Power poll - Ranking the top 20 teams in GA

GEORGIAHOOPS

Top 20 Power Poll – Jan. 28, 2008

1. Wheeler (18-2)
Notable victories: McEachern 87-78, Centennial 93-64, Bishop O'Connell (Va.) 76-70, Boys & Girls (N.Y.) 77-75, Miller Grove 82-77, Word of God (N.C.) 98-84
Notable losses: Findlay Prep (Nev.) 54-68, Duncanville (Texas) 57-69
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 vs. Pope, Feb. 1 vs. Lassiter, Feb. 2 at Roswell
Last rank: 1
Notes: It was a busy week for the Wildcats, playing four games in six days, including one in Raleigh, N.C. against Word of God, a nationally-ranked opponent. The Wildcats are playing big time basketball of late and scoring points like there is no tomorrow. Junior Ari Stewart had 34 points in North Carolina while Dequan Jones is throwing down some incredible dunks this year. Need proof? Click HERE. Sophomore Phil Taylor and Richard Howell were the anchors in the big win over Miller Grove last Monday.

2. Norcross (18-1)
Notable victories: Collins Hill 76-43, South Forsyth 77-30, Westlake Prep (Fla.) 81-44, Westlake 62-57, Helen Cox (La.) 59-48, Collins Hill 65-54, South Forsyth 61-47
Notable loss: Kathleen (Fla.) 45-51
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 at North Forsyth, Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at Mountain State Coal Classic in Beckley, W.V.
Last rank: 3
Notes: The Blue Devils continue to climb up the power poll as other top teams drop in-state games. Norcross has two in-state games remaining on the regular season schedule. It looks like the team will go undefeated against state foes in the regular season for the second straight year. There is a strong chance that Norcross will win the Coal Classic this week in West Virginia, too.

3. Columbia (19-2)
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 losses: Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) 38-43, McEachern 69-79
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 at Stone Mountain, Feb. 1 vs. Washington
Last rank: 2
Notes:: For the first time in two and a half years, Columbia lost to a non-region foe. McEachern bested the top team in AAAA on Monday. The Eagles may have needed that wake-up call as the region tournament will certainly be a major test. Don't write the team off yet. We haven't. Columbia has the tools to win a state championship.

4. Westlake (18-2)
Notable victories: Creekside 76-61, Fayette County 65-59, IMG (Fla.) 60-55, Riverdale 53-52, Wenonah (Ala.) 45-43, Creekside 79-59, Fayette County 64-59
Notable losses: Neumann-Goretti (Pa.) 58-65, Norcross 57-62
This week's schedule: Feb. 1 vs. Whitewater, Feb. 2 at Banneker
Last rank: 4
Notes: Ray Willis, a serious contender for AAAA Player of the Year, scored a team high 23 points in a big region win over Fayette County last Friday. The win help break the gap open for the No. 1 seed in the Region 2-AAAA tournament, too. The only in-state foe Westlake lost to was Norcross in Florida. The remaining four games are very winnable for the Lions.

5. South Atlanta (19-1)
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: 5
Notes: The average margin of victory for the Hornets was 54 points this week for the AAA powerhouse. Derrick Favors averaged a triple double, putting up 57 points, 42 rebounds and 24 blocks over the two game stretch. He is our Mr. Georgia Basketball selection going into February. No one has a bigger impact on the game than the 6-9 junior.

6. Dunwoody (17-3)
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, Druid Hills 77-54, Meadowcreek 91-66
Notable loss: Blessed Trinity 68-73, Pace (Fla.) 67-72, Bishop O'Connell (Va.) 67-69
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 at Riverwood, Feb. 1 vs. Westminster
Last rank: 7
Notes: The Wildcats are rolling. Since the New Year, Dunwoody is playing as good as any team in the state and look strong going down the home stretch. Chris Singleton recorded a monster triple-double against Meadowcreek, going for 17 points, 21 rebounds and 11 blocked shots. Delwan Graham went for 30 and 23, respectively, in the other two wins last week.

7. Savannah (17-1)
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), Savannah Johnson 55-52
Notable loss: Mundy's Mill 69-71
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 at Bradwell Institute, Feb. 1 vs. Groves, Feb. 2 vs. Beach (Civic Center)
Last rank: 6
Notes: The Blue Jackets saw their 17-game winning streaked was snapped on Saturday at Mundy's Mill a day after a big win over city and region rival Johnson. Kevin Williams and Norris Rumph continue to shine as the 1-2 punch. The loss should be an eye-opener for both Savannah and future opponents. Bigger teams could give them problems.

8. Randolph Clay (21-0)
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: The Red Devils continue to roll. A pair of region wins against Cook County and Albany highlighted last week's schedule. It looks like the regular season schedule could end in three more wins for the AA powerhouse.

9. Blessed Trinity (20-0)
Notable victories: Dunwoody 73-68; Marietta 50-35, Chamblee 75-68, Chamblee 79-72
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 at Druid Hills, Feb. 1 vs. Grady, Feb. 2 at Marist
Last rank: 10
Notes: Jordan Callahan and Arris Brundidge combined for 46 points in big win against Chamblee. For the last two years, the Titans are now sitting at a tremendous 42-6 record. That's saying something. The real test is still down the stretch for the Titans.

10. Jordan (21-0)
Notable victories: Shaw 71-69, Northside 74-69, Shaw 64-58, Northside 88-70
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 at Spencer, Feb. 1 vs. Troup
Last rank: 13
Notes: The Red Jackets can't be slept on any longer by us. The defending AAA state champions are a great team with star power in Terrence Hill, Steve Peterson and Winfred Ivey. The team is quick, great in the open floor and a very well oiled and disciplined team that is clearly the best team in Columbus. Jordan has dismantled it's opponents this year and one of the legit powers in the Peach State this year.

11. Marietta (18-2)
Notable victories: Campbell 56-45, Harrison 59-53, Kansas City Ruskin (Mo.) 60-55, San Diego (Calif.) 58-46, McEachern 74-58, Centennial 63-59
Notable losses: Blessed Trinity 35-50, Whitefield Academy 54-66
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 vs. Harrison, Feb. 1 vs. Kennesaw Mountain, Feb. 2 vs. Campbell
Last rank: 14

12. Miller Grove (17-4)
Notable victories: Redan 51-50, Tucker 70-62, Wesleyan 53-51, Stone Mountain 83-81, Jeannette (Pa.) 76-65, Stone Mountain 65-46, Redan 57-47
Notable losses: Columbia 64-82, Archbishop Moeller (Ohio) 48-51 (OT), Columbia 59-61, Wheeler 77-82
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 vs. SW Dekalb, Feb. 1 at Cedar Grove
Last rank: 8

13. Glenn Hills (18-2)
Notable victories: Josey 64-53, Richmond Academy 75-60, Laney 67-52, Laney 69-52, Washington County 43-40 (OT), Thomson 76-64
Notable losses: North Augusta (S.C.) 47-49, Craigmont (Tenn.) 58-59
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 vs. Washington County, Feb. 1 at Butler
Last rank: 15

14. Centennial (16-4)
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, Marietta 63-59
This week's schedule: Jan. 28 vs. Milton, Jan. 29 vs. Chattahoochee, Feb. 1 vs. Northview, Feb. 2 vs. Sprayberry
Last rank: 11

15. Lithia Springs (19-2)
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, Cherokee 66-50
Notable loss: Spartanburg 72-73 (OT), Pebblebrook 65-77
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 vs. Hillgrove, Feb. 1 at Chapel Hill
Last rank: 12

16. Hancock Central (19-1)
Notable victories: Washington County 45-41, Washington County 50-37, Greenforest Christian 47-44
Notable loss: Wilkinson County 52-64
This week's schedule: Jan. 31 vs. Wilkinson County, Feb. 1 at Twiggs County, Feb. 2 at Greene County
Last rank: 17

17. Appling County (19-1)
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: Feb. 1 vs. Jeff Davis, Feb. 2 at Long County
Last rank: 18

18. Wesleyan (16-3)
Notable victories: Collins Hill 72-52, Dacula 55-48, Collins Hill 72-52, Decatur 62-41
Notable losses: Christ School (N.C.) 72-74, Miller Grove 51-53, Tucker 69-73
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 vs. Cross Keys, Feb. 1 vs. Greater Atlanta Christian
Last rank: 16

19. East Laurens (18-1)
Notable victories: Montgomery County 96-85
Notable loss: West Laurens 77-79
This week's schedule: Jan. 29 vs. Dublin, Feb. 1 at Dodge County, Feb. 2 vs. Bleckley County
Last rank: 20

20. Pebblebrook (19-2)
Notable victories: Jonesboro 72-50, Stephenson 87-84, Lithia Springs 77-65
Notable losses: Lithia Springs 55-58, Osborne 74-77
This week's schedule: Jan. 30 vs. Sequoyah, Feb. 1 at Alexander
Last rank: NR