Four girls teams have a chance to win back-to-back state titles this week at the GHSA basketball championships at the Macon Coliseum.

Grayson, Maynard Jackson, Baldwin and Hebron Christian all won championships a year ago and return to defend their titles.

All games will be televised live on GPB-TV and streamed live on GPB.org and on the GPB Sports App.

Class 6A: Grayson vs. Newton

When: Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Records/rankings: Grayson (30-1), ranked No. 3, No. 1 seed from Region 4; Newton (25-5), ranked No. 6, No. 2 seed from Region 4.

Coaches: Grayson - Tim Slater; Newton – Jawan Bailey

About Grayson: The Rams won the Class 7A championship last year. They are led by Region 4 Player of the Year Tatum Brown, a 5-foot-6 point guard who has committed to Jacksonville. Brown scored the go-ahead basket late in the semifinal win over Cherokee. Other top players are Tamera Rudolph, voted the region’s co-defensive player of the year, along with all-region picks Coco Rudolph and Zoie Lofton. Grayson has won 30 straight since losing its season opener to Cherokee.

About Newton: The Rams are led by first-team all-region players London Smith (16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds) and Mya Perry (10 points, 7.7 rebounds), a pair of sophomores. Freshman Skylar Levell was named to the all-region defensive team. Three-point ace Zoey Jackson (7.8 points) and Alissa Sandifer were honorable mention all-region selections. Newton brought back much of the same team that reached the Sweet 16 a year ago.

Past championships: Grayson won its first state championship last year. Newton has never won a state title.

Miscellaneous: The two teams met three times during the regular season with Grayson winning all three: 76-52 and 76-51 in the regular season and 50-44 in the region championship game.

 

Class 5A: Hughes vs. River Ridge

When: Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Records/rankings: Hughes (29-2), ranked No. 2, No. 1 seed from Region 3; River Ridge (30-1), ranked No. 1, No. 1 seed from Region 6.

Coaches: Hughes – Xavier Trice; River Ridge – Jason Taylor

About Hughes: The Panthers feature the Region 3 co-players of the year – Cornelia Ellington (13.2 points, 4.4 assists, 3.3 steals) and Jocelyn Faison (12.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists). Faison, a smooth multi-positional player, has committed to Georgia. Also named to the all-region team were Savannah Robinson-Holmes (11.5 points) and Taylor Harris. Karrell Johnson (12.1) came off the bench to score 24 in the semifinal win over Bradwell Institute. The well-coached team has the versatility and patience to attack the basket as well as the ability to knock down the 3s.

About River Ridge: The veteran Knights can fill it up from the outside; they had 15 3-points in the semifinal win over Milton. River Ridge is led by Region 6 Player of the Year Kayla Cleaveland (15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds), a Georgia Southern commit. Finley Parker (14.9 points, 6.9 rebounds) and Sophia Pearl (11.8 points, 6.5 assists) were voted first-team all-region and Kyla Cantey (10.2 points) and Makayla Roberson (12.5 points) were voted to the second team. Roberson is out for the season with an injury. The Knights have won 27 straight games.

Past championships: River Ridge won the Class 6A title in 2023. Hughes has never won a state championship.

 

Class 4A: Creekside vs. Maynard Jackson

When: Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Records/rankings: Creekside, ranked No. 1, No. 1 seed from Region 4; Jackson, (20-7), unranked, No. 3 seed from Region 4.

Coaches: Creekside – Akennia Ellis; Jackson – Michelle Powell and Maurice Miles.

About Creekside: The Seminoles are the only remaining undefeated team in the state. They are led by sophomore C’India Dennis, the Region 4 Player of the Year. She averages 20.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, six assists and 3.8 steals. Other all-region players are Skye Cleveland (11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds) and Jacy Mitchell (9.2 points). Creekside relies on its deep bench, with up to 10 players in the rotation.

About Jackson: The Jaguars have several players who contributed to last season’s state championship, most notably junior Cayden Cornish, a first-team all-region selection who averages 17.1 points. Other all-region players are Janiyah Weaver (7.0 points, 7.5 rebounds), Aaliyah Weaver (10.7 points) and Janiya McCoy (8.4 points).

Past championships: Creekside won the Class 5A championship last year, its first title. Creekside has never won a state title.

Miscellaneous: The teams played twice during the regular season, with Creekside winning 65-53 and 58-38. They did not meet in the region tournament.

 

Class 3A: Cherokee Bluff vs. Baldwin

When: Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.

Records/rankings: Cherokee Bluff (24-8), ranked No. 10, No. 4 tournament seed; Baldwin (25-6), ranked No. 4, No. 7 tournament seed.

Coaches: Cherokee Bluff – Kassie Scott; Baldwin – Kizzi Walker.

About Cherokee Bluff: The Bears placed four girls on the all-Region 8 team – Claire Carlson, Bristol Kersh, Audrey Graham and Brooklyn Phillips. Kersh hit the game-winning basket at the buzzer to beat Jenkins in the semifinal. The Bluff lost two regular-season games to Jefferson, but came back to beat the Dragons in the region tournament.

About Baldwin: The Braves are led by Janaye Walker, the Region 4 co-player of the year. Walker, a 6-2 senior, averages 15.8 points, 14.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.4 blocks. Walker is a particular force on the boards and set a school record with 30 in the semifinal win over Fayette County. Kassidy Neal was voted the region co-defensive player of the year, but leads the team in scoring (16.5 points) and averages 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.2 steals. Other top players are first-team all-region selection Suri Clark (10.9 points, 7.6 rebounds) and second-team choices Zuri Grant and Trinia Lawrence.

Past championships: Baldwin has won four state championships (1986-88, 2024). Cherokee Bluff has never won a state title.

 

Class 2A: Murray County vs. Hardaway

When: Thursday, 1 p.m.

Records/rankings: Murray County (30-1), is ranked No. 3, No. 1 tournament seed; Hardaway (25-6) is ranked No. 4, No. 3 tournament seed.  

Coaches: Murray County – Chris Tipton; Hardaway – Kelly Ellison.

Murray County: Junior Callan Ledford was the Region 7 co-player of the year. Others named to the first-team all-region squad were freshman Bayleigh Winkler and Blaklee Ledford, with Emma Blaylock and Hadley Dotson named honorable mention. Ledford scored 21 and Winkler scored 17 in the semifinal victory over Morgan County that put the Indians in the title game for the first time since 1966.

Hardaway: Sophomore Rhianna Boynton, who averages 17.5 points and 11.8 rebounds, was named the Region 1 Player of the Year. Akilah Shelton, a senior who averages 11.4 points and 9.1rebounds, was voted the region’s defensive player of the year. Others named to the all-region team were Mikayla Johnson (17.1 points, 6.7 rebounds) and Adazha Burrell (7.3 points, 6.3 assists)  and Mikhia Mims was an honorable mention selection.

Past championships: Murray County won its only state championship in 1965. Hardaway has never won a state title.

 

Class A Division I: Fannin County vs. Banks County

When: Saturday, 11 a.m.

Records/rankings: Fannin County (28-2), ranked No. 2, No. 1 tournament seed. Banks County (25-5), ranked No. 1, No. 2 tournament seed.

Coaches: Fannin County – Ryan Chastain; Banks County – Jason Gibson.

About Fannin County: Reese Lewis, a junior center, was named the Region 7 Player of the Year. First-team all-region selections were Maggie Ledford and Izzie Jabaley, with Emma Buchanan a second team choice and Avi Ethington an honorable mention pick. The Rebels advanced to the championship game for the first since 2021. Fannin County has won 19 straight games.

About Banks County: The Leopards overcame some early season struggles and have won 22 straight. They are led by Reese Murphy, the Region 8 co-player of the year.  She stole an inbound pass and scored to send the semifinal game against Model, erasing a five-point deficit with 40 seconds left to send the game into overtime.  Her twin sister, Ryleigh Murphy, and defensive ace Ansley Moore were also named to the all-region team.  Marleigh Dale and Janakate Gibson were honorable mention selections. Banks County was the state runner-up two years ago.

Past championships: Fannin County has won two state championship – 1993 and 1999. Banks County has never won a state title.

 

Class A Division II: Wilcox County vs. Washington-Wilkes

When: Friday, 1 p.m.

Records/rankings: Wilcox County (27-1), ranked No. 1, No. 1 seed from Region 4; Washington-Wilkes (14-8), is unranked and the No. 1 seed from Region8.

Coaches: Wilcox County – Santita Coon; Washington-Wilkes – Angel Heard.

About Wilcox County: The Patriots are led by Zariah Martin, a junior who was named the Region 4 Player of the Year. She averages 14.6 points, 4.1 assists and 5.6 steals. Tyliah Benjamin, who averages 14 points, 14.9 rebounds and 3.6 blocks, was the region’s defensive player of the year. Other top players include first-team all-region selection Shamauri Martin (13.4 points, 3.3 assists, 4.5 steals) and second-team selections Carly Miller (the team’s only senior), Aubrey McKinney and Lezlee Roberts (6.4 rebounds). The Patriots have won 26 straight since losing the Class 5A Lee County in the second game of the season.

About Washington-Wilkes: The Tigers turned their season around after opening with six straight losses. Top players are first-team all-region selections Lanaysia Crew (11.3 points) and Samaria Young (10.8 points, 8.0 rebounds). Crew is the only senior on the team. Other top players include Myasia Lewis (10.5 points, 5.7 rebounds) and defensive stalwarts Bugg Porter (6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 steals) and Zion Bankston (5.9 points, 4.7 rebounds). Hard to believe, but Washington-Wilkes had not won a state playoff game until this season.

Past championships: Neither team has won a state championship.

 

Private: Hebron Christian vs. Holy Innocents’

When: Wednesday, 1 p.m.

Records/rankings: Hebron Christian (29-1), ranked No.1, No. 1 tournament seed; Holy Innocents’ (24-5), ranked No. 3, No. 3 tournament seed.

Coaches: Hebron Christian – Jan Azar; Holy Innocents’ – Nichole Dixon.

Hebron Christian: The Lions bring a 19-game winning streak into the championship game. Hebron is led by Region 8-2A Player of the Year Ja’Kerra Butler, a senior who has signed with Auburn, recently set the school’s career scoring record. Others named to the all-region team were Danielle Osho, Mia James, Alanna Beckham and Camryn Register.

Holy Innocents’: The Bears are led by Region 5-AA co-Player of the Year Hailee Swain, a 5-foot-10 point guard who has committed to Stanford. Swain, a five-star prospect, scored 23 in the semifinal showdown with St. Francis. Other all-region selections on the team are Nakhai Worthy, Loriel Murray and Makayla Weaver.

Past championships: Holy Innocents’ has won four state championships – 1999, 2016, 2019-20. Hebron Christian has won three titles – 2021, 2023-24.