Banks County will take on Mount Paran on Thursday at the Macon Coliseum for the Class 2A state title. If things live up to expectations, it’s matching two of the top three teams and the two best defensive squads in the classification.
Neither team has lost in the 2023 calendar year and has won 40 straight games combined. However, it is the first-ever state championship game appearance for Banks Count, while the Lady Eagles won the Class A Private title in 2022.
Will experience rule the day, or will the Lady Leopards continue to make history? We should know by 3 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GIRLS FINALS FOR March 9
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
BANKS COUNTY vs. MOUNT PARAN
-- WHEN: 1 p.m.
-- WHERE: Macon Coliseum, Macon
-- BANKS COUNTY (28-3): Region 8-2A champion; beat Josey, 48-44, in the semifinals
-- MOUNT PARAN (31-1): Region 6-2A champion; beat Landmark Christian, 58-51, in the semifinals
-- NOTABLE: Mount Paran is into its second consecutive state final and is the reigning Class A Private state champion. ... The Lady Eagles are 44-1 in their last 45 games going back to the 2022 season. They lead Class 2A in wins and have won 19 straight. Their only loss came to Class 7A Brookwood, which is in the 7A championship game (56-54 at Brookwood). ... Banks County is into its first-ever state final and is tied for 2nd in wins in 2A. The Lady Leopards have won 21 straight since a 52-37 loss to Rabun County on the road back in December. ... Look for a defensive slugfest. Mt. Paran is yielding a minuscule 29.8 ppg on the season and just 34.5 ppg in the playoffs. The most points they have allowed in a game this season was 63 to Woodward Academy. ... Banks County is allowing just 34.9 ppg on the season and just 40.5 ppg in the playoffs... The most points they have allowed in a game was 56 by Central-Macon in the quarterfinals. ... The Lady Leopards have three players averaging double-figures in scoring. Ryleigh Murphy (15 ppg), Kamryn Grier (14 ppg, 10 rpg), and Addison Hoard (15.0 ppg, 2 apg, 4 spg) and all three average over 30 minutes/game. ... This is just the third neutral-site game for Banks County (1-1) while Mount Paran is 8-0 on neutral ground this season. ... MaxPreps has Banks County ranked 22nd among all Georgia programs, and Mount Paran is ranked 24th overall in the state.
