The Pebblebrook Falcons and Wheeler Wildcats will face off in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) 6A basketball state championship at the Macon Coliseum, according to a March 9 announcement. The matchup is a repeat of their memorable 2015 final, which Wheeler won by one point.
This game holds significance for both teams and their coaches. For Pebblebrook Coach George Washington, it marks his third trip to the state finals with hopes of securing his first title after previous close losses. “I’m what you call a bridesmaid,” said Washington. “I’ve escorted a few teams to the championship. This will be our third trip since I’ve been here. We competed every time we went down there. I can replay each one of them in my mind.” He added, “Yeah, yeah, it’s the anniversary of that Westlake game… We’ve had a great run and these kids aren’t afraid of the moment. We’ll celebrate this one and then get back to work for next weekend.”
Wheeler Head Coach Larry Thompson is aiming for his second set of back-to-back championships with Wheeler’s program, which would bring their total state titles to eleven. “Pebblebrook versus Wheeler goes back a long way,” Thompson said after defeating McEachern in the semifinals at Georgia State University. “I haven’t faced off with Coach Washington since we changed regions… The guys are gonna be animated for sure, just like tonight. We will have to find a way to settle down early on.” Thompson also reflected on Cobb County’s strong showing: “There’s no question where the best basketball is being played in the state… We’ve got coaches that really care about development and building programs… It was really hard with the matchups we had here tonight because two Cobb teams had to go home, but a week from today we’ll do it again, with only one team holding the trophy.”
The Final Four featured four Cobb County schools—Hillgrove, McEachern, Pebblebrook, and Wheeler—three of which are from Region 3. Hillgrove High School offers opportunities in athletics as part of its commitment to student achievement according to its official website. The school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve according to its official website and provides educational programs in academics, arts, and athletics according to its official website. Hillgrove also seeks to promote student success while building partnerships among students, teachers, parents, and community members according to its official website, equipping students with skills for responsible citizenship and decision-making according to its official website.
A special guest at Saturday’s semifinal was Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier—Coach Thompson’s nephew—who helped motivate players before their win over McEachern: “Zay won three state championships in his days in high school, and to have him here for the Final Four is big… It’s always good to have nephew here,” Thompson said.
The season finale between Pebblebrook and Wheeler will take place at Macon Coliseum on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 PM.
