Albany Herald

NEW HERALD FAB 5 POLL:

BOYS:

1.) Westover ............. 9-3

The Patriots started out rough, but are as hot as anyone recently, winning eight of their last nine heading into a monster week of tests, beginning tonight. Next: at Crisp County, 7:30 p.m. today.

2.) Albany ................ 9-1

The Indians demolished city rival and No. 3 Monroe on Saturday, 53-40, but face their biggest test of the season Friday at Darton vs. defending 1-AA champ Thomasville. Next: at Berrien, 7:30 p.m. today.

3.) Monroe ...............9-3

The Tornadoes barely beat city rival Dougherty in an ugly 32-30 game Friday, then fell hard to Albany High, but none of that will matter if they beat No. 1 Westover on Friday. Next: vs. Cairo, 7:30 p.m. today.

4.) Early County .......11-1

The red-hot Bobcats were down by 10 points but came back to beat state-ranked Thomasville, 67-61, and now find themselves ranked No. 9 in the state poll. Next: at Miller County, 7:30 p.m. today.

5.) Bainbridge. ...........8-4

The Bearcats drop one spot this week because they lost to Thomasville earlier in the season and Early County, which moved from No. 5 to 4, beat the Bulldogs. Next: at Cairo, 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

GIRLS:

1.) Westover .................... 12-0

The Lady Patriots picked up two more easy wins to start the new year and look unstoppable as they debuted in the state poll at No. 4 in Class AAA. Next: at Crisp County 6 p.m. today.

2.) Americus-Sumter................................................11-1

The Lady Panthers, ranked No. 8 in the state poll, move up to No. 2 spot in the Fab 5 Poll this week after a huge 52-48 win against state No. 9 Crisp County. Next: vs. Worth County, 6 p.m. today.

3.) Pelham.....................................................................11-1

The defending Region 1-A champion Lady Hornets, ranked No. 9 in the Class A state poll, are the hottest team around, winners of 11 in a row heading into this week. Next: vs. Baker County, 6 p.m. today.

4.) Dougherty.................................................................7-3

The Lady Trojans drop two spots this week from No. 2 to No. 4 after a stunning loss to Monroe, which was preceded by a loss to Crisp County. Next: vs. Americus-Sumter, 6 p.m. Friday.

5.) Calhoun County....................................................9-4

The Lady Cougars and star Brandi Buie are still rolling since making their debut in the poll for the first time this year, but face a big game Friday at Randolph-Clay. Next: vs. Stewart County, 6 p.m. today.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“It was a great win for us. We needed this win. This win will get us started to where we need to be.’’

Cheryl Cheeks,

Monroe girls head coach after her unranked Lady Tornadoes stunned city rival and Herald No. 2 Dougherty last Friday, 45-34, for their first signature win of the year

GAMES OF THE WEEK:

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

Tonight:

Deerfield girls, boys at Sherwood, 6:30 & 8 p.m.

Westover girls, boys at Crisp County, 6 & 7:30 p.m.

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

Friday:

Westover girls, boys vs. Monroe at Darton College, 6 & 9 p.m.

Thomasville girls, boys vs. Albany High, 4:30 & 7:30 p.m.

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

Crisp Academy girls, boys at Westwood, 6:30 & 8 p.m.

Saturday:

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

Crisp County girls, boys at Turner County, 6 & 7:30 p.m.

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

BY THE NUMBERS:

30:

The points-per-game average for Early County’s Darontay McCoy during the last five games. He’s scored 150 points, including a career-high 44 points against Panama City-Mosley.

11:

Number of games won in a row by The Herald No. 3 Pelham girls, who lost their season opener to a bigger Class AAAAA Tift County program but have been perfect since.

AREA SCHEDULE:

Today

4 p.m.

Randolph Southern girls at Grace Christian Academy

5:30 p.m.

Randolph Southern boys at Grace Christian

6 p.m.

Baker County girls at Pelham

Stewart County girls at Calhoun County

Albany High girls at Berrien

Mitchell County at Seminole County

Early County girls at Miller County

Randolph Clay girls at Quitman County

Brookwood girls at SGA

Terrell County girls at Webster County

Seminole County girls at Mitchell County

Westover girls at Crisp County

Cairo girls at Monroe

6:30 p.m.

Westfield girls at Southland

DWS girls at Sherwood

Fullington girls at Terrell Academy

7:30 p.m.

Baker County girls at Pelham

Stewart County boys at Calhoun County

Cairo boys at Monroe

Albany High boys at Berrien

Seminole County boys at Mitchell County

Early County boys at Miller County

Randolph boys at Quitman

Brookwood boys at SGA

Terrell County boys at Webster County

Seminole County boys at Mitchell County

Westover boys at Crisp County

Early County boys at Miller County

8 p.m.

Westfield boys at Southland

DWS boys at Sherwood

8:00 p.m.

Fullington boys at Terrell Academy

Thursday

4 p.m.

Terrell Academy girls at Randolph Southern

5:30 p.m.

Terrell Academy boys at Randolph Southern

Friday

4:30 p.m.

Thomasville girls vs. Albany High at Darton College

4 p.m.

GA Christian girls at Randolph Southern

5:30 p.m.

GA Christian boys at Randolph Southern

6 p.m.

Monroe girls vs. Westover at Darton College

Bainbridge girls at Cairo

Calhoun County girls at Randolph-Clay

Seminole girls at Lee County

Pelham girls at Mitchell County

Early County girls at Brooks County

Calhoun girls at Randolph-Clay

Quitman County girls at Terrell County

Crisp County girls at Worth County

Cairo girls at Miller County

6:30 p.m.

SGA girls at Fullington

Southland girls at DWS

Crisp Academy girls at Westwood

Terrell Academy girls at CCA

7 p.m.

Americus-Sumter girls at Dougherty

Seminole County girls at Lee County

7:30 p.m.

Bainbridge girls at Cairo

Thomasville boys vs. Albany High at Darton College

Calhoun County boys at Randolph-Clay

Seminole County boys at Lee County

Early County boys at Brooks County

Quitman boys at Terrell County

Crisp County boys at Worth County

Cairo boys at Miller County

8 p.m.

SGA boys at Fullington

Terrell Academy boys at CCA

Southland boys at DWS

Crisp Acadmey boys at Westwood

8:30 p.m.

Americus-Sumter boys at Dougherty

Seminole County boys at Lee County

9 p.m.

Monroe boys vs. Westover at Darton

Saturday

2:30 p.m.

Westwood girls at SGA

3:30 p.m.

Southland Academy girls at Mt. de Sales

4 p.m.

Westwood boys at SGA

4:30 p.m.

Highland Christian girls at Randolph Southern

5 p.m.

Southland Academy boys at Mt. de Sales

5:30 p.m.

Tiftarea girls at Crisp Academy

Westwood boys at SGA

6 p.m.

Lanier County girls at Pelham

Valdosta girls at Mitchell County

Miller County girls at Early County

Randolph-Clay girls at Stewart County

Bainbridge girls at Cairo

Americus girls at Lee County

Crisp County girls at Turner County

Miller County girls at Early County

7 p.m.

Tift-Area boys at Crisp Academy

Monroe girls at Colquitt County

Terrell County girls at Westover

7:30 p.m.

Lanier County girls at Pelham

Valdosta boys at Mitchell County

Bainbridge boys at Cairo

Miller County boys at Early County

Crisp County boys at Turner County

Randolph-Clay boys at Stewart County

Americus boys at Lee County

Terrell County boys at Westover

Miller County boys at Early County

8:30 p.m.

Monroe boys at Colquitt County

Terrell County boys at Westover