The Wheeler Wildcat Boys Basketball team secured their eleventh state championship on March 17, defeating the Pebblebrook Falcons 62-52 at the Macon Coliseum. The Wildcats finished their season with a record of 27-6, marking their fifth Georgia High School Association title in seven years and earning a No. 11 national ranking.
This achievement highlights Wheeler High School’s ongoing tradition of athletic excellence and community involvement. The school’s commitment to fostering student success is reflected in its strong participation rates, with 30 percent of students involved in athletics and 90 percent engaged in extracurricular activities, according to the official website.
The road to the championship was challenging for both teams. Wheeler overcame McEachern in a close Final Four matchup, while Pebblebrook advanced after defeating Hillgrove despite being the No. 3 seed and facing tough travel schedules. Falcon Head Coach George Washington said, “This playoff run, our community drove to Cherokee, to Lambert, to Meadowcreek, to Georgia State, and they drove to Macon. We are so thankful for their unwavering support and love.” After the Final Four win set up a rematch between Wheeler and Pebblebrook for the state title, Wheeler Head Coach Larry Thompson said, “Pebblebrook versus Wheeler goes back a long way… This will be the first time in probably four, maybe five years.”
During the championship game, both teams introduced new strategies but consistency proved decisive for Wheeler. Five-star senior Colben Landrew led with a double-double performance of 29 points and 12 rebounds. Coach Thompson praised his team’s resilience: “This group has been resilient and tough all season, and this game was a testament to who they are. They are competitors.” Landrew added about his teammates: “Coming out here, playing with my brothers, we were mentally ready to go… We have trust in Coach, and we know we’re gonna be all right.”
Despite falling short in the final game, Coach Washington reflected positively on his team’s journey: “It’s always an honor and privilege to play for a state championship… This team is one for the record books and one for my heart. We won in life!” Athletic Director Barry Bowdre commented on what eleven titles mean for Wheeler: “The level of consistency required to play at a high level is really just our standard… Our players continue to exceed the standard year after year.” Bowdre also noted that athletes at Wheeler receive positive feedback from teachers regarding respectfulness and academic performance.
Wheeler High School promotes core values such as safety, respect, integrity, self-advocacy and critical thinking according to its official website. The school has also received recognition as one of America’s Most Challenging High Schools by The Washington Post in 2017 and earned silver medals from U.S. News & World Report for Best High Schools in both 2017 and 2018 according to its official website.
Dr. Sara Fetterman serves as principal at Wheeler High School according to information provided by the school’s official website.
