(Class A)
Place, Time: Wesleyan School (Norcross), 6 p.m.
Records: Darlington 13-15, Wesleyan 25-4
State ranking: Wesleyan — No. 1; Darlington — unranked.
Seeds: Darlington is No. 3 from 6-A; Wesleyan is No. 1 from 7-A
Scouting Report on Wesleyan: The Lady Wolves, who won the Class AA state title last year, are led by 6-3 guard Anne Marie Armstrong. She is a do-everything player for the imposing Wesleyan squad, which has six players who are 5-11 or taller. The Lady Wolves have won 15 games by 45-plus points this season, including opening the state tourney with a 74-19 win over Athens Academy.
Darlington notes: Making their first state tourney appearance in more than two decades, the Lady Tigers earned a 51-41 win over No. 2-seeded Walker in the opening round. … Darlington’s defense has been the key to the team’s success this season, with the Lady Tigers holding their opponents to 49 points or less in 14 games.
RNT’s prediction: Wesleyan, 68-45
Coosa vs. Buford
(Class AA)
Place, Time: Buford High (Duluth), 7 p.m.
Records: Coosa 21-9, Buford 28-1
State ranking: Buford — No. 1; Coosa — unranked.
Seeds: Coosa is No. 3 from 7-AA; Buford is No. 1 from 6-AA.
Scouting Report on Buford: On a team loaded with offensive weapons, Buford’s Blanche Alverson has established herself as the most dangerous threat. The 6-3 senior wing, who has signed with Auburn, possess more outside range than perhaps any player in the state. Freshman point guard Andraya Carter sets the pace for Buford’s smothering and relentless defense. The Lady Wolves — coached by Gene Durden (formerly of Dade County) — carry a 27-game winning streak into tonight’s game. They haven’t lost since their second game of the year, when they fell to Class AAAA power Marist.
Coosa notes: The Lady Eagles, with eight seniors on the roster, are seeking their second straight appearance in the Elite Eight … Coosa will be without the services of junior forward Johna Collette tonight. She is sidelined with a shoulder injury, which might be career-ending.
RNT’s prediction: Buford, 66-54
Model vs. Lovett
(Class AA)
Place, Time: M-Dome (Shannon), 6 p.m.
Records: Model 28-0, Lovett 16-11
State ranking: Model — No. 2; Lovett — unranked
Seeds: Model is No. 1 seed from 7-AA; Lovett is No. 3 from 6-AA
Scouting Report on Lovett: The Lady Lions have just two seniors on the roster, but are nonetheless a disciplined team that rarely hits the panic button. Much like Model, the Lady Lions win with defense, allowing just 38.8 points per game. And don’t be fooled by Lovett’s record: Six of Lovett’s losses this season have come by three points or less, including four one-point defeats.
Model notes: The Lady Devils, the four-time 7-AA champs, have posted double-digit victory-margins in 24 of their 28 games. … They are surrendering an average of just 37.3 points per game… Model downed Lovett 84-43 in the 2006 state tournament.
RNT’s prediction: Model, 54-50
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