AugBball area basketball review - 3/1/17

I only occasionally update this blog. The @AugBball Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram timelines feature an exhaustive, running account - including highlights, updates, and stories - about  almost everything related to this area's hoops scene. So after catching up with the current state of affairs as described in this post, make sure you are following @AugBball on those social media pages so you won't miss the best stuff!

Augusta is presented its PBC East Division banner before the game. pic.twitter.com/SOEqYxduC9

— David Lee (@DavidLeeAC) February 25, 2017

Area College Hoops Review

Augusta University followed its Peach Belt Conference regular season championship run with an explosive outing Saturday against Montevallo in the opening round of the conference tournament, topping the Falcons 107-99 at home to advance to this Saturday’s semifinal round against Columbus State at Lander University. Keshun Sherrill once again made an incredible 9 of 13 field goal attempts, including 4 of 6 from three point land, on his way to a game high 29 points. Deane Williams added 19 points, and Aaron Byrd tossed in a career high 18. The Jaguars sport an overall 23-6 record and have locked up a spot in the coming NCAA Division II tournament. But a conference tournament championship is the immediate goal for coach Dip Metress’s squad.

Laney graduate Christian Keeling of Charleston Southern was denied the Big South’s Freshman of the Year award this week despite having won the freshman of the week award 7 times this season after averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds and being the only rookie in the nation to lead his team in those two categories. But Keeling has the right thing on his mind, and that is not off the court awards:

“You forgot the win. That’s the most important stat I wanted,” Keeling said after CSU’s 79-74 win over Longwood Tuesday when reporters asked him about his 29 point, 11 rebound explosion in the first round of the conference tournament. Keeling’s Bucs face the conference’s top seed, Winthrop, Thursday in the next round.

@CSU_Mbball making noise! @BasktballPower leading the way. 2nd Round Bound. Just a few shots w/ Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth pic.twitter.com/SZe3yVnx0E

— Brandon A. Baylor (@BBaylorWCBD) March 1, 2017

Elsewhere in college hoops, Matt Miller, who starred on Augusta’s home school high school team, finished his four year run at USMMA as the school’s eighth all time leading scorer with over 1,400 points. He was named to the Skyline Conference’s second team all conference unit after averaging 19.5 points, which was third in the league, and leading the league in free throw percentage.



Finally Ahmed Hill, a sophomore at Virginia Tech and a graduate of Aquinas, is averaging 12 points per game for the Hokies, who have won 5 of their last 6 games in the ACC, the nation’s most competitive conference.

Three area high school girls teams are scorching their ways through the state playoffs. North Augusta, Laney, and Cross Creek have coasted through the post season so far.

North Augusta will face Wilson in Columbia Saturday in the South Carolina class AAAA state championship game after topping Greenville 67-53, in Greenville, in the semifinal game last Saturday. Amari Young scored 26 points and Kiara Jackson added 18 in that win. The Lady Yellow Jackets are seeking not only a state title, but a perfect season as well as they enter Saturday’s game with a 27-0 record that includes a win over Laney and two over Cross Creek.

Laney has looked every bit as dominant in its march to Saturday’s class AA final four matchup with Model. The Lady Wildcats topped Heard County 85-30 Tuesday on the road as De’sha Benjamin led the way with 28 points. The Wildcats’ lone loss this season came to North Augusta on the second day of the season when Benjamin didn’t play. No team has come within 10 points of the Wildcats since her return.



Cross Creek blitzed Henry County 76-52 Tuesday at home in the quarterfinal round of the class AAAA playoffs. Alana Davis, who has signed with Memphis, scored 17 points; KymMya Thomas added 15 and Kianni Westbrook 14 in the win. The Lady Razorbacks face Carver Saturday in the semifinals. The game will be played at Augusta University at 6:00 P.M.



Five area boys teams are competing in the final rounds of their respective state playoff brackets. Laney hosts Dublin Wednesday in the elite 8 round of the class AA playoffs. The Wildcats topped Hapeville Charter last Thursday 72-59 at home in the sweet sixteen round. Fellow class AA squad Josey travels to Early County after picking up a win at Banks County last week.



Aquinas will face Saint Francis at home Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the class A private school bracket after topping Stratford 40-34 last week. Tre Gomillion led the way with 13 points and Trent Bowdre dropped 3 third quarter three pointers to propel the Fighting Irish to victory in that game.



After winning on the road in their first two playoff games, class AAAA’s Thomson will travel to undefeated Upson-Lee to try to keep its playoff streak alive. And Westminster will face Holy Spirit Friday in the semifinal round of the GISA class AAA playoffs.

AugBball area basketball review - 2/22/17

I only occasionally update this blog. The @AugBball Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram timelines feature an exhaustive, running account - including highlights, updates, and stories - about  almost everything related to this area's hoops scene. So after catching up with the current state of affairs as described in this post, make sure you are following @AugBball on those social media pages so you won't miss the best stuff!

This week's most exciting matchup has to be Wednesday's rivalry game in South Carolina when USC Aiken hosts long time rival Augusta University in a double header with all kinds of implications for the post season.

Augusta's men lead Aiken's by a single game at the top of the Peach Belt Conference standings. Ever since the first day of 2017, the two rivals have been either tied or separated by one game in the standings. Depending on the results of this game and others throughout the conference Wednesday, both teams can finish as high as first or as low as third in the final standings. Only the top two teams get a chance to play their first round PBC tournament game Saturday at home.

Augusta is fresh off an 82-66 win Saturday in the final home game of the regular season. Senior two time All American Keshun Sherrill scored 29 points to lead all scorers right after he was honored prior to the game. 2,300 fans packed Christenberry Fieldhouse to send off Augusta's second all time leading scorer.

The women's game is even more urgent as the winner will claim the fourth spot in the Peach Belt Conference East division. The loser's season will end.

Moving on to the topic of the high school state playoffs while staying with the South Carolina side of the area, Aiken High suffered a heart breaking loss Tuesday on the road at Eastside in the third round of the playoffs. Facing a 12 point deficit with 90 seconds remaining, Kevin Williamson (12 points) and Jordan Lytes (10) led a furious comeback. And Nazae Baltimore had a chance to send the game into overtime with a layup with one second remaining but his shot was blocked as the buzzer sounded and the Hornets' story book season ended with a 55-53 loss. Before Tuesday Aiken hadn't lost since December 13. The Hornets posted a 23-5 record one season after winning only 6 games.

Speaking of story book seasons, North Augusta's Lady Yellow Jackets extended their season long undefeated streak to 27 Monday with a 63-33 third round state playoff win over Richland Northeast. Mya Burns scored 25 points and Amari Young scored 18 to lead the way. The Jackets play Greenville Friday in the semifinal round of the state playoffs.

Now let's move on to Georgia, where the sweet sixteen round of the state playoffs is set to begin. A handful of girls teams continue to shine as #1 seeds Cross Creek and Grovetown host games Wednesday and Laney does Thursday.

Cross Creek sports a 24-5 record after topping Americus-Sumter 59-51 in Friday's first round. Grovetown advanced with a 59-48 win over Coffee County and the Lady Warriors host Chattahoochee. Laney, whose dominance has been matched in the area only by North Augusta's, plays host to Douglass. The Lady Wildcats are 27-1, and they have won all 25 games by 10 or more points since returning Augusta Chronicle Player of the Year De'Sha Benjamin rejoined the team. Laney's most recent victim was Swainsboro, who the Wildcats topped 70-44 in the first round.

The 1 seeds aren't the only teams in action. Richmond, Greenbrier and Aquinas all hit the road Wednesday for round two as well.

The boys teams in action Thursday include 3 class AA teams: Laney, which hosts Hapeville Charter, and Butler and Josey, which travel to South Atlanta and Banks County, respectively.

Laney shot past Bacon County in the first round behind 15 points from senior Tahj Tanksley. Butler blitzed Jefferson Davis 87-66. Junior Keith Littles scored 25 points in that contest. And Josey went on the road to topple Metter and advance with a 57-36 win.

Aquinas hosts Stratford Thursday. The Fighting Irish received a bye into the class A private school playoffs sweet sixteen round by way of their region championship, which capped a stunning 25-1 run through the regular season in which coach Darren Douglas's team won their games by an average of 30 points!

Lincoln County will host Truetlen in the second round of the class A public school playoffs Thursday. The Red Devils sport an 18-6 record.

The boys teams traveling for second round games include Richmond Academy, which will face LaGrange, and Thomson. The Bulldogs are headed to Blessed Trinity.

Independent schools Westminster, Augusta Prep and Alleluia are all in the early stages of their state tournament action as well.

I'll finish with a few notes about some individual accomplishments:

Augusta Christian's super sophomore Nate Dunlop, who averaged over 26 points per game this season, passed the 1,000 point barrier in his team's final game last week. Westminster senior Jelani Watson-Gayle also recently passed that mark after only two seasons of play.

Alleluia's Ben Dresser, the area's leading scorer at over 30 points per game, recently passed 2,000 career points. 

And in the college ranks...

Christian Keeling, a freshman at Charleston Southern who starred at Laney in high school, made the game winning free throw in his team's win over High Point Saturday. Keeling was then awarded the Big South Freshman of the Week award for the SIXTH TIME!

Ahmed Hill, who stars at Virginia Tech now and before that excelled at Aquinas, scored 12 points in the Hokies' 71-70 win over Clemson Tuesday.

And Matt Miller, a former GAIS Eagle homeschool high school standout from our area, recently played his final game at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Miller averaged 20 points this season, finishing a remarkable career in which he scored more than 1400 points and became the school's 8th all time leading scorer.