The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) released its initial varsity basketball power ratings for the 2017-18 season earlier this week and they brought good news for the Georgia Military College Prep School programs.
The Lady Dogs (15-1) were placed third when the rankings were first released, but have dropped and are now tied for sixth with Emanuel County Institute after a 48-43 loss at Greene County Tuesday night. Despite the slip, it’s still good news for GMC Prep girls coach Shawn Dennis’ team as the schools rated in the top 24 after their respective region tournaments all advance to the GHSA state tournament.
“I was pretty pleased with it,” Dennis told The Union-Recorder of his team’s rating. “It just shows all the hard work the team’s put in the last couple of years, but it doesn’t mean too much until the end of the season. You can go up or down depending on how well you’re playing or how well other teams are playing. You try not to get too focused on it. We just have to control what we can control and take everything game by game.”
The GMC Prep girls are the highest rated team in Region 7-Class A and have so far defeated three other public school division teams in the top 24 in Glascock (16th), Hancock Central (23rd), and Greene County (19th) with whom they split. The Lady Dogs benefited from the power rating system last season after getting bounced from the first round of the region tournament, but still received a high enough ranking to make the cut for the state tournament. They won their opening round game at home against Johnson County before getting knocked out in the second round. Greenville High School from Region 4 (17-1) currently holds the top ranking among public school girls teams.
The GMC Prep varsity boys are holding strong in the No. 11 spot with their 12-2 record this season right behind perennial hoops powerhouse Wilkinson County who is 10th. The Bulldogs completed the regular season sweep of Greene County on the road Tuesday night with a 60-53 win behind a 26-point effort by junior guard Malik Foston.
“I thought that was pretty good for us,” said GMC Prep boys coach James Lunsford. “We’re having a good season. I thought going up and beating Greene County Tuesday night was important for us. At the beginning of the year I didn’t how good we would be, but I think the kids have really played over their heads. We’re playing good defense and shooting the ball well. I’m happy with where we are, but I know we’ve got a long way to go.”
The Tigers of Greene County (21st) and Hancock Central (22nd) are the only public school teams in the top 24 that GMC Prep has beaten this season. Sitting just outside the top 24 at 26th is Warren County who the Bulldogs beat Jan. 3 with another date between the two set for next week. Lunsford says his team has two important contests this weekend with Washington-Wilkes coming to town tonight and a trip to Lincoln County slated for tomorrow. Washington Wilkes is one of only two teams to have beaten GMC Prep this year, so the Bulldogs will be looking for revenge. Manchester High School out of Region 4 currently occupies the top spot among public school boys teams with a 16-0 mark.
Region champions are seeded into the state tournament based on the final power ratings and the remaining contenders are slotted in based on their performance during the season. The power rating system is a mathematical formula primarily derived from wins and losses. Teams receive points for every win with opponents’ wins taken into account as well. Schools receive points for losses as well, but get more points for losing to a stronger team. The power rating system only applies to Class A of GHSA because of the large amount of schools in the smallest classification.
The GMC Prep basketball teams will be at home in the Cordell Events Center tonight taking on Washington-Wilkes. Girls tip at 6 p.m. with the boys game to follow.
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