Power poll: Jan. 20

GEORGIAHOOPS

Top 20 Power Poll – Jan. 20, 2008

Two teams dropped out of the power poll (Douglass and Mundy's Mill) while two new faces join the race.

1. Wheeler (15-2)
Notable victories: McEachern 87-78, Centennial 93-64, Walton 81-72, Bishop O'Connell (Va.) 76-70, Boys & Girls (N.Y.) 77-75

Notable losses: Findlay Prep (Nev.) 54-68, Duncanville (Texas) 57-69
This week's schedule: Jan. 21 vs. Miller Grove at Centennial, Jan. 22 at Walton, Jan. 25 at Kell
Last rank: 1
Notes: The Wildcats had a scare from Sprayberry on Friday night as former Wheeler assistant Marc Carver returned to Doug Lipscomb Gymnasium. Wheeler won 85-79 as Richard Howell scored 26 while Dequan Jones added 18.

2. Columbia (17-1)
Notable victories: Antioch (TN) 85-62, Miller Grove 82-64, Mays 56-54, LaSalle (Ohio) 65-62, Stone Mountain 70-61, Miller Grove 61-59, Tucker 66-60,

Notable loss: Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) 38-43
This week's schedule: Jan. 21 vs. McEachern at Centennial, Jan. 22 at Cedar Grove, Jan. 25 vs. Lakeside Dekalb
Last rank: 2
Notes:: A six-point win over region rival Tucker on Tuesday highlighted the week's action for the Eagles. The AAAA powerhouse has yet to lose to a state foe this year and the region schedule is mighty light this week for Phil McCrary's club. Monday's game against McEachern will be exciting.

3. Norcross (15-1)
Notable victories: Collins Hill 76-43, Peachtree Ridge 70-37, Westlake Prep (Fla.) 81-44, Westlake 62-57, Helen Cox (La.) 59-48, Collins Hill 65-54

Notable loss: Kathleen (Fla.) 45-51
This week's schedule: Jan. 22 vs. Peachtree Ridge, Jan. 25 at South Forsyth, Jan. 26 at Mill Creek
Last rank: 3
Notes: The Prime Time Shootout was cancelled unfortunately this week and because of that, the highly anticipated match-up between the Blue Devils and Dillard (Fla.) never happened. Collins Hill gave the Blue Devils a run for their money from Collins Hill in an 11-point win on Tuesday. The margin of victory tied the second closest game this season against Norcross. North Gwinnett also came within 11 of winning. Needless to say , Norcross is rolling.

4. Westlake (16-2)
Notable victories: Creekside 76-61, Fayette County 65-59, IMG (Fla.) 60-55, Riverdale 53-52, Wenonah (Ala.) 45-43, Creekside 79-59

Notable losses: Neumann-Goretti (Pa.) 58-65, Norcross 57-62
This week's schedule: Jan. 22 at Northgate, Jan. 25 vs. Fayette County
Last rank: 4
Notes: No games last week due to the cancellation of the Prime Time Shootout. Friday's game against Fayette County will be a packed house at Westlake.

5. South Atlanta (17-1)
Notable victories: Douglass 83-68, Jeanette (Pa.) 96-57, Lincoln (N.Y.), Southside 85-55, Booker T. Washington (Va.) 90-46, Campbell Hall (Calif.) 78-77 (2 OT)

Notable loss: St. Benedicts (N.J.) 43-57
This week's schedule: Jan. 25 at Clarkston, Jan. 26 vs. North Atlanta (at Price MS)

Last rank: 6

Notes: The Hornets traveled to Los Angeles and gave the SoCal hoop heads a show to remember. Derrick Favors, the state's top player regardless of class, scored 32 points and grabbed 29 rebounds in a 78-77 double overtime win at Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA Favors is our clear cut leader for Mr. Georgia Basketball this season and continues to shine on the biggest stage possible.

6. Savannah (16-0)
Notable victories: Liberty County 88-82 OT, Beach 65-50, Windsor Forest 89-78, Richmond Academy 72-53, Savannah Johnson 89-75, Jonesboro 61-45, Irmo (S.C.) 62-38, Tallahassee Lincoln (Fla.) 87-67, Bradwell Institute 76-69 (OT)
This week's schedule: Jan. 25 at Savannah Johnson, Jan. 26 at Mundy's Mill
Last rank: 5
Notes: This week's two-game schedule might be the toughest all year for the Blue Jackets. A game on the road at region foe Johnson on Friday and the day after, the team makes it's annual trip to Atlanta for a non-region game. This one comes against Mundy's Mill. Both games are big ones and Savannah will be challenged.

7. Dunwoody (14-3)
Notable victories: Rome 67-65, Chamblee 78-72 (OT), Scott County (Ky.) 86-65, Jackson (Fla.) 85-61, Lee (Fla.) 78-59, Chamblee 75-50
Notable loss: Blessed Trinity 68-73, Pace (Fla.) 67-72, Bishop O'Connell (Va.) 67-69
This week's schedule: Jan. 22 at Druid Hills, Jan. 25 vs. Grady, Jan. 26 at Meadowcreek

Last rank: 7
Notes: The Wildcats are turning the corner and look like a very dangerous team right now. The team was a victim to the Prime Time cancellation. In fact, Dunwoody is playing as strong as any team in the state right now and the schedule is favorable for a clean sweep to Feb. 5 when they travel to Blessed Trinity.

8. Miller Grove (14-3)
Notable victories: Redan 51-50, Tucker 70-62, Wesleyan 53-51, Stone Mountain 83-81, Jeannette (Pa.) 76-65

Notable losses: Columbia 64-82, Archbishop Moeller (Ohio) 48-51 (OT), Columbia 59-61
This week's schedule: Jan. 21 vs. Wheeler at Centennial, Jan. 22 vs. Ston Mountain, Jan. 25 at St. Pius, Jan. 26 at Redan

Last rank: 8
Notes: Miller Grove has kept games close all season long and this week's schedule is a tough one as the Wolverines play three state playoff teams this week in a four games in six days set.

9. Randolph Clay (19-0)

Notable victories: Eufaula (Ala.) 90-75, Terrell Count 84-79, Eufaula (Ala.) 91-69, Terrell County 74-54, Wilkinson County 79-73
This week's schedule: Jan. 25 vs. Cook County, Jan. 26 at Albany

Last rank: 9

Notes: Another week, another pair of blow out wins. The Red Devils continue to steam roll through Southeast Georgia with lop-sided victory against under-matched opponents. This week's opponents dropped the previous match-ups by an average of 45 points.

10. Blessed Trinity (17-0)
Notable victories: Dunwoody 73-68; Marietta 50-35, Chamblee 75-68
This week's schedule: Jan. 22 vs. Chamblee, Jan. 25 at North Atlanta, Jan. 26 at Therrell

Last rank: 10
Notes: Keep an eye on the Chamblee game on Tuesday. Blessed Trinity won the first match-up 75-68 while Chamblee is coming off the first two-game losing streak all season. Emotions will be running high as both programs are looking for a big region win. It is one of the week.

11. Centennial (13-3)
Notable victories: Whitefield Academy 51-43, Craigmont (Tenn.) 81-79 (OT), La Cueva (N.M.) 64-63, Rose Hill Academy (Ky.) 55-53, Northview 57-55

Notable losses: Wheeler 64-93, Lone Peak (Utah) 57-75, Mason County (Ky.) 57-81

This week's schedule: Jan. 21 vs. Marietta, Jan. 22 vs. Milton, Jan. 25 at Alpharetta, Jan. 26 at Lassiter

Last rank: 11

12. Lithia Springs (17-1)

Notable victories: Villa Rica 88-80, Alexander 85-67, Newnan 74-58, Pebblebrook 58-55, Hiram 93-74, Decatur 55-54 (OT), Woodland 81-52, Alexander 68-51

Notable loss: Spartanburg 72-73 (OT)

This week's schedule: Jan. 22 vs. Cherokee, Jan. 25 vs. Pebblebrook, Jan. 26 vs. Dougals County

Last rank: 12

13. Jordan (18-0)
Notable victories: Shaw 71-69, Northside 74-69
This week's schedule: Jan. 22 vs. Shaw, Jan. 25 vs. Hardaway, Jan. 26 at Columbus Northside
Last rank: 13

14. Marietta (15-2)

Notable victories: Campbell 56-45, Harrison 59-53, Kansas City Ruskin (Mo.) 60-55, San Diego (Calif.) 58-46, McEachern 74-58,

Notable losses: Blessed Trinity 35-50, Whitefield Academy 54-66

This week's schedule: Jan. 21 at Centennial, Jan. 22 at Etowah, Jan. 25 vs. Woodstock

Last rank: 14

15. Glenn Hills (15-2)

Notable victories: Josey 64-53, Richmond Academy 75-60, Laney 67-52, Laney 69-52, Washington County 43-40 (OT)

Notable losses: North Augusta (S.C.) 47-49, Craigmont (Tenn.) 58-59

This week's schedule: Jan. 22 at Thomson, Jan. 25 vs. Cross Creek, Jan. 26 at Richmond Academy

Last rank: NR

16. Wesleyan (14-2)
Notable victories: Collins Hill 72-52, Dacula 55-48, Collins Hill 72-52
Notable losses: Christ School (N.C.) 72-74, Miller Grove 51-53
This week's schedule: Jan. 21 vs. Tucker at Centennial, Jan. 22 vs. Decatur, Jan. 25 at Avondale
Last rank: 18

17. Hancock Central (16-1)

Notable victories: Washington County 45-41, Washington County 50-37

Notable loss: Wilkinson County 52-64

This week's schedule: Jan. 21 vs. Greenforest Christian at Ben Hill, Jan. 22 at Monticello, Jan. 26 vs. Warren County

Last rank: 19

18. Appling County (16-1)

Notable victories: Bacon County 66-52, Bacon County 51-36, Long County 69-67 (OT),

Notable loss: Worth County 55-56

This week's schedule: Jan. 22 vs. Brantley County, Jan. 25 vs. McIntosh County Academy, Jan. 26 at Toombs County

Last rank: 20

19. Dacula (17-1)

Notable victories: Parkview 71-55, Annadale (Va.) 64-44, Greater Atlanta Christian 62-49, Loganville 64-60

Notable loss: Wesleyan 48-55

This week's schedule:

Last rank: NR

20. East Laurens (16-1)

Notable victories: Montgomery County 96-85

Notable loss: West Laurens 77-79

This week's schedule: Jan. 22 vs. Vidalia, Jan. 25 at Toombs

Last rank: NR