Albany Herald

Photo by Brandon Brigman

ALBANY HERALD FAB 5 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL POLL:

BOYS:

1.) Monroe ................0-0

Monroe still hasn’t played a game this season, but will officially kick off what’s expected to be a tremendous season tonight at home. Next: vs. Americus-Sumter, today, 7:30 p.m.

2.) Albany .............................2-0

The Indians are 2-0, but already face a Top 5 showdown Saturday when they take on a Westover team that just beat state-ranked Thomasville. Next: vs. Westover at Albany State, Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

3.) Bainbridge ......................................2-1

The Bearcats, who have lost a total of 9 games in the last two seasons — including the playoffs — step up a classification Friday when they travel to Moultrie. Next: at Colquitt County, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

4.) Westover .................................................3-2

The Pats avenged their loss to state-ranked Thomasville on Friday, and their schedule only gets tougher this week with city rivals Dougherty (Friday) and Albany (Saturday). Next: vs. Worth County, today, 7:30 p.m.

5.) Early County............................................4-0

After racing out a 4-0 start and clobbering teams by an average of 32.5 points, the Bobcats took some time off, but get back to business this weekend at home . Next: vs. Baker County, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS:

1.) Westover .........................7-0

The Lady Patriots have left no doubt they’re the best girls basketball team in Southwest Georgia so far this year, racing out to a perfect 7-0 start. Next: vs. Worth County, today, 6 p.m.

2.) Dougherty ....................................3-0

The Lady Trojans will find out just how well they stack up with The Herald’s No. 1 team — and bitter rival — Westover when it’s 1 vs. 2 on Friday at Albany State. Next: at Cairo, today 6 p.m.

3.) Monroe..................................................................2-0

Lady Tornadoes coach Cheryl Cheeks thought this could be her best team ever, and so far they look pretty strong, racing out to an unbeaten 2-0 start. Next: vs. Americus-Sumter, today, 6 p.m.

4.) Americus-Sumter.....................................................3-0

The Lady Panthers are off to another impressive start, going 3-0 in their first three games, beating Dooly County twice and then Houston County. Next: at Monroe, today, 6 p.m.

5.) Pelham...................................................................3-1

The Class A Lady Hornets opened the season with a loss to AAAAA Tift County, but haven’t lost since and face an always-tough Randolph-Clay team tonight. Next: vs. Randolph-Clay, today, 6 p.m.

Teams eligible for poll: Albany, Monroe, Dougherty, Westover, Sherwood Christian Academy, Deerfield-Windsor, Terrell County, Terrell Academy, Pelham, Westwood, Mitchell County, Miller County, Bainbridge, Seminole County, Early County, Randolph-Clay, Randolph Southern, Southwest Georgia Academy, Southland, Americus-Sumter, Lee County, Worth County, Calhoun County. Poll voted on by Herald sports staff and new poll released every Tuesday.

AREA BOYS, GIRLS GHSA/GISA SCHEDULE:

Today

5 p.m.

Sherwood girls at LaGrange

6 p.m.

Randolph-Clay girls at Pelham

Terell County girls at Baker County

Americus-Sumter girls at Monroe

Worth County girls at Westover

Dougherty at Cairo

Webster County girls at Miller County

Stewart County girls at Mitchell County

Calhoun County girls at Seminole County

Southland girls at Glenwood Academy

6:30 p.m.

Mt. De Sales girls at Deerfield

Trinity Christian girls at Crisp Academy

Sherwood boys at LaGrange

7:30 p.m.

Americus-Sumter Boys at Monroe

Worth County boys at Westover

Randolph-Clay boys at Pelham

Terrell County boys at Baker County

Dougherty boys at Cairo

Webster County boys at Miller County

Stewart County boys at Mitchell County

Calhoun County girls at Seminole County

Southland boys at Glenwood Academy

8 p.m.

Trinity Christian boys at Crisp Academy

Thursday

6:30 p.m.

Deerfield girls at SGA

Terrell Academy girls at Crisp Academy

Abbeville (Ala.) girls at Randolph Southern

8 p.m.

Deerfield boys at SGA

Terrell Academy boys at Crisp Academy

Abbeville (Ala.) boys at Randolph Southern

Friday

6 p.m.

Pelham girls at Terrell County

Monroe girls at Crisp County

Miller County girls at Quitman County

Cairo girls at Americus-Sumter

Seminole County girls at Randolph-Clay

Bainbridge girls at Colquitt County

6:30 p.m.

Deerfield girls at Tatnall

Westwood girls at Highland Christian

SGA Girls at Westwood

7 p.m.

Dougherty girls vs. Westover at Albany State

Terrell Academy girls at Piedmont

7:30 p.m.

Pelham boys at Terrell County

Monroe boys at Crisp County

Miller County boys at Quitman County

Cairo boys at Americus-Sumter

Seminole County boys at Randolph-Clay

Bainbridge boys at Colquitt County

8 p.m.

Deerfield boys at Tatnall

Westwood boys at Highland Christian

SGA boys at Westwood

8:30 p.m.

Terrell Academy boys at Piedmont

Westover boys vs. Dougherty at Albany State

Saturday

1 p.m.

Southland girls at Westwood

2:30 p.m.

Southland boys at Westwood

4 p.m.

SGA girls at DWS

5:30 p.m.

SGA boys at DWS

6 p.m.

Crisp County girls at Colquitt County

Worth County girls at Turner County

Randolph-Clay girls at Mitchell County

Monroe girls at Terrell County

Lee County girls at Seminole County

Calhoun County girls at Miller County

Baker County girls at Early County

Pelham girls at Quitman County

Marion County girls at Americus-Sumter

Thomasville girls at Bainbridge

7:30 p.m.

Thomasville boys at Bainbridge

Crisp County boys at Colquitt County

Randolph-Clay boys at Mitchell County

Worth County boys at Turner County

Monroe boys at Terrell County

Lee County boys at Seminole County

Calhoun County girls at Miller County

Baker County boys at Early County

Pelham boys at Quitman County

Marion County girls at Americus-Sumter

GAMES OF THE WEEK

(Game times reflect girls game first, followed by the boys game)

Tonight:

Americus-Sumter at Monroe, 6, & 7:30 p.m.

Worth County at Westover, 6:30 & 8 p.m.

Dougherty at Cairo, 6 & 7:30 p.m.

Thursday:

Terrell Academy at Crisp Academy, 6:30 p.m. & 8

Friday:

Dougherty vs. Westover @ Albany State, 7 & 8:30 p.m.

Monroe at Crisp County, 6 & 7:30 p.m.

Pelham at Terrell County, 6 & 7:30 p.m.

Saturday:

Westover vs. Albany @ Albany State, 7 & 8:30 p.m.

Monroe at Terrell County, 6 & 7:30 p.m.

Thomasville at Bainbridge, 6 & 7:30 p.m.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“This was a big win for Miller County ... (For the last 11 years) they have been putting some whoopings on us.’’

Tim Martin,

Miller County head coach after last Friday’s stunning overtime upset of 2010-11 Class A state runner-up Terrell County in Colquitt

BY THE NUMBERS:

25:

Number of points — twice — that Terrell County’s Super 6er Dekoven Ware scored in his first two games of the season, dropping 25 points in an OT loss to Miller County on Friday and in a win vs. Randolph-Clay on Saturday.

374:

The number of points scored by the Early County boys basketball team in its first four games of the season — all wins — as the unbeaten, 4-0 Bobcats have beaten teams by an average of 32.5 points so far.