Wheeler Wildcats

Record/ranking: 26-6. No. 1 seed from Region 5, ranked No. 1

Coach: Larry Thompson

Top players: Isaiah Collier, Arrinten Page, Ricky McKenzie. Collier and Page have both signed with Southern Cal. Page and Harris each scored 18 points to turn aside Grayson in the semifinal round.

How they got there: def. Milton 81-64, def. North Gwinnett 74-49, def. McEachern 79-71, def. Grayson 63-55.

Previous championships: Eight – 1994, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2020. 2021

 

Cherokee Warriors

Record/ranking:  25-6, No. 2 seed from Region 5, ranked No. 8

Coach: Joe Veihman

Top players: Braylin Giddens, Tayden Owens, Cameron Pope, Destin Hart. Gidden scored 19 points, 10 in the third quarter, to spark the semifinal win.

How they got there: def. West Forsyth 59-45, def. Berkmar 73-68, def. Carrollton 70-66, def. Norcross 63-60 OT.

Previous championships: None

Game notes: This will be the fourth meeting of the season between the two region rivals. Wheeler has won all three – 69-60, 73-60 during the regular season and 94-41 in the region championship game. … Cherokee is making its first appearance in the championship game since 1982.