Albany Herald

NEW HERALD FAB 5 POLL:

BOYS:

1.) Albany ............... 6-0

The Indians have dispatched their opponents with ease so far, but it won’t be easy tonight against new No. 2 Westover in the U Save It finals. Next: vs. Westover, 7 p.m. today at the Civic Center.

2.) Westover ............ 7-3

The Patriots earned their biggest win of the season Monday, knocking off city rival and previously unbeaten No. 1 Monroe. Next: vs. Albany, 7 p.m. today in U Save It title game at the Civic Center.

3.) Monroe ............... 5-1

Monroe lost for the first time Monday to new No. 2 Westover and misses its chance to play in the U Save It finals vs. rival Albany today. Next: vs. Dougherty, 5:30 p.m. today at the Civic Center.

4.) Bainbridge .......... 5-2

The Bearcats have won two in a row since slipping from No. 3 to No. 4 last week, but face a huge

test tonight on the row against a bigger Tift County program. Next: at Tift County, 7:30 p.m. today.

5.) Early County ........7-0

The Bobcats are off to one of their best starts in program history and will get a little holiday break before hitting the court again after Christmas. Next: vs. TBD, Florida vs. Georgia Tournament, Dec. 27.

GIRLS:

1.) Westover ........................10-0

The Lady Patriots got in a ton of games before the Christmas break, but now get to

take a significant rest and won’t play again until 2012. Next: at Cairo, Jan. 3, 6 p.m.

2.) Dougherty ......................................5-1

The Lady Trojans look sharp and have rebounded well from their only loss of the year to No. 1 Westover by rolling NE Macon last Saturday. Next: vs. Rutland, today, time TBD at Great Southern Shootout.

3.) Americus-Sumter.....................................................7-1

Tift County continues to be a thorn in this poll’s side as the Lady Blue Devils have handed No. 3 Americus and No. 4 Pelham its only losses. Next: vs. Macon County in home Christmas tourney, 7 p.m. today.

4.) Pelham.............................................7-1

The Lady Hornets have won seven in a row since losing their opener to Tift but head back to play in the Lady Blue Devils’ holiday tourney next week. Next: vs. Coffee County in Tifton, 8:30 a.m., Dec. 29.

5.) Calhoun County.............................6-3Winners of three straight, the Lady Cougars replace Lee County at No. 5, while also debuting in the poll for the first time since it was introduced to Albany Herald readers five years ago after avenging one of its only losses of the season to Early County. Next: at Quitmam County, Jan. 6, 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.

BY THE NUMBERS:

9:

Number of blocked shots by Albany High’s Monique Perkins, who set the tone early for the Squaws in their 63-46 win against Mitchell County in Camilla last Saturday night. Perkins, a junior who came to Albany High from Arkansas, also had nine rebounds and six points against Mitchell.

45:

The combined fast-start points by Early County’s Bobcats, who ripped off a 26-0 lead to open their game against Baker County, and then bounced right back in their next game with a 19-0 start against Calhoun County. That’s 45-0 out of the blocks for The Herald No. 5 Bobcats, who are off to a 7-0 start to 2011-12.

7:

Number of turnovers forced by the Dougherty boys basketball team in the final four minutes against Statesboro on Saturday to erase a 10-point deficit in the Trojans’ 63-57 win in overtime in the first round of the U Save It Boys Basketball Tournament.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“I think if we can handle the glory, stay focused and stay humble, we can get to Macon.’’

--- Randy Isom,

Early County head boys basketball coach on his team’s chances of getting to Macon and the Class AA Final Four.

AREA SCHEDULE (NEXT TWO WEEKS):

Wednesday

5:30 p.m.

Mitchell County girls in Florida Tourney vs. Godby

TIMES TO BE DETERMINED

Bainbridge girls in Leon Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Early County girls in Tallahassee Tournament vs. TBD

Dougherty girls in Great Southern Shootout in Macon vs. Rutland

Thursday

8:30 p.m.

Mitchell County girls in Florida Tourney vs. FAMU

TIMES TO BE DETERMINED

Bainbridge girls in Leon Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Early County girls in Tallahassee Tournament vs. TBD

Dec. 26

TIMES TO BE DETERMINED

Randolph-Clay boys at Taylor County Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Dougherty girls in Great Southern Shootout in Macon vs. TBD

Dec.27

10 a.m.

Terrell County girls in 2nd Annual McDonalds Invitational Classic vs. Colquitt County

1 p.m.

Terrell County boys in 2nd Annual McDonalds Invitational Classic vs. Cook County

TIMES TO BE DETERMINED

Westwood girls at Tatnall Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Crisp County at Tift High School Tournament at Tift vs. TBD

Randolph-Clay boys at Taylor County Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Randolph Southern at Lakeside Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Early County boys in Florida vs. Georgia Tournament vs. TBD

Dec. 28

10 a.m.

Terrell County in 2nd Annual McDonalds Invitational Classic vs. Wilcox County

1 p.m.

Terrell County in 2nd Annual McDonalds Invitational Classic vs. Thomas County Central

TIMES TO BE DETERMINED

Bainbridge girls in Thomasville Hoopfest vs. TBD

Crisp Academy at Glenwood, Alabama Tournament vs. TBD

Southland boys and girls in home tournament in Americus vs. TBD

Early County boys at Florida vs. Georgia Tournament vs. TBD

Westwood girls at Tatnall Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Deerfield boys and girls at Border Wars Classic vs. TBD

SGA boys and girls at Southland Holiday Tournament vs. TBD

Randolph-Clay girls at Thomasville Hoopfest vs. TBD

Lee County girls at Thomasville Hoopfest vs. TBD

Lee County boys at Thomasville Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Dec. 29

8:30 a.m.

Pelham girls in McDonalds Invitational Classic vs. Coffee County

1 p.m.

Pelham boys in McDonalds Invitiational Classic vs. TBD

TIMES TO BE DETERMINED

Bainbridge boys in Capital City Classic vs. TBD

Crisp Academy at Glenwood, Alabama Tournament vs. TBD

Southland boys and girls in home tournament vs. TBD

Early County boys at Florida vs. Georgia Tournament vs. TBD

Westwood girls at Tatnall Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Deerfield boys and girls at Border Wars Classic vs. TBD

Miller County boys at GA/FLA-Showcase vs. TBD

Randolph-Clay girls in Thomasville Christmas Tournament vs. TBD

Dec. 30

5:30 p.m.

Fullington girls at Crisp Acadmey

Pelham girls in McDonalds Invitiational Classic vs. TBD

7 p.m.

Pelham boys in McDonalds Invitational Classic vs. TBD

Fullington boys at Crisp Academy

TIMES TO BE DETERMINED

Southland boys, girls in home tournament vs. TBD

Randolph-Clay girls at Thomasville Hoopfest vs. TBD

SGA boys and girls at Southland Holiday Tournament in Americus vs. TBD

Seminole County boys at GA/FLA Shootout vs. TBD