The March to Macon is officially upon us and trying to determine how the AA classification will play out is no easy task. We take a deeper look at the opening round and offer up some thoughts after a busy and competitive season.

BEST GAME: It doesn’t get much better than this in the first round of the state playoffs. Last year’s AA state championship plays out in the first round, but this time the game will be held at the famed Crawford County gym. Last year's match-up was outstanding. Seminole County won 76-71. Jordan Harris was brilliant, going for 41 points on 15 of 23 shooting from the floor. Will Jerrell was also great, scoring 31 in defeat. The match-up was one of the best player square offs we've seen in the Peach in quite some time. The rematch should be a lot of fun. The outcome could mean a return trip to Macon for the championship game. 

BEST PLAYER MATCH-UP: See above. Harris vs. Jerrell will be tremendous. A combined 60 points between the players is possible again. Also keep an eye on Isiah Tillman of Bryan County against Kameron Pauldo of Dublin. That’s some serious scoring power packed into two small guards. Both are quick. Both are fun to watch. Both can get buckets. That’s a strong first round pairing to get things going. 

STORY STARTER POTENTIAL: There are a lot of people in South Georgia that have been singing the long term potential praises of big man Reggie Perry this season. The bracket could put the 6-foot-8 sophomore on the statewide map with his play for the No. 10 Power Poll Thomasville Bulldogs. He’s one of the best young prospects in the Peach. 

SLEEPER TEAM: Manchester. At 21-5 and Region 5-AA champs, the Blue Devils are big and back in the bracket. That is a standard operating procedure for Coach Curtis Noble’s program. The Blue Devils have good size inside and good speed on the wing. The team has won 15 games in a row coming into the state tourney and haven’t lost to a Georgia team since Albany Westover by two in mid-December. Manchester could easily be 24-2 right now. Don’t be surprised to see the team make a Final Four run. Or, better yet, a state championship game appearance. 

UNSIGNED SENIORS TO WATCH: Alex Perry (Thomasville), Anfernee King (Seminole County), Bobby Stevenson (Manchester), Monkeize Moore (Crawford Co.), Marquell Wiggins (Macon Co.), Matthew Adis (Rabun Co.), Davis Short (Riverside Military), Chase Shook (Union Co.), De'miria Glover (Monticello), CJ Brewer (Bowdon)

NO. 1 SEEDS 

Region 1: Thomasville
Region 2: Long County 
Region 3: Dublin
Region 4: Crawford County
Region 5: Manchester
Region 6: Pace Academy
Region 7: Model
Region 8: Rabun County

FINAL FOUR PICKS
Justin Young: Lovett, Thomasville, Crawford County, Dublin
Carter Wilson: Manchester, Pace Academy, Vidalia, Dublin