Lady Knights third in preseason AAA poll

OAKWOOD - The Johnson girls basketball team was ranked third in Class AAA in the first Georgia Sports Writers Association poll released Thursday night. Gainesville was ranked sixth with Flowery Branch receiving votes.

In Class AA, East Hall was among four Region 8-AA teams in the top 10. The Lady Vikings were ranked eighth and Buford ninth. Defending AA champ Wesleyan was No. 1 with Greater Atlanta Christian fourth.

In Class A Lakeview Academy was ranked sixth with Jefferson fourth.

Most teams open their seasons Tuesday, Nov. 15th.

GIRLS

Class AAAAA

1. Collins Hill (12) 120

2. Redan 106

3. Stephenson 94

4. Campbell 71

5. Beach 61

6. Marietta 50

7. McEachern 43

8. South Gwinnett 42

9. Brookwood 20

10. Tift County 19

Others receiving votes: Riverdale, Morrow, Sequoyah, Central Gwinnett, Lowndes, Houston County.

Class AAAA

1. Etowah (9) 122

2. Jones County (1) 79

3. St. Pius (2) 78

4. Stone Mountain 63

5. Mays 54

6. Northside-Warner Robins 54

7. Westside-Macon 53

8. Greenbrier 41

9. Jonesboro 34

10. Marist 26

Others receiving votes: Dalton, Thomas County Central, Warner Robins, Rome, Salem, Lakeside-DeKalb, Stockbridge, Southwest DeKalb.

Class AAA

1. Hephzibah (10) 118

2. Kendrick (2) 110

3. Johnson-Gainesville 81

4. Avondale 80

5. Westminster 71

6. Gainesville 52

7. Cross Creek 20

8. Carrollton 19

9. Worth County 17

(tie) Columbus 17

Others receiving votes: Dunwoody, Liberty County, Franklin County, Westover, Fannin County, Flowery Branch, Cairo, Towers.

Class AA

1. Wesleyan (12) 129

2. Dade County (1) 111

3. Dodge County 91

4. Greater Atlanta Christian 64

5. Dublin 60

6. Josey 51

7. Laney 36

8. East Hall 34

9. Buford 33

10. Early County 25

Others receiving votes: Calhoun, Pace Academy, Appling County, Greene County, Fitzgerald, Brantley County, Macon County, Screven County, Holy Innocents, Jackson.

Class A

1. Calhoun County (7) 123

2. Terrell County (6) 116

3. Hebron Christian 98

4. Jefferson 72

5. Randolph-Clay 58

6. Lakeview Academy 39

7. Atkinson County 34

8. Wilkinson County 31

9. Gordon Lee 28

10. Bowdon 25

(tie) W.D. Mohammed 25

Others receiving votes: Hancock Central, Southwest Atlanta Christian, Bryan County, Savannah Country Day, Washington-Wilkes, St. Francis, Clinch County, Montgomery County.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)