If you look at a map of the state of Georgia, Macon is not hard to find. The home of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame sits right in the middle of the state. That’s easy to see. It’s getting there that often proves to be a problem, especially at state tournament time.
The survivors are the teams that have managed to make it to GHSA Championship Week in Macon. Over the next three days 15 state champions will be crowned and you can see it all on GPB and at gpb.org/sports. It all gets started today with a school that has a chance to play for a sweep of both boys and girls championships. In recent years we have seen it done by schools like Columbia, Wesleyan, Miller Grove, and Norcross.
This year Carrollton and St. Francis will try to pull off rare double titles. Carrollton will be in action on day one. I know a bit about this school and the town, being a graduate of the University of West Georgia. I know all about the pride that this community has in it’s high school sports programs, and the great expectations that are always there for the Trojans in any sport.
Coached by former West Georgia star Tim Criswell,The Carrollton Boys bring a 29-2 mark to Macon. The 29 wins are the best in school history. They will face defending state champion Jonesboro. Coach Dan Maehlman’s Cardinals are 31-1 and are currently on a 30 game win streak not to mention being ranked 10th nationally. Carrollton meets Jonesboro in the Boys AAAA final tonight at 8:45.
The task will be no easier for the Carrollton Girls who bring a 24-7 record and a region title to Macon. Coach Shon Thomaston is a local product who returned home and has stayed, coaching the Carrollton girls for 17 years with a state title in 2009. Standing in the way is a foe that Thomaston knows all too well, Coach Gene Durden and the Buford Lady Wolves. At 29-3, Buford ousted two time state champion St Pius in the quarterfinal round. Carrollton and Buford will tangle for the Girls AAAA Championship tonight at 7pm
The Boys A Public final features a pair of teams that have been waiting a few years since their last state title victories. For Calhoun County, the wait has been since 1997. Marcus Shaw guides a squad has followed up last year’s Final Four appearance with a 29-2 mark that includes a 19 game win streak.They will face a Greenville program that last won a state title in 1992.Coach Walter Jackson’s team brings a 28-2 record and a swarming defense to Macon. Calhoun County meets Greenville in the Boys A Public Final today at 4:45pm.
Opening Day of Championship Week will begin with a match up between 2 teams that bring a combined record of 58-2 to Macon. Tasha Kimble’s Turner County crew is sporting a record of 28-2. That was the record the Lady Rebels posted in 2000 when they lost in the championship game to Savannah Country Day . Matt Troutman has been Head Coach at Taylor County for 36 years, winning 5 state titles. The most recent title was in 2003.This year’s Lady Vikings team is a perfect 30-0.The Girls A Public final between Taylor County and Turner County will kick off Championship Thursday at 3pm. I will be joining Tommy Palmer to describe the action of the first game of Championship Week on GPB and on gpb.org/sports, so be sure to join us.
