Albany Herald

Monroe’s Rantavious Gilbert, left, goes up for a shot against Terrell County’s Reuben Hawkins Saturday.

ALBANY — Westover’s girls are two games away from a perfect season, but must beat rivals Monroe and Americus-Sumter to get to the magic 25-0 mark. Monroe, ranked No. 4 in The Herald, always gives Westover trouble, and Americus-Sumter is trying to nail down the No. 2 spot in the upcoming Region 1-AAA tournament, which will be hosted by Westover.

The Lady Patriots might have pulled off their biggest win in the 23-0 run last Friday when they beat Crisp County, 57-42, to sweep the Lady Cougars — the last team to beat Westover. That was in the Elite 8 round of the Class AAA tournament last year.

The only movement in the girls poll this week came when No. 4 Dougherty beat No. 3 Monroe last Tuesday night in the Civic Center.

The Lady Trojans moved up to No. 3, swapping places with the Lady Tornadoes.

Pelham stayed hot with two wins against Miller County and Mitchell County, gets a chance at some revenge Friday at home against Class AAAAA Colquitt County, one of only two teams to beat the Lady Hornets all season.

Americus-Sumter stays at No. 5 after beating Crisp County for the second time this season.

Albany High won three times last week to stay at No. 1 in the boys poll.

The Indians ripped Berrien, 75-29, and then won their two biggest games in the Region 1-AA race on back-to-back nights, beating three-time defending region champ Thomasville on the road, 56-48, to avenge a one-point loss to the Bulldogs earlier this season, and then they ran away from Herald No. 2 Early County, 66-51, as Tim Pierce and Larry Sanford combined to score 18 of Albany high’s 22 fourth-quarter points to turn a close game into an easy win.

The Indians are now 19-2 with games against Herald No. 2 Monroe on Friday and Brooks County in the Region 1-AA finale on the road Saturday. Albany is now the No. 1 seed in the region at 10-1, and can clinch the top spot with a win against Brooks. As AHS coach Archie Chatmon said after the Early County win: “We’re No. 1 with one to go. That’s a good place to be.’’

The Indians have now won nine in a row and 13 of their last 14 since losing to Thomasville, 37-36. They have dominated the top spot in the poll for weeks.

Monroe made the only move in the boys poll, leaping from No. 3 to No. 2, and swapping places with Early County, which slipped after losing to Albany High. Monroe was impressive in big wins against city rival Dougherty and Terrell County, which has been on the bubble to make the Fab 5 or a while. The Greenwave can make a big statement in the Region 1B-A race and also move into the poll with a win tonight against No. 5 Calhoun County, which ripped Terrell County earlier in Edison to help earn he Cougars a spot in the poll.

It will be a classic in Dawson tonight.

But it won’t be as big as the games tonight at Darton, where Monroe meets Westover in the biggest of rivalry games. The Lady Tornadoes would love to spoil Westover’s perfect season, and the boys game pits two of the biggest rivals anywhere.

Westover and Monroe have split two games this season, but Westover’s victory came in the U Save It Basketball Tournament. Monroe won the Region 1-AAA at Darton, and that game is the difference in the Region 1-AAA race, where Monroe is 11-0 and Westover is 9-1 with games against Monroe and Americus-Sumter.

The Tornadoes can end a perfect region schedule and claim the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Region 1-AAA tournament with a win tonight against the Patriots.

If Westover wins and beats Americus-Sumter on Friday the two rivals would both be 11-1 in the region.

Bainbridge stayed at No. 4 in the poll and has built a 13-game winning streak. The Bearcats have not lost a game in 2012.

Rickey McCullough’s teams have a history of streaking down the stretch.

FAB 5 Poll

BOYS

1.) Albany 19-2

They’ve won nine in a row and 13 of their last 14, and after beating Thomasville and Early County the Indians are the top seed in the Region 1-AA tournament. Next: vs. Monroe, 7:30 p.m. Friday.

2.) Monroe ...17-5

The Nadas have won six in a row and move up to No. 2 this week after winning a tough 55-51 game against Terrell County in the final seconds. Next: vs. Westover, 7:30 p.m. today at Darton.

3.) Early County........ 19-5

The Bobcats slip to No. 3 this week after losing to Albany High 66-51 in a crucial Region 1-AA game, but the way they run the floor makes them a dangerous team in the postseason . Next: at Cook, 7:30 p.m. Friday.

4.) Bainbridge............18-4

They just keep winning down south, where the Bearcats have won 13 in a row, and haven’t lost since Dec. 29. Next: at Lee County, 7:30 p.m. today.

5.) Calhoun County..............................................................................15-5

The Cougars hang on at No. 5, despite a tough loss to Randolph-Clay on Saturday, and face a huge test tonight in Dawson in a Region 1B-A showdown. Next: at Terrell County, 7:30 p.m. today.

GIRLS

1.) Westover .....23-0

The perfect Lady Patriots took care of their nemesis, Crisp County, 57-42, and have games against Monroe and Americus-Sumter left on the schedule. Next: vs. Monroe, 6 p.m. today at Darton.

2.) Pelham................................................................21-2

The Lady Hornets had an easy time with Miller and Mitchell and can get some revenge this week against Colquitt County, which beat them. Next: vs. Colquitt County, 6 p.m. Friday.

3.) Dougherty..............................................................14-5

The Lady Trojans swap places with Monroe after beating the Lady Tornadoes 40-35 last week, moving up from No. 4 to No. 3 a week after dropping from No. 2. Next: at Americus-Sumter, 6 p.m. today

4.) Monroe..................................................................14-7

The Lady Tornadoes fell to Dougherty and must face rival No. 1 Westover tonight in their final Region 1-AAA regular season game. Next: vs. Westover, 6 p.m. today at Darton.

5.) Americus-Sumter............................................... 16-6

The Lady Panthers can make a big statement with a win against Dougherty tonight, which would give them the No. 2 seed in the region tournament. Next: vs. Dougherty, 6 p.m. today.

Quote of the week

“She (coach Telly Turner) told me if we won we would be No. 2, but if we lost we might be No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5 — all the places I didn’t want to be.’’

Chasity Mullins,

Albany High guard who scored a career-high 29 points in a 56-45 win against Early County that lifted the Squaws to the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Region -1AA tournament

By the numbers

10

The number of points scored by Albany High’s Tim Pierce in the fourth quarter against Thomasville on Friday and on Saturday against Early County as he scored 20. He scored 45 in the two wins.

7

Number of blocked shots by Monroe’s Rantavious Gilbert in a 46-44 win against Dougherty. He scored 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and also had five dunks.

Top games of the week

Tonight:

Monroe girls, boys vs. Westover at Darton College, 6 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Calhoun County girls, boys at Terrell County, 6 & 7:30 p.m.

Bainbridge girls, boys at Lee County, 6 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Friday:

Monroe girls, boys at Albany High, 6 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Westover girls, boys at Americus-Sumter, 6 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Early County girls, boys at Cook, 6 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Randolph-Clay girls, boys at Bainbridge, 6 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Saturday:

Albany High girls, boys at Brooks, 6 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Pelham girls, boys at Seminole County, 6 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Schedule

GISA Region 1-AAA

at ABAC

Today

5:30 p.m.

Westfield boys vs. Southland

7 p.m.

Southland girls vs Sherwood

Friday

4 p.m

Westfield girls vs. Sherwood/Southland winner

5:30 p.m.

Sherwood boys vs. Tiftarea/Calvary winner

7 p.m.

Deerfield girls vs Calvary/Tiftarea winner

8:30 p.m.

Deerfield boys vs Westfield/Southland winner

Saturday

2 p.m.

Girls consolation

3:30 p.m.

Boys consolation

5 p.m.

Girls championship

6:30 p.m.

Boys championship

GISA Region 1-AA

at Fullington

Today

4 p.m.

Brookwood girls vs. SGA

8:30 p.m.

Terrell Academy boys vs Valwood

Thursday

5:30 p.m.

Fullington boys vs. Terrell Academy/Valwood winner

7 p.m.

Terrell Academy girls vs Brookwood/SGA winner

8:30 p.m

SGA boys vs Brookwood/Citizens Christian winner

Friday

4 p.m.

Girls consolation

5:30 p.m.

Boys consolation

7 p.m.

Girls championship

8:30 p.m.

Boys championship

Regular Season

Today

6 p.m.

Calhoun County girls at Terrell County

Dougherty County girls at Americus-Sumter

Baker County girls at Mitchell

Calhoun County girls at Terrell County

Miller County girls at Seminole County

Bainbridge girls at Lee County

Worth County girls at Crisp

Westover girls vs. Monroe at Darton

7:30 p.m.

Calhoun County boys at Terrell County

Dougherty County boys at Americus-Sumter

Calhoun County boys at Terrell County

Baker County boys at Mitchell County

Miller County boys at Seminole County

Bainbridge boys at Lee County

Worth County boys at Crisp County

Westover boys vs. Monroe at Darton

Friday

6 p.m.

Monroe girls at Albany High

Colquitt Couunty girls at Pelham

Mitchell County girls at Thomas County Central

Calhoun County girls at Lee County

Early County girls at Cook County

Randolph-Clay girls at Bainbridge

Seminole County girls at Quitman County

Cairo girls at Crisp County

7 p.m.

Worth County girls at Dougherty

Westover girls at Americus-Sumter

7:30 p.m.

Monroe boys at Albany High

Colquitt County boys at Pelham

Mitchell County boys at Thomas County Central

Calhoun County boys at Lee County

Early County boys at Cook County

Randolph-Clay boys at Bainbridge

Seminole County boys at Quitman County

Cairo boys at Crisp County

8:30 p.m.

Calhoun County boys at Lee County

Worth County boys at Dougherty County

Westover boys at Americus-Sumter

Saturday

6 p.m.

Albany High girls at Brooks

Turner girls at Lee County

Terrell County girls at Americus-Sumter

Pelham girls at Seminole County

Miller County girls at Calhoun

7 p.m.

Crisp County girls at Dooly County

7:30 p.m.

Albany High boys at Brooks County

Terrell County boys at Americus-Sumter

Pelham boys at Seminole County

Miller County boys at Cairo

Turner County boys at Lee County