"Time-Out: The Road to Greatness Heats Up in the Tri-City!"

The energy in the Tri-City area is electric as championships are being claimed, history is being made, and the road to the state playoffs heats up! From middle school battles to high school regional dominance, let’s dive into the action-packed week of basketball.

The Fort Lady Patriots reign supreme once again! Coach Ward captured her seventh middle school championship in dominant fashion, handing the previously undefeated Aaron Cohn Lady Bulldogs their first loss of the season with a 47-35 victory. This marks yet another title for a powerhouse program that continues to set the gold standard.

The star of the night? Georgia Alabama Sports Live All-State Good Hands Player of the Game/Double Coverage Player of the Game, 7th grader Asia Allen! Allen delivered an absolute clinic, torching the scoreboard with 26 points, six rebounds, and five steals—a performance that will be remembered for years to come.

On the boys' side, the Aaron Cohn Bulldogs reclaimed their throne, securing their second championship in three years with a hard-fought 42-37 win over the defending champs. Marte Sears Jr. led the charge, proving why he’s a rising star. The Georgia Alabama Sports Live All-State Good Hands Player of the Game/Double Coverage Player of the Game put on a show with 18 points, four assists, and five rebounds, cementing himself as one of the top middle school talents in the area.

Moving up to the high school stage, the Central Lady Red Devils are Final Four bound! After falling to Auburn three times this season, the Lady Red Devils flipped the script when it mattered most, knocking off their rivals 63-55 in a thrilling Elite 8 showdown! Their resilience and fight prove that this team is peaking at just the right time.

Meanwhile, Coach Bryant Thomas and the Pacelli Lady Vikings continue to dominate! The Lady Vikings improved to 19-4 overall and a perfect 9-0 in region play with a statement 61-31 victory over Westfield to claim the District 5 GIAA Regional Championship! Their reign over the GIAA remains unchallenged as they extend their unbeaten streak in conference play to 22-0. Next up: The state playoffs on Friday, where they look to continue their march toward a championship.

Speaking of dominance, the Hardaway Lady Hawks have done it again! The 2025 2A Region Champions locked up their third consecutive region title in style, dismantling Sumter County 67-37 and improving to 21-6 overall with a perfect 15-0 region record. They carried that momentum into the first round of the state playoffs, where they put on a clinic, crushing Jackson 76-22! This team is rolling into the next round with no signs of slowing down! Not to be outdone, the Carver Lady Tigers made a statement on the road, storming past Carver Atlanta 72-38 in their playoff opener. With a dominant performance like this, they’ve made it clear they are a force to be reckoned with as they advance to the next round.

On the boys’ side, the Carver Tigers are officially the 2025 2A Region 1 Champions! Behind Region Player of the Year Tony Montgomery, Defensive Player of the Year Tobiaz Tolbert, and All-Region standout Tristan Givens, the Tigers outlasted a strong Spencer squad in an intense battle. Now, ranked #1 in 2A, the burning question remains: Can Carver pull off the rare football and basketball championship double? Time will tell, but they are certainly on the right track.

GHSA Girls Basketball State Playoff Round 1 Results:

• #13 Carver-Atlanta 72, #20 Carver-Columbus 38
• #3 Hardaway 76, #30 Jackson 22
• #7 Thomson 64, #26 Spencer 37
• #10 Sumter County 72, #23 Ringgold 60
• #4 Pace Academy 54, #1 Harris County 44
• #3 Northside-Columbus 41, #2 Midtown 71

GHSA Boys Basketball Playoff Schedule (Wednesday):

• #1 Carver-Columbus (24-2) vs. #32 Rutland (9-17)
• #9 Crisp County (21-6) vs. #24 Shaw (12-16)
• #8 Spencer (19-7) vs. #25 Therrell (10-16)
• #10 South Atlanta (19-8) vs. #23 Kendrick (15-11)
• Central vs. Auburn – Elite 8 showdown!

2025 Porter Sports SE Georgia/Alabama Middle School Showcase

This past Saturday, Porter Sports SE and Double Coverage Sports hosted the highly anticipated Georgia/Alabama Middle School Showcase at Shaw High School. The event featured nine thrilling games, bringing together the top middle school talent from both states.

Dark Team dominated Game 4 with a 57-40 victory led by Double Coverage Player of the Game Kenia Colbert (Baker), who put up 13 points and 5 steals!

Light Team took Game 5 with a 42-28 win, as Double Coverage Player of the Game Matthew McDowell (Aaron Cohn) led the way with 11 points and 6 rebounds!

The Tri-City area is alive with championship energy, playoff battles, and history in the making. Whether it's middle school, high school, or youth basketball, the action is reaching its peak, and the storylines are only getting bigger. Will Carver complete a championship sweep? Can the Hardaway Lady Hawks continue their dominance? One thing’s for sure; the best is yet to come.

That’s all for this edition of Time-Out, but the season is far from over. Keep grinding, keep cheering, and stay tuned for more highlights, recaps, and breaking news from the heart of Tri-City sports! Until next time, hoop fans!