houston County its first girls title since Northside took home trophies in 1967 and 1968, right after Warner Robins won the 3A – then the state’s largest class – in 1965.