The Class AA bracket has some potential fireworks in the second round of the GHSA state tournament. We take a deeper look at what to expect.

BEST SECOND ROUND MATCH-UP 

If you like toughness, pull up a chair for the Butler at South Atlanta game. The two teams are inside the top five rankings on the season and both teams rely on hard-nosed basketball to chalk up victories. 

South Atlanta is the toughest team, in our opinion, in the class AA bracket. And they will have their hands full with a scrappy Butler bunch. The Augusta area team has beaten several teams from the eastern part of the state that are currently in the post-season.

Butler’s DeAndre Barton is one of the best players in the bracket while the South Atlanta backcourt of Dondre Barnes and Jalen Stegall are not backing down from a big game. 

Expect this one to be down to the wire. 

UPSET SPECIAL? 

Chattooga is on a 21-game win streak. The Indians have lost one game all season, coming to the hands of Calhoun. The Summerville squad can rack up the points, too. But they’ve never played a team like Thomasville this season. And Thomasville is looking for some post-season momentum in what has been an up and down season. The Bulldogs have the finest frontline in the tourney with Arkansas-bound Reggie Perry and super sophomore Titus Wright. 

UNSIGNED SENIOR WATCH 

The Class AA bracket of the state tournament may be home to the hottest name in the 2017 calendar year. Crisp County’s Quentavious Dean is putting up monster numbers and started off the state tournament with a 57-point game in a 108-106 overtime win over Savannah. 

JUSTIN YOUNG’S PICKS

Callaway (11-10) vs Washington Co (14-9) WASHINGTON COUNTY 
Hapeville Charter (18-9) vs Laney (22-5) LANEY 
Dublin (24-5) vs Heard Co (23-4) DUBLIN 
Monticello (19-8) vs Swainsboro (18-10) MONTICELLO 
Thomasville (19-8) vs Chattooga (25-1) THOMASVILLE 
Josey (20-7) vs Banks Co (23-4) JOSEY 
Rockmart (17-10) vs Early Co (22-7) EARLY COUNTY 
Butler (18-7) vs S. Atlanta (25-1) SOUTH ATLANTA