Five Games to Watch This Week
The focus of our picks this week go beyond the scope of metro Atlanta as some absolute dandies happen in South Georgia. We take a look at the five must-see games in the state of Georgia this week in the world of high school basketball.
Tuesday, Dec. 17
No. 19 Brunswick at McIntosh County Academy 7:30 p.m.: Brunswick has already beaten MCI once this season, winning 54-47. This game will be a tougher one to claim this time however. MCI is a tough place to play and with junior Tre Scott rolling, the Pirates will need the Davis brothers - Mike and Roger - to be good as they have been this season. Keep an eye on this one.
Friday, Dec. 20
No. 2 Miller Grove at No. 13 Columbia 7:00 p.m.: One of the best rivalries in Georgia pairs two of the best teams in metro Atlanta. This game should pair two of the best backcourts in all of the Peach State, too. Miller Grove's Alterique Gilbert and Keith Pinckney have seen some of the best the state has to offer so far and Columbia's Anthony Rice and Bryce Brown will be right there with the rest of the pack. Expect this one to be packed out in Decatur.
Bainbridge at Thomasville 7:00 p.m.: Thomasville played Tift County competively already this season and Bainbridge has already beaten the Bulldogs. How do the Bearcats hold up on the road at Thomasville? That's never an easy game to play. Sophomore guard Tyree Crump has been terrific so far this season. Can he keep it up?
Saturday, Dec. 21
No. 5 Savannah at No. 4 Tift County 7:00 p.m.: This South Georgia special is the best game non-Atlanta games in the state this season and the Power Poll has a lot riding on it, too. Kudos to Savannah for playing this match-up on the road, too. There aren't a lot of top teams that will play at Tift County. What a way to end the 2013 calendar. Neither team has shied away from playing great teams this season either. Keep an eye on the Jamal Norman of Savannah and Tadric Jackson of Tift County match-up. Defense vs. offense.
No. 3 Greater Atlanta Christian vs. No. 4 North Cobb Christian 8:30 p.m. (at Pope HS): The anchor game of the SEBA Hoop Festivalis an absolute dandy. Both teams are coming off nice wins at the GACS/BCB Showcase. In fact, North Cobb Christian is one of the hottest teams in all of Georgia right now. Both teams are riddled with senior playmakers and terrific coaches. GACS's closest game so far has been a 16-point win over Luella. Keep that in mind.