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Class 5A Boys Preview: Tri-Cities vs. Eagle's Landing
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Class 5A Boys
Eagle’s Landing vs. Tri-Cities
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Eagle’s Landing Eagles
Record: 27-3
Coach: Elliott Montgomery
How they got there: Def. McIntosh, def. Walnut Grove, def. Hiram, def. Jonesboro.
About the Eagles: Eagle’s Landing is the Region 4 champion and has won 14 straight games. Guard A.J. Barnes, a 6-foot-5 senior, was the Region 4 Player of the Year. He had 21 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game last year. David Thomas, a 6-2 point guard, scored 17 in the championship game last year, and Jordan Fordyce, a senior guard, were also all-region picks. Other contributors are Khylan McKinnie, Kenneth Brayboy and Christopher Morris.
Tri-Cities Bulldogs
Record: 22-5
Coach: Omari Forts
How they got there: Def. Coffee, def. Lithonia, def. Chapel Hill, def. Calhoun.
About the Bulldogs: Tri-Cities won the Region 3 championship and has won 11 straight games. Simeon Cottle, a Kennesaw State signee, is the Region 3 Player of the Year and one of the most prolific scorers in Georgia. Cottle averages 23.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.6 steals. Junior Kory Mincy, a first-team all-region pick, averages 17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.6 steals. Other top players include Noricco Danner (12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds), Kyndon Wilburg (10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds) and 6-foot-9 Ryan Mathieu (7.8 rebounds). The Bulldogs won the state championship in 2019.
Notes: This is the second straight season the two teams have met for the state championship. Eagle’s Landing jumped out to a 27-11 lead in the title game last year and went on to an 81-69 win. The Eagles are trying to become the third straight Henry County team to win the championship.