State Playoffs Preview: Demons back in the driver’s seat, 5 teams on road to start postseason

The battle for a state title will begin Friday for a host of county basketball programs. The Georgia High School Association 4A, 5A and 6A state playoffs are opening following some expected and unexpected region tournament results from this past weekend. The Demons are back as number one seed, again. The Perry Lady Panthers found a way to turn their season around and will be playing postseason ball and the Northside Lady Eagles have a win-able first round game despite their recent skid. Let the state playoffs begin.

The Warner Robins Demons are once again the Region 1-5A following a 52-50 overtime victory over Veterans in the region tournament final Saturday night in Kathleen. The Demons (21-4 overall) have won seven consecutive region tournaments and will once again be hosting a first round state playoff game. This time however it will be different as the Demons will open their new gym just in time for a run to Macon.  The Warner Robins Demonettes (14-13) may not have been successful during the region tournament, losing to Veterans in the region tournament third-place game by 23 points, but they are back in the state tournament as well. The Warner Robins basketball programs will continue the school’s legacy of putting basketball teams in the playoffs year after year. “it’s a blessing to be able to win another region championship,” said Demons head coach and Warner Robins alum Jamaal Garman. “Now the focus shifts to a new season and we’re starting it off right with a great opponent, Jonesboro. I’m expecting a good game like it was a couple of weeks ago when we played them on the road.” 

The Demons and Jonesboro Cardinals played a thrilling overtime game, a 55-54 loss for Warner Robins, on Jan. 28 in the Cardinals’ new gym. The Demons will return the favor by inviting Jonesboro to be the first opponent on their new home court. Jonesboro senior guard Quinn Thomas, who scored 21 points and hit four first half threes during the earlier matchup, will be a player the Demons will have to keep an eye on. Demons  sophomore Jay King and junior Greg Jones scored a number of clutch baskets and made some late defensive stops during the game and will be key to a Demons victory. Jones was recently named to the All-region second team for his efforts this season. 

Veterans, having won 24 games this season, will also have the advantage of hosting their state playoff first round game against Fayette County Friday. The Warhawks (24-3) dominated the competition at home this season, winning 11 of their 12 on their home court. The Warhawks will come into the state playoffs following a tough loss in the region tournament finals but on the heels of one of the best games of the season for senior guard Rodney James, who led the team with 15 points. 

The same could be said for the Lady Warhawks (24-3 overall and 9-2 at home) but they will have to take their playoff basketball on the road to kick things off. Veterans’ semifinals loss to Bainbridge in the region tournament cost them a home opener and an equally as disappointing game at Griffin, the region 3 number two seed, to open the state playoffs Friday night. The Lady Warhawks will be coming into the playoffs on the heels of an impressive 61-38 victory over the Demonettes in the third-place game. This will be the last ride for seniors Stacie Jones, Keliyah Johnson, Tamia Luckey and Kaitlyn Shepherd, players that helped build what is now a program expected to make a run at a AAAAA state title. 

Perry and Warner Robins girls programs will also begin their postseasons on the road. The Lady Panthers (8-14), the Region 2 number three seed, were eliminated from the Region 2-AAAA tournament by eventual champion Spalding and thus will be opening at McDonough High School Friday night. The Demonettes finished fourth at the Region 1-5A following yet another loss to Veterans, and will play at Region three number one seed Starrs Mill Friday. 

The Houston County Bears (13-12) and Lady Bears (17-9) will once again be playing postseason basketball simultaneously. The Bears will play at Lakeside Friday (6 p.m.) while the Lady Bears clinched a playoff opener at home after finishing among the top two teams at the Region 1-6A tournament, losing in the final to Valdosta 51-26.Houston County will host Greenbrier Friday night.

The Northside Lady Eagles lost their last two games, both at the region tournament, to Houston County and Coffee. The good news is they will not have to see another region 1-6A team to stat the playoffs. The bad (or not so good) news is that they will begin the postseason on the road at Grovetown Friday night.

Who, When and Where:

Houston County

Bears at Lakeside (Evans), Friday, 6 p.m.

Lady Bears – TBD, Friday

Perry

Lady Panthers at McDonugh, Friday, 6 p.m.

Veterans

Warhawks v Fayette County

Lady Warhawks at Griffin, Friday, 6 p.m.

Warner Robins

Demons v Jonesboro, Friday, 6 p.m.

Demonettes at Starrs Mill, Friday, 6 p.m.

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