Adam Krohn

1 month ago | ajc.com | Adam Krohn

A month ago, George Hansen, coach of the Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs, celebrated with family, including his brother, Allatoona coach Keith Hansen, on the field following the Mustangs’ season-opening 4-1 win over Paulding County. They weren’t just celebrating a winning start to the season but also Hansen’s 500th career win. Keith’s Buccaneers had won their opener earlier that day, 6-2 at Peachtree Ridge, and Keith hustled through a one-hour drive to be in Kennesaw for the final out that day, Feb. 14.

1 month ago | ajc.com | Adam Krohn

The Grayson Rams are in the Class 6A girls championship after beating Cherokee 53-48 in the Class 6A semifinals Saturday at GSU Convocation Center. Rams senior Tatum Brown hit the go-ahead bucket with 1:37 left, giving her team a 48-47 lead, then went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line to ice the game as Cherokee went 0-for-2 from 3, and 1-for-2 from the free throw line as it failed to close the game.

1 month ago | ajc.com | Adam Krohn

Holy Innocents’ basketball is in rare territory as the boys and girls programs chase a state championship. Both have McDonald’s All-American selections in Hailee Swain and Caleb Wilson. Since the inaugural McDonald’s girls team of 2002, the school having a representative in the same year has happened 11 other times, but the Golden Bears are the first in Georgia. Of the others, only one saw both teams win a state championships that year.

2 months ago | ajc.com | Adam Krohn

Wednesday night’s first round of the boys basketball tournament saw Class 5A’s second-ranked team, Milton, somehow as road warriors, facing Riverwood, winners of last year’s 6A title. It was the most intriguing first-round boys basketball matchup in the state, pitting all-state selections and 2,000-point scorers Josh Dixon and J.R. Leonard against each other. Though Riverwood’s Leonard won the scoring battle, Dixon and Milton won the game 70-64.

2 months ago | ajc.com | Adam Krohn

Defense wins championships, but shooting is more fun. Pickens boys basketball coach Robert Martin may have found the balance. Martin’s Dragons are the state’s lone undefeated team while attempting 24 3-pointers per game, making 40% of them. Eight players have attempted at least 40. “From a basketball standpoint, I sell the players on what they’ll enjoy,” Martin said. “I sell fast pace and shooting. We didn’t focus a whole lot on defense beyond showing them the basics.