Georgia basketball playoffs: Don't bet against defending champions

GIRLS

MaxPreps Georgia girls basketball playoff brackets

AAAAA
Norcross, which began the year nationally ranked, is the defending champion and team to beat, though its two regular-season losses to North Gwinnett (Suwanee) are proof of vulnerability. Norcross' top player is Diamond Deshields, perhaps the county's No. 1 sophomore. North Gwinnett also has a top-flight sophomore in guard Lexie Brown, who has committed to Maryland. Bradwell Institute (Hinesville) is the only undefeated team in the classification, but the Tigers' most noteworthy victory was against a Class A team (Taylor County) that finished third in its region tournament. Other region champions are Campbell (Smyrna), Stephenson (Stone Mountain), Roswell, Brookwood (Snellville) and Etowah (Woodstock).

AAAA
The No. 1-ranked team after the regular season, Chamblee, was upset in the quarterfinals of the Region 8-AAAA tournament and failed to make state in a classification that is now anybody's guess. Also decked in Region 8 was Southwest DeKalb, the 2010 champion that will not defend. Redan (Stone Mountain), champion of Class AAAAA in 2008 and 2009 and runner-up in 2010, is the most proven program, though largely rebuilt from last season.  Douglas County (Douglasville) is unbeaten, but against a lesser schedule. Fayette County (Fayetteville) (25-3, won 14 consecutive games) and No. 4 Forest Park (22-5, undefeated against Georgia teams) are hot. Also watch for Chattahoochee (Alpharetta), which could be boosted by the return of Georgia-signee Erika Ford, out since December with a leg injury.

AAA
Defending champion Columbia (Decatur) (22-6) was probably the favorite until losing in its region final to St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta) on a buzzer-beating shot. No one would be surprised if Columbia wound up with the trophy again, but top-ranked Washington County (Sandersville) (27-0) has a player of the year candidate in sophomore Allisha Gray, and Dalton, led by Louisville-bound center Quaneisha McCurty, is 28-0 and seeking its first state title. Other region champions are Rutland (Macon), Drew (Atlanta), Dougherty (Albany), LaGrange and Franklin County (Carnesville).

AA
The brackets are aligned for a title match between Kendrick (Columbus) (27-0) and two-time defending champ Buford (24-3), but Kendrick must face Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross) – the team that beat Buford in the Region 6-AA final – in the quarterfinals to get there. Vidalia (27-0) also is in the Kendrick-GAC side of the draw. Also look out for Laney (Augusta) (26-1) and Thomasville (23-2). Despite its loss in the region playoffs, Buford still might be the favorite. Its top players are junior Andraya Carter and sophomore Kaela Davis, who have committed to Tennessee.

A
Wesleyan (Norcross) (26-2) has won state titles in seven of the past nine seasons, and the latest team is potentially Georgia's best in any classification. Its losses are to Norcross and Spring Valley, the top-ranked team in South Carolina. Wesleyan has beaten North Gwinnett, which beat Norcross twice. Wesleyan's top players are Holli Wilkins (daughter of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins) and 1,000-point scorer Grace Leah Baughn. An average margin of victory of 20 points per game through the state tournament would not be surprising. Teams that could put up a good fight are Taylor County (Butler), Bryan County (Pembroke), Southwest Atlanta Christian (Atlanta) and St. Francis (Alpharetta).