Westside Patriots

Record/ranking: 24-7, No. 1 seed from Region 4, ranked No. 1

Coach: Jerry Hunter

Top players: Khalon Hudson (19.1 points, 10.5 rebounds), Jalexs Ewing (12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds), AuMauri Tillman (12.3 points), Demarco Middleton (10.1 points, 6.4 assists). Hudson was the Region 4 Player of the Year and Ewing was named the Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year.

How they got there: def. Vidalia 77-32, def. Sumter County 82-49, def. South Atlanta 81-50, def. Columbia 55-52.

Previous championships: Four – 1941, 1967, 1995, 2022.

 

Providence Christian Storm

Record/ranking: 26-4, No. 1 seed from Region 8, ranked No. 5

Coach: Joey Thacker

Top players: Samuel Thacker, Devin McClain, Thomas Malcolm, Kameron Carryl, Chandler Dunn. Thacker was named the Region 8 Player of the Year. Thacker broke the school record for 3-point baskets this season; he scored 26 in the Elite Eight game. McClain scored 17 in the semifinal win.

How they got there: def. Rockmart 89-51, def. North Cobb Christian 78-74, def. Spencer 84-70, def. Model 59-49.

Previous championships: None. First appearance in a championship game.

Game notes: Westside beat rival Butler in the championship game last year. In last year’s championship game, Ewing had 16 points and eight rebounds and Hudson had 10 points and 11 rebounds. … Providence knocked off defending Class 3A champion Spencer in the Elite Eight.