Power poll - Ranking the top 20 teams in GA

GEORGIAHOOPS

Top 20 Power Poll – Feb. 3, 2008

1. Wheeler (22-2)
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: Feb. 5 vs. Northview
Last rank: 1
Notes: A trio of wins against much lesser competition highlighted last week's schedule last week. No one came close to the state's best team. The Wildcats are one win away from a perfect season against Georgia foes this year. The team's balance is shining through down the home stretch. Junior forward Richard Howell has been consistently strong this entire season and over the last three games, the 6-7 big man was the team's top performer.

2. Norcross (21-2)
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, Veritas (N.C.) 65-41
Notable loss: Kathleen (Fla.) 45-51, Oak Hill (Va.) 65-68
This week's schedule: Feb. 8 vs. Duluth
Last rank: 2
Notes: The Blue Devils traveled to West Virginia for the Coal Classic and came away with two wins and a three-point loss to Oak Hill Academy. The Blue Devils had a monster game from the top senior in the state Al-Farouq Aminu. The Wake Forest bound forward scored 35 points and 11 rebounds in the defeat. Defensively, there isn't a better top flight team in Georgia right now.

3. Columbia (21-2)
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, Stone Mountain 81-58
Notable losses: Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) 38-43, McEachern 69-79
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 at St. Pius, Feb. 8 at Marist
Last rank: 3
Notes:: After a surprising loss to non-region foe McEachern two weeks ago, the Lions responded with four convincing wins against region opponents. Undefeated in region play, Phil McCrary's club is aiming for a third straight year of a perfect record in 6-AAAA play.

4. Westlake (20-2)
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. 6 vs. Starr's Mill, Feb. 8 at McIntosh
Last rank: 4
Notes: The train continues to roll down the winning track for Westlake and Oklahoma bound wing Ray Willis is the team's conductor. The rangy senior averaged 28.5 points a game last week and continues to have one of the best seasons of any senior in the state.

5. South Atlanta (21-1)
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: Feb. 6 vs. Southside, Feb. 8 vs. Carver
Last rank: 5
Notes: The legend of Derrick Favors continues to grow. The 6-9 junior is having one of the most dominate seasons Georgia high school basketball has ever witnessed. The big man posted an amazing triple-double against lowly Therrell with 41 points, 25 rebounds and 14 blocked shots. The next night against McNair, Favors went for 21 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. The AAA classification might be the hardest to win this year and Favors is one of the reasons why.

6. Dunwoody (19-3)
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: Feb. 5 at Blessed Trinity, Feb. 8 vs. North Atlanta
Last rank: 6
Notes: There isn't a hotter team in the state since Jan. 1 than the Wildcats. In the team's 10 straight victories since returning home from the Beach Ball Classic, the margin of victory has been 32.6 points a game. A potential meeting with South Atlanta could happen in the 5-AAA region championship game is a strong possibility. s

7. Savannah (21-1)
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, Bradwell Institute 64-81, Groves 75-65, Beach 62-54
Notable loss: Mundy's Mill 69-71
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 at Jenkins, Feb. 8 at Camden County, Feb. 9 at Groves
Last rank: 7
Notes: The annual war at Savannah State between the Blue Jackets and Beach was a "circus" says coach Tim Jordan as the game was wild and frazzled but Savannah held on for the always-important city rivalry win. Guard play remains strong and the big question is can they close out the season on the upswing with three road games left to play in the regular season.

8. Jordan (23-0)
Notable victories: Shaw 71-69, Northside 74-69, Shaw 64-58, Northside 88-70
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 at Carver, Feb. 8 at Columbus
Last rank: 10
Notes: The unbeaten teams are shrinking by the week but the Red Jackets have been steadfast this season and withstood every test. Last Tuesday, Spencer gave the team a scare. Jordan won by two points and Tuesday's game against Carver could be tricky. Carver is playing good basketball at the moment.

9. Randolph Clay (23-0)
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: Feb. 8 vs. Early County.
Last rank: 8
Notes: Another week, another simple string of wins for the Red Devils. Randolph-Clay may be the least talked about undefeated team in the state. And that is probably perfectly fine for the AA powerhouse.

10. Blessed Trinity (22-1)
Notable victories: Dunwoody 73-68; Marietta 50-35, Chamblee 75-68, Chamblee 79-72, Druid Hills 52-48
Notable loss: Marist 55-61
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 vs. Dunwoody, Feb. 8 at Riverwood
Last rank: 9
Notes: The 22-game winning streak was snapped on Saturday as Marist, a team that could make some big noise in the post-season, beat the Titans. Blessed Trinity has another big test on Tuesday as Dunwoody makes its way to the Roswell school.

11. Marietta (21-2)
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: Feb. 5 at McEachern, Feb. 8 at Murray County
Last rank: 11

12. Miller Grove (19-4)
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: Feb. 5 vs. Marist, Feb. 8 vs. Mays (at Phillips Arena)
Last rank: 12

13. Glenn Hills (20-2)
Notable victories: Josey 64-53, Richmond Academy 75-60, Laney 67-52, Laney 69-52, Washington County 43-40 (OT), Thomson 76-64, Washington County 40-37,
Notable losses: North Augusta (S.C.) 47-49, Craigmont (Tenn.) 58-59
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 vs. Harlem
Last rank: 13

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, Northview 77-63
Notable losses: Wheeler 64-93, Lone Peak (Utah) 57-75, Mason County (Ky.) 57-81, Marietta 63-59
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 at Kell
Last rank: 14

15. Lithia Springs (22-2)
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: Feb. 5 at Sequoyah
Last rank: 15

16. Hancock Central (21-1)
Notable victories: Washington County 45-41, Washington County 50-37, Greenforest Christian 47-44, Wilkinson County 60-58
Notable loss: Wilkinson County 52-64
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 at Georgia Military, Feb. 9 at Twiggs County
Last rank: 16

17. Appling County (21-1)
Notable victories: Bacon County 66-52, Bacon County 51-36, Long County 69-67 (OT), Long County 69-67
Notable loss: Worth County 55-56
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 at Savannah Christian, Feb. 8 at Bacon County, Feb. 9 at Fitzgerald
Last rank: 17

18. East Laurens (21-1)
Notable victories: Montgomery County 96-85
Notable loss: West Laurens 77-79
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 at Vidalia, Feb. 8 vs. Toombs County, Feb. 9 vs. Tattnall County
Last rank: 19

19. Pebblebrook (21-2)
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: Feb. 5 at Cherokee
Last rank: 20

20. Wesleyan (17-4)
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, Greater Atlanta Christian 57-59
This week's schedule: Feb. 5 at Buford, Feb. 8 at Decatur, Feb. 9 at Greater Atlanta Christian
Last rank: 18