Class AA Preview

Combine one of the nations brightest stars, a team that loves to run and scores, and a grudge match, and you have the Class AA Finals at the GHSA State Basketball Tournament in Macon.

The Boys Final will feature Pace Academy(19-10) vs Manchester (25-5). The Knights may just be the most unique team in Macon this week. No other team in the boys or girls finals has less than 20 wins, or 10 losses. It is also true but that no other team has Wendell Carter, the nation's number one recruit in the class of 2017 .

Pace started the season 2-8, with 2 of those losses coming to Westlake and Greenforest , both of whom will be in Macon this week playing for state titles in other classes. The Knights would lean on their size advantage with the 6-10 Carter and 6-7 sophomore Isaiah Kelly, and 6-6 Zack Kaminsky to propel them into the championship game. Carter's 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 blocks in Pace's Elite Eight win over Thomasville, was his most complete performance of the State Tournament.


The Blue Devils have held the championship trophy before, at the end of the 2007 season. Coach Curtis Noble has a crew that loves to get up and down the floor and put points on the board, flirting with century mark several times this season. Demarcus Addie is the guy who makes things happen for Manchester, he led them with 22 points in their semifinal victory over Monticello. This was after Addie dropped 30 points in the Blue Devils Elite Eight victory over Lovett 70-56. That same Lovett team that beat Pace in overtime 66-63. Something for Coach Noble and his crew to keep in mind headed into Friday's showdown.


The Girls AA Final will be the "Grudge Match", between region rivals Wesleyan and Holy Innocents. If it sounds familiar , then it should, they are the same two teams that met in the final a year ago. Coach Tony Watkins team was all set to finish a perfect unbeaten season, with a 4th win over Wesleyan, but Wolves spoiled the party and claimed their 11th state crown.

This Year Coach Jan Azar brings a team with a 27-4 record to Macon, that includes wins over Morgan County and Tucker, who will play for other class titles this week. Two of their loses are to Holy Innocents, the last one coming in the region championship game 59-55.

At 26-5 the Golden Bears suffered regular season loses to GHSA state finalist Tucker and St. Francis, but finished strong , riding a 9 game winning streak into Macon. The teams mirror each other in many ways. A total of 13 points make up the difference in their 3 meetings this season. Coach Watkins says, " Last season is in the past. We are a much better team right now than we were last season. We look forward to the challenge".

The Class AA finals will be played Friday, with the girls final at 3, and the boys final at 4:45. Follow GHSA State Championship Week on GPB and GPB.ORG.