Albany Herald

Albany High’s Larry Sanford drives for a basket against Thomasville last week in a tough, 37-36, loss to the Bulldogs.

ALBANY — What a mess.

The boys Fab 5 poll is in a shambles after last week when No. 1 Westover fell on back-to-back nights to Monroe and Terrell County to drop from the top spot in the poll.

No. 2 Albany High lost a heartbreaker to Thomasville, 37-36, as the Bulldogs came back from 36-32 with 41 seconds left to knock off the Indians.

But the Indians move up to No. 1 in the poll because of their recent 53-40 win against Monroe, which stays at No. 3 in the poll. The Tornadoes could move up next week because Early County, which earned the No. 2 spot this week by virtue of its 14-1 record, which includes a 67-61 victory against Thomasville. The Bobcats’ only loss was a controversial defeat to Turner County in overtime. Early County led the game by three points with 6.6 seconds left when there was an inadvertent horn. Everyone stopped, but a Turner County player kept going and hit a uncontested 3 to send the game into OT.

Early County can move to No. 1 in the poll if the Bobcats beat Albany High tonight in Blakely in a huge Region 1-AA game.

Westover slips to No. 4 in the poll, and Bainbridge stays at No. 5.

But Terrell County, which has won five in a row, including a 71-69 win against Westover is on the bubble. Bainbridge plays Randolph-Clay tonight, and Terrell County plays Randolph-Clay on Saturday so there could be a new No. 5 team if Bainbridge loses to the Red Devils, and Terrell County beats Calhoun County on Friday and Randolph-Clay on Saturday in two huge Region 1-A games.

Westover’s Lady Patriots stayed at the top of the girls poll.

The girls’ poll did have a shakeup.

Dougherty, which had been ranked No. 2 for most of the season, jumped right back in the No. 2 spot after ripping previously No. 2 Americus-Sumter by 21 points on Friday. The one-sided loss dropped Americus-Sumter to No. 3, but if the Lady Panthers face a monster test tonight at Westover in a huge Region 1-AAA game.

Westover is not only No. 1 in The Herald and ranked No. 4 in the Class AAA state poll, but the Lady Patriots are unbeaten in Region 1-AAA play, one game ahead of Americus-Sumter, which could take a share of the region lead with a win.

“It’s gigantic,’’ said Westover coach Lewis Smith of tonight’s game. “If we win it would give us a two-game lead and the way the teams are splitting games between Dougherty and Americus and Crisp County and Monroe, a two game lead would be very big.’’

Americus-Sumter has already beaten Crisp County and Monroe, and could actually take the lead with a win against Westover, because the Lady Panthersr and Lady Patriots would have one region loss each, and Americus-Sumter would have the head-to-head edge with another game against Westover in Americus.

That’s why tonight’s game is so significant, and why Dougherty’s win against Americus-Sumter looks so big.

The top-seeded girls team in Region 1-AAA will get to host the semifinals and finals of both the girls and boys region tournament, and Westover’s girls and boys teams want those games in the Westover gym.

Pelham is as hot as any team and riding a 14-game winning streak. The Lady Hornets are at No. 3, but if Americus-Sumter falls to Westover Pelham could move up in next week’s poll.

The new No. 5 team is from Randolph-Clay, where the Lady Devils made a statement last Friday, beating then-No. 5 Calhoun County, and make their debut in the poll.

ROUNDUP:

WESTOVER GIRLS 41, WILCOX 21

Westover won its 16th in a row to stay perfect on Monday, beating Wilcox County in the MLK Tournament in Tifton.

Herald Super 6er DyTiesha Dunson led the way with 15 points and freshman Aubrie Ann Moore scored 13 for the Lady Patriots.

BAINBRIDGE BOYS 75, ATLANTA TRI CITIES 61

ATLANTA — Herald No. 5 Bainbridge won its fifth in a row on Monday, beating Tri Cities in Atlanta.

The Bearcats had four players in double figures: Rodney Glenn (19 points), Paul Chukes (19 points), Trey Kelley (14 points) and Dontavious Marshall (10 points).

FAB 5 Poll

BOYS

1.) Albany 10-2

The Indians lost to Thomasville in the final seconds but move from No. 2 to No. 1 on the strength of their recent 53-40 win against Monroe. Next: at Early County, 7:30 tonight.

2.) Early County ...14-1

The Bobcats, whose only blemish is a controversial OT loss to Turner County, move up to No. 2 to create a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown tonight. Next: vs. Albany High, 7:30 tonight.

3.) Monroe 11-5

Monroe avenged an early loss to No. 1 Westover on Friday, but fell to Colquitt County on Saturday and Wilcox on Monday. Next: at Americus-Sumter, 7:30 p.m. Friday.

4.) Westover 10-5

The Pats fell from No. 1 after losses to Monroe and Terrell County. Next: vs. Americus-Sumter 7:30 tonight.

5.) Bainbridge..........................9-4

The Bearcats have won five in a row, and face a big test tonight against Randolph-Clay. They’re still perfect. Next: at Randolph-Clay, 7:30 p.m. Friday.

GIRLS

1.) Westover....................................................16-0

The Lady Patriots had a huge win against Crisp County last Tuesday and then won four games in five days to stay perfect. Next: vs. Americus Sumter, 6 p.m., tonight.

2.) Dougherty ......................................................8-3

The Lady Trojans are back at No. 2 after crushing previous No. 2 Americus-Sumter, 68-47. Next: at Worth County, 6 p.m. , tonight.

3.) Pelham....................................................................14-1

The Lady Hornets have won 14 in a row, but face a tough team from Miller County tonight. Next: vs. Miller County, 6 p.m. , tonight.

4.) Americus-Sumter......................................................12-2

The Lady Panthers fell from No. 2 after losing to Dougherty, and play their biggest game of the season tonight at No. 1 Westover. Next: at Westover, 6 p.m., tonight.

5.) Randolph-Clay........................................................8-3

The Lady Red Devils knocked off previous No. 5 Calhoun County, 63-42, and make their debut in the poll. Next: vs. Bainbridge, 6 p.m., tonight.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“This is the kind of win that can give us momentum down the stretch.’’

John Davis

Terrell County boys coach on the significance of his team’s 71-69 win against Westover on Saturday night.

By the Numbers

10

Number of points scored by Calhoun County’s Cougars, who had a 10-0 run in the final minutes of double overtime to beat Randolph-Clay, 92-90, to end a comeback that started when Calhoun County trailed 17-0 to start the game.

13

The number of points Terrell County’s Dekoven Ware scored in the third quarter against Westover on Saturday night as Ware hit 6-of-6 shots and scored 13 of Terrell County’s 17 points in the quarter. He finished with 25 points and nine rebounds to help lead the Greenwave to a 71-69 win against Westover.

7

Number of blocked shots by Monroe’s Rantavious Gilbert, who had four dunks in the first half — including two to start the game — and finished with 12 points and seven blocks, including two pins to help Monroe beat Westover, 54-47.

This week's area schedule

Tonight

5 p.m.

Brookwood girls at Westwood

6 p.m.

Mitchell County girls at Thomas County Central High

Calhoun County girls at Webster County

Dougherty County girls at Worth County

Americus-Sumter girls at Westover

Baker County girls at Seminole County

Bainbridge girls at Randolph-Clay

Albany High girls at Early County

Miller County girls at Pelham

Bainbridge girls at Randolph-Clay

Crisp County girls at Cairo

6:30 p.m.

Crisp Academy at GA Christian

Tiftarea girls at Southland

Brookwood boys at Westwood

DWS girls at Westfield

SGA girls at Terrell Academy

7:30 p.m.

Mitchell County boys at Thomas County Central High

Calhoun County boys at Webster County

Dougherty County boys at Worth County

Americus-Sumter boys at Westover

Albany High boys at Early County

Seminole County boys at Baker County

Bainbridge boys at Randolph-Clay

Crisp County boys at Cairo

Miller County boys at Pelham

8:00 p.m.

Crisp Academy at GA Christian

Tiftarea girls at Southland

DWS boys at Westfield

SGA boys at Terrell Academy

Thursday

6 p.m.

SGA girls at Grace

6:30 p.m.

Westwood girls at Terrell Academy

7:30 p.m.

SGA boys at Grace

8 p.m.

Westwood boys at Terrell Academy

Friday

4 p.m.

Crisp Acadmey girls at RSS

5:30 p.m

Crisp Academy boys at RSS

6 p.m.

Mitchell County girls at Baker County

Terrell County girls at Calhoun County

Monroe County girls at Americus

Brooks County girls at Albany High

Early County girls at Fitzgerald

Terrell County girls at Calhoun County

Stewart County girls at Randolph-Clay

Seminole County girls at Miller County

DWS girls at Tiftarea

6:30 p.m.

Crisp Academy girls at RSS

Southland girls at Calvary

GA Christian girls at Westwood

SGA girls at CCA

Terrell Academy girls at Valwood

7 p.m.

Pelham girls at Colquitt County

Westover girls at Worth County

Cairo girls at Dougherty County

Crisp County girls at Warner Robins

Lee County girls at Thomas County Central

7:30 p.m.

Mitchell County girls at Baker County

Terrell County boys at Calhoun County

Monroe boys at Americus

Early County boys at Fitzgerald

Terrell County boys at Calhoun County

Seminole County boys at Miller County

Stewart County boys at Randolph-Clay

8 p.m.

Crisp Academy boys at RSS

Southland boys at Calvary

GA Christian boys at Westwood

SGA boys at CCA

DWS boys at Tiftarea

Terrell Academy boys at Valwood

8:30 p.m.

Pelham girls at Colquitt County

Westover boys at Worth County

Cairo boys at Dougherty County

Lee County girls at Thomas County Central

Crisp County boys at Warner Robins

Saturday

4:30 p.m.

Tattnall girls at DWS

5:30 p.m.

Crisp Academy girls at Tift Area

6 p.m.

Cairo girls at Pelham

Westover girls at Tift County

Mitchell County girls at Albany High

Cook County girls at Early County

Tattnall boys at DWS

Terrell County girls at Randolph-Clay

Lee County girls at Calhoun County

Bainbridge girls at Miller County

7:30 p.m.

Cairo boys at Pelham

Westover boys at Tift County

Mitchell County boys at Albany High

Cook County boys at Early County

Terrell County boys at Randolph-Clay

Bainbridge boys at Miller County

Lee County boys at Calhoun County