The March to Macon is finally upon us. Some of the best couple of weeks that Georgia hoop heads could hope for. Legends will be made, stories will be told, and scholarships will be earned. Buckle up for the ride; these next couple of weeks will be fun. Let's dive into 6A. 

Recent Winners:

2021: Westlake

2020: Forest Park

2019: Lanier

Storylines

The main story line here is that Westlake is not the favorite for the first time in four years. With the departure of Raven Johnson, Taniya Latson, and Brianna Turnage, Westlake's state title run appears to be over. Entering into the playoffs, I'd say it is a three team race between River Ridge, Kell, and Lovejoy. All three teams had dominant seasons, winning their region. River Ridge and Lovejoy can potentially meet in the Elite Eight, which will be a big match up to keep an eye on. Will this be the year Crystal Henderson leads Kell to a state title? 

Best Early Round Matchup 

The first round matchup between Statesboro and Langston Hughes is a must see game. The two teams are just about even in terms of their record, and I think they matchup nicely talent wise. Langston Hughes is led by one of the top juniors in the state in Raven Thompson. Seniors Taylor Caldwell and Ta'mia Stargell are also big contributors to the Panthers' success. Statesboro is led by its core of Terikka Gibson, Madison Lee, and Alyssa Staten. The Blue Devils have a lot of length both inside and out on the perimeter. I am curious to how they will defend Thompson and keep her contained.

My Dark Horse Team

While Grovetown is a 1 seed, I don't think many people are giving them a chance to make it far. I really like this team. I am super familiar with them from my years of coaching at Heritage High School. Led by senior and NCA&T commit Keona Curtis, the Warriors have the pieces to make a run. Curtis is a versatile forward that can dominate the game on both ends. Add fellow senior D'Mya Griffin to that mix and they can be a dangerous team. 

Final Four Predictions

Buford

Lovejoy

Kell

Sequoyah

Championship Prediction

I have Kell edging out Lovejoy in the state final. Crystal Henderson is one of the best scorers in the state. She can get hot quick and score it in flurries. Henderson has unlimited range and is not afraid to pull the trigger. Jada Peterson and Amaya Moss will be the X-factors, though.