Westside Defeats Thomson: Championship Weekend Highlights

The third video released from the "Championship Weekend Highlights" features the Westside Patriots in Friday's region 3-AAA semifinal round 62-54 win over the Thomson Bulldogs.  The next three videos published will be from Saturdays regions 7-A, 3-AA, and 3-AAA championship games according to the following schedule:

Monday Evening:  Josey vs Westside (Region 3-AAA championship game)

Tuesday Morning:  Laney vs Bleckley County (Region 3-AA championship game)

Tuesday Evening:  Aquinas vs Wilkinson County (Region 7-A championship game)

We have more highlights from more teams that competed during this past weekend.  We will share those Wednesday.

*Useful Tip - When watching the video, click on the "YouTube" icon on the bottom right of the video window to be taken to our YouTube page, where you will see a bigger screen.  Once on YouTube, double click the video, and the video will be displayed on the entire screen!

Thomson Moves On

The Thomson Bulldogs defeated the Butler Bulldogs in Wednesday's second quarterfinal match up of the region 3-AAA tournament at the Raleigh Roundtree Athletic Complex.  Thomson advances to face the Washington County Golden Hawks, who beat Richmond Academy (highlights coming tomorrow) in Wednesday's third game.

Thomson was firing on all cylinders early as guard Ronkeem Sallywhite was hot from behind the arc, center John John Atkins controlled the paint, and Thomson's full court pressure created scoring opportunities in transition.

Butler's Jeffery Archie ignited a comeback with hot shooting of his own.  And his Butler teammates joined him in cutting Thomson lead, once as large as 15 points, to 53-49 in the fourth quarter.  But Thomson's pressure took its toll, and Butler's comeback attempt fell short.

Enjoy the highlights from Wednesday's quarterfinal match up.

Butler-Thomson: Video Preview

A video preview of today's 5: P.M. game between the Butler Bulldogs and the Thomson Bulldogs.  This is the second of four quarterfinal match ups in the region 3-AAA tournament.  We will be covering this tournament as well as the region 7-A (hosted at Aquinas) and the region 2-AAAA tournament (hosted at Richmond Hill).  Stay tuned!

Thomson Advances to Region 3-AAA Quarterfinals

Thomson coach Michael Thomas's plan to pound the ball inside and to rely on the team's senior leaders worked especially well Monday as the Bulldogs defeated the Hepzibah Rebels in the opening round region 3-AAA contest.

The Bulldogs' full court pressure forced numerous Rebel turnovers, creating easy scoring opportunities.  And John John Atkins provided a consistent source of points in the post while Ronkeem Sallywhite made key shots from behind the arc.

With the win, Thomson advances to Wednesday's quarterfinal round.  The Bulldogs will face sub region 3B-AAA's second seeded Butler High School.

Enjoy the highlights from Monday's game.

Thomson's Teachable Moment... (And a Region 3-AAA Tournament Preview)

Some of the greatest benefits gained from playing basketball are the lessons learned through competition.  And Thomson High School coach Michael Thomas is one of the area's finest teachers of young men.  As his Bulldogs (19-4, 7-3) prepare to take the court in tonight's opening round of the Region 3-AAA tournament,* they are learning about concentrating on the things they can affect, and ignoring the things they cannot.

After losing only four games this season, the Bulldogs, sub region 3B-AAA's third seed, faces a formidable opponent, the Hepzibah Rebels, in today's round.  The Rebels (8-11, 2-8) are playing well, recently defeating Burke County, Cross Creek, and class AAAA member Evans.  Without the benefits of their leader's wisdom and experience, gained during the course of a 29 year career as Thomson's head coach, Bulldog players may be tempted to feel sorry for themselves after missing out on the first round bye awarded to the top two teams in each sub region.  But the veteran coach has provided guidance with a consistent approach.  "The seed is important, but the most important thing is that we play well, because any team can beat any team in this region.  So we take things one possession, one practice, and one game at a time," Thomas said toward the end of the regular season.

That focus will be key in determining the results of the Bulldogs' post season.  It has been said that doing the right things poorly is more effective than doing the wrong things well.  Coach Thomas is teaching his players that focusing on the correct things - the next possession, the next game - is more important to their success than focusing on something outside of their control - the tournament seed.  And under Thomas, the Bulldogs have tended to do things well, both this season and over the past three decades.

*The Augusta Basketball Report will provide complete coverage of post season action, starting with today's opening round play in the Region 3-AAA tournament.  Coverage of Region 2-AAAA's tournament, featuring Effingham County, Evans, Lakeside, and Greenbrier, at Richmond Hill High School, and Region 7-A's tournament, featuring and hosted by Aquinas, will follow.


Region 3-AAA Breakdown

Where:  T.W. Josey's James Henry Roundtree Athletic Complex

When:  Monday-Saturday (Boys play Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday)

Monday's Schedule:


4 P.M. - Richmond Academy Musketeers (11-10, 6-4) vs Cross Creek Razorbacks (11-14, 2-8)
Both teams have recorded impressive wins during the regular season.  Richmond defeated sub region rival and second seeded Josey two times, while Cross Creek twice defeated sub region 3B-AAA's top seed Westside.  The teams split two games this season, both winning at home.  The Washington County Golden Hawks await the winner.

5:30 P.M. - Burke County Bears (15-6, 4-6) vs Harlem Bulldogs (9-16, 2-8)
Burke County's fourth seed proves the difficulty of the competition in sub region 3A-AAA.  The Bears' only losses have come against sub region opponents.  Harlem is dangerous, as freshman guard Reggie Reid can score, and he can set up teammates for scoring opportunities.  The winner will play the Westside Patriots Wednesday evening.

7 P.M. - Glenn Hills Spartans (11-13, 5-5) vs Grovetown Warriors (5-18, 0-10)
The Warriors face a stiff challenge against sub region 3A-AAA's third seed.  Glenn Hills has looked great at times, defeating sub region rival and second seeded Butler, as well as Laney and Josey, during the regular season.  The Josey Eagles are set to take on the game's winner Wednesday.

8:30 P.M. - Thomson Bulldogs (19-4, 7-3) vs Hepzibah Rebels (8-11, 2-8)
The Bulldogs are loaded with senior leadership, a veteran coaching staff, and the confidence that comes with a 19 win season.  John John Atkins provides a reliable source of offense inside, while Ronkeem Sallywhite and Dwayne Williams handle much of the work on the perimeter.  A Wednesday game against the Butler Bulldogs is the prize for the winner of this contest.

Region Picture Still Somewhat Hazy

Eight teams have been fiercely competing for four first round byes in the region 3-AAA tournament to be held next week at Josey High School.

Washington County was the earliest team to secure the advantage by achieving a 7-0 sub region record in a 52-40 win over Butler two weeks ago, before clinching sole possession of first place in its next contest versus Glenn Hills.

Friday night, the Butler Bulldogs defeated the Glenn Hills Spartans blank-blank, assuring themselves of a first round bye in the region tournament by locking in the second place position in sub region 3A-AAA.  Click below to see highlights of Butler's important victory over the Spartans.

But the standings sub region 3B-AAA are less clear.  After important wins against Josey and Thomson in recent weeks, the Westside Patriots lead with a 7-2 record and sit in the driver's seat approaching the final sub region game at home against the Richmond Academy Musketeers.  But Richmond, Josey, and Thomson are poised to join Westside in a four way tie should the Patriots lose at home and the Eagles and Bulldogs win their final sub region contests, versus Harlem and Grovetown, respectively.

A Westside win would quickly make things clear, as Westside would secure the number one spot and Josey, should they defeat Harlem at home, will win the tie breaker versus Thomson* and grab the number two spot.  But a Richmond victory over the Patriots will force the region 3-AAA committee to consult the rule book to decide which two teams will earn the two top sub region 3B-AAA positions and region tournament byes.

*As mentioned, Josey is in position to win a direct, two way tie breaker with Thomson.  Click the video below to see highlights of the Eagles' important win at Thomson Friday night.

Patriots Grab Share of Sub Region Lead

Tuesday night, in the HS Hoops "Game of the Night," the Westside Patriots won their sixth straight game and, more importantly, tied the Thomson Bulldogs for the first place spot in sub region 3B AAA with a 66-53 win at Thomson.  Junior Frank Booker, Westside's leading scorer, led the way with 26 points.  Back court mate Ronald Campbell added 17.  Dwayne Williams led the Bulldogs with 20 points.

Booker, one of the area's leading scorers, did it all Tuesday night.  He scored from deep, mid range, and in the paint.  He handled the ball effectively against Thomson's pressure and created scoring opportunities for teammates.  And he rebounded on both ends of the court.  A guard with good size and skills, a great feel for the game, and a deadly stroke, Booker demands attention from any defense.  Watch the game highlights (above) to see the impressive performance by Booker and his Patriot teammates.

The Patriots and the Bulldogs now share the sub region's top spot with identical 6-2 records.  The top of the sub region 3B AAA standings are now more crowded than ever.  Tuesday's results (Richmond Academy and Josey also won and both moved to 5-3) mean that with one week of regular season region play remaining, four teams are competing for the coveted top two spots in the sub region.  During the next week, Thomson will host Josey, and Westside will host Richmond Academy.  The teams with the two best sub region records will earn first round byes in the region tournament that will be played at Josey during the week of February 13.