The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state basketball playoffs began with first round games played across the state on Tuesday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 22.

Before the GHSA rundown, St. Andrew’s and Memorial Day are each playing in the GIAA Elite 8 this weekend (Saturday, February 25) and both could wind up winning state titles. St. Andrew’s is coming off a state championship last season under head coach Mel Abrams Jr. and behind its star point guard and State Player of the Year, Zyere Edwards. Abrams and Edwards are leading the Lions again this season, and all signs point to them headed straight for a second straight ‘ship this year. Props to the Lions and the Matadors.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the results from the first round GHSA games involving all eight Savannah boys teams who made the Big Dance. Then, you’ll find the Sweet 16 matchups for the five squads who won in round one. Those teams will all be playing on Saturday (Feb. 25) and all but one play in town.

ROUND 1 SCORES

(February 21-22)

4A

Benedictine 65, Trinity Christian 47

No. 5 Fayette County 98, New Hampstead 73

3A

No. 1 Johnson 107, Hephzibah 45

Harlem 57, No. 6 Beach 56

No. 3 Cross Creek 87, No. 9 Groves 63

2A

No. 6 Windsor Forest 72, Thomson 68

1A-DI

No. 8 Savannah High 76, Crawford County 43

No. 6 Woodville-Tompkins 60, Lamar County 33

ADVANCING

Woodville-Tompkins, Johnson, Benedictine, Savannah High & Windsor Forest

ELIMINATED

New Hampstead, Beach & Groves

FIRST ROUND NOTES

• Shamarrie Hugie, the injured Beach star senior, actually played in Beach’s first round loss. He was thought to be out for at least the first two rounds due to a wrist injury sustained in the final week of the regular season. Hugie wasn’t his normal self, and Beach lost the game (57-56) at Harlem after holding a 55-44 lead with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Hugie fouled out late, and James Leach was injured in the third quarter to ultimately doom the No. 6 Bulldogs.
• Three teams ranked in the final regular season 3A polls were eliminated in their first round games. Two of those were Savannah schools (No. 6 Beach, No. 9 Groves).
• Five of eight Savannah GHSA playoff teams advanced in four different classifications (4A, 3A, 2A, 1A-DI). That means Savannah could still potentially bring home four state championships in boys basketball this season.
• Four of the five games this weekend are in Savannah with the lone road game being Savannah High at Swainsboro on Saturday night.
• Johnson was the favorite to win it all entering the 3A playoffs and Chuck Campbell’s team won 107-45 in the first round. Three different players scored 26+ points for SCJ. If the Atom Smashers can stay hot and win a state title, it’ll come almost exactly 10 years to the day after the school’s last boy’s state title in 2013.
• The No. 2 team in that same Class 3A bracket, Sandy Creek also scored 100 points in its blowout first round win Wednesday night. If both teams win this weekend, it’ll be No. 1 Johnson hosting No. 2 Sandy Creek next week in a quarterfinals heavyweight showdown.
• The potential for like-seeds (i.e. two region 1-seeds playing each other) begins in the Elite 8. The GHSA uses a “universal coin toss” to decide if teams on top (of the bracket matchup) or bottom will be the home/host school. That toss took place Thursday, and the “top” portion won.
• No. 6 Woodville-Tompkins – assuming it wins in the second round – would host in the Elite 8 regardless. No. 8 Savannah High would be on the road should it beat Swainsboro. Benedictine, No. 6 Windsor Forest and No. 1 Johnson would each be hosting Elite 8 games.

SWEET 16 MATCHUPS

(Saturday, February 25)

Class 4A

Perry at Benedictine (6pm)

3A

Crisp County at No. 1 Johnson (6)

2A

Central-Macon at No. 6 Windsor Forest (6)

1A-DI

No. 8 Savannah High at Swainsboro (6:30)

Pelham at No. 6 Woodville-Tompkins (3)

DEMASI MOVES BACK TO COLLEGE LEVEL

Russell DeMasi announced on Tuesday through his Twitter account that he had accepted a job as the offensive coordinator and associate head coach at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

DeMasi was the offensive coordinator for Calvary Day School (11-1) this past season after several seasons as the OC at Savannah State University. Wayne State is a Division II program coached by Tyrone Whitley, who was the running backs coach for the Denver Broncos last season before taking the head job at Wayne State.