Team-by-Team Analysis
#1 » TALLULAH FALLS
Record: 15-6 (4-2)
Last Ranking: #1 (N/A)
The Indians have hit a bit of a rough patch on the season, recently dropping 3 straight games that came down to bad fourth quarters. One of which was a scoreless fourth that offset a double-digit lead. Tallulah Falls is still ranked #9, and the full body of work is very solid, but the team has taken a bit of a hit. It's still the 4th-best rated offense and 2nd-best defense overall. Again, despite the region losses to Rabun and Athens Christian, this TFS group has a body of work that's still among the best in our area, and another big-sized win over Commerce to close out January staples them atop our list.
#2 » HABERSHAM CENTRAL
Record: 14-7 (4-5)
Last Ranking: #2 (N/A)
Bryce Pittman is back, and that's great for the Raiders. Hab Central remains the 3rd-best offense in our area, and carries the 3rd-best defense as well. With the way this team is playing when everyone is playing up to expectation, they can't be beat easily. The 11.6 overall rating is tops among our local program, and the schedule strength (6.4) is 3rd-best. The Raiders are just outside that playoff picture right now, so they need to finish strong. A win over Apalachee on January 31 is a great step toward that.
#3 » WHITE COUNTY
Record: 12-10 (6-3)
Last Ranking: #3 (N/A)
Since going 5-0 in region play, the Warriors have gone 1-3 to fall to second in the region standings. White County was previously ranked #9 in the state, and still have the 4th-best overall rating (6.9), and a fairly tough schedule to date. White County is looking to close out strong, and if Jadon Yeh's 41-point performance over Lumpkin is any indicator, he might be saving his best for last. Ending January with a 3rd straight loss, and a big one to Gilmer, doesn't help.
#4 » TOWNS COUNTY
Record: 14-7 (10-2)
Last Ranking: #7 (^3)
Towns County is riding a crazy 7-game win streak, and are atop the region standings at 10-2. The Indians play such great defense (49.5; best in our area). The strength of schedule is the weakest (-6.4), so that remains the only kickback on Towns. Zane Floyd, Gage Rogers, and company have played exceptional as of late.
#5 » BANKS COUNTY
Record: 16-7 (6-2)
Last Ranking: #6 (^1)
Banks County made a statement with a 27-point win over Union to take over 2nd-place in the region and win a 4th game in a row. The Leopards still have the best overall offense in our area (67.5/game), but the 61.5 allowed is the 3rd-worst efficiency. Banks has such talents as Aaron Scott and Kolby Watson, but sometimes lost in the conversation is Luke Dale, who is a standout baller. Hunter Youngblood is a sharp-shooter as well. This team has shooters oozing out.
#6 » UNION COUNTY
Record: 15-8 (6-2)
Last Ranking: #5 (-1)
Union County has been on fire since our last update, except for a loss to Banks County to close out January. The Panthers got a win over #1 Providence Christian with a half-court buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Houston Henry, and had won 2 in a row prior to the loss to Banks. The 63.6 points per game is 2nd-best among our local teams, and the 8.4 Maxpreps Rating is 3rd-best. With Henry, Jude Ellis, and Eli Underwood playing at a high level, it's hard to see this team getting beat anytime soon. Another player to watch for the future is freshman Cade Dockrey.
#7 » STEPHENS COUNTY
Record: 11-9 (4-3)
Last Ranking: #4 (-3)
The Indians are 3rd in the region right now, and were recently ranked #9 in the state as well. The Indians have a strong overall rating (8.6) that is the 3rd-best among our local teams. The problem is, Stephens County, despite a recent 2-game win streak, allows more points than it scores. These guys will look to shore that up before the end of the season. They'll have to shake off a tough double-digit loss to Oconee County they suffered to end January.
#8 » COMMERCE
Record: 9-14 (3-3)
Last Ranking: #9 (^1)
The Tigers recently got a surging win over Rabun County by 13 points, and have beaten the Cats twice now. Commerce is in good shape within a region in which all the teams are basically beating each other up. The Tigers score 54.8 per game, and Jackson Morris and Cayden Lord account for a good portion of that. The downside has been defensively, where the team allows nearly 60 per night. Dropping a second game to Tallulah Falls has the Tigers 3rd in the region at the moment.
#9 » RABUN COUNTY
Record: 12-9 (3-2)
Last Ranking: #10 (^1)
The Wildcats got the HUGE win over state-ranked and region favorite Tallulah Falls, but then the Jekyll and Hyde show continued with a lopsided loss to Commerce. When Rabun is on, look out. Willie Goodwyn has a great feel around the basket, Jack Hood can dominate in the paint, and Huey Blalock is going to be something special. But for all the big wins (Battle of the States championship, beating Jefferson and Tallulah), there are disappointing losses (Commerce twice, Stephens twice, Banks by 19, Jefferson).
#10 » JEFFERSON
Record: 7-15 (3-7)
Last Ranking: #8 (-2)
The Dragons were starting to fade from playoff contention, as the 2-7 mark in region play had them 5th. They're still there, but the 6-game losing skid is gone with a January 31 win over Loganville. They're now at 3-7 in region play. That goal of the playoffs is in front of them, but Jefferson's offense (51.4) has got to get going. It's the lowest output among our local programs, and that recent 6-game slide is pushing Jefferson further back.
#11 » LUMPKIN COUNTY
Record: 4-19 (1-9)
Last Ranking: #11 (N/A)
The Indians last won when beating Dawson County by 14 points. That was great, but it's been a long 5-game losing streak since. Lumpkin County has a fantastic core in place, led by Cal Faulkner and Stephen Sherrill, as well as Hunter Cooper. But at 62 points per game defensively allowed, it's hard to win games when the differential is at -10.
#12 » DAWSON COUNTY
Record: 8-14 (2-7)
Last Ranking: #12 (N/A)
The Tigers aren't exactly tearing it up. Juniors Caden Reed and Trey Harvey are fun to watch, but Dawson's 67.5 points per game allowed makes for a tough path to generate wins. Dawson does have a recent win, but their overall rating of -1.2 is 3rd-lowest among local teams, and that defense is the highest PPG total by far. The Tigers sit here because they lost the only head-to-head with Lumpkin.
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