Previewing Wheeler vs. Pebblebrook
Wheeler (29-2) vs. Pebblebrook (27-5)
The top two teams AAAAAA in our Power Poll all season long meet once again in the post-season. Last year's game was the semifinal match-up at Georgia Tech. Wheeler won. This year's game is for the trophy in Macon on Saturday, March 7 at 8:45 p.m.
It doesn't get much better than this.
If you like watching college talent, there are eight Division I prospects in this game. There are, at least, 12 players that will play in college in total.
If you like high-powered offense, this is your game. Both teams averaged over 70 points a game this season.
Both schools have wins over national powerhouses. Wheeler won the City of Palms, beating Florida's Montverde Academy for the tournament title. Pebblebrook beat Mater Dei in California in December. That's no easy task.
The state's top player (Jaylen Brown/Wheeler) is in this game. The state's top senior point guard (Ty Hudson/Pebblebrook) and center (Derek Ogbeide/Pebblebrook) are also in the starting lineups. Some of the state's top young talent are also in the conversation (Jared Harper/Pebblebrook, Darius Perry/Wheeler, Cam Jordan/Wheeler).
How Wheeler got here: beat Centennial 64-37, Douglas County 87-68, Newton 72-54, Tucker 74-64
Wheeler's 2014-2015 signature wins: Cherokee 51-48//71-55//51-49, Walton 97-61//76-61, Bentonville (AR) 61-40, Paul VI (VA) 55-52, Wesleyan Christian (NC) 76-70, Montverde Academy (FL) 72-65, Pope 64-54//69-64//61-59
How Pebblebrook got here: beat Kennesaw Mountain 81-52, Pope 78-59, Norcross 80-62, Shiloh 57-47
Pebblebrook's 2014-2015 signature wins: Huntsville Lee 91-54, Berkmar 78-48, Greenforest 75-72 OT, Prestonwood Christian (TX) 75-69, Mater Dei (CA) 82-79, Douglas County 87-62//71-43//66-59, Westlake 73-63//93-64//72-67, Langston Hughes 75-60//74-60
Must-see match-ups: There are so many storylines worth discussing. The obvious is how will Jaylen Brown do against Derek Ogbeide. The two seniors are as aggressive as it gets in Georgia. Brown loves to rip the rebound and run the floor for transition baskets. Ogbedie is one of the premiere rebounders and paint protectors in the Southeast.
Pebblebrook's Trhae Mitchell is defending as well as any player in the state this post-season and giving the Falcons a major spark to the rotation. The 6-foot-5 wing will more than likely be paired up with Tennessee bound guard Shembari Phillips and athletic junior Cam Jordan, who is as good of a sixth man there is in the state.
Keep an eye on this fantastic underclassman match-up. Jared Harper is leading Pebblebrook in scoring and uses his perimeter touch to keep teams honest. Darius Perry is a fine deep threat, too, for Wheeler but is also not afraid to mix it up defensively.
Justin Young's prediction: Wheeler wins 67-64