A thing to note is there was no repeat champion from 2024 as all new teams hoisted championships this season and some for the first time in their history including Newton, Creekside, Cherokee Bluff, Hardaway, and Wilcox County. Let’s take a look at the final rankings for the season.
In Class 6A, No. 1 Newton clinched its first state title in program history after a 59-56 win over rival No. 2 Grayson who they were 0-3 against prior to the state championship game. North Forsyth, Cherokee, and Lowndes round out the top five. No. 4 Cherokee saw one of the biggest jumps leaping from No. 8 to No. 4 in the final rankings. Carrollton, North Paulding, Buford, Hillgrove, and Etowah round out the poll. Etowah went from unranked to a top-10 finish to the season.
In Class 5A, No. 1 River Ridge finishes atop the rankings after clinching its second title in three years under head coach Jason Taylor. River Ridge was the No.1 ranked team and finished atop. River Ridge and No. 2 Hughes met in the state championship and lived up to the billing giving us a 5A thriller. Bradwell Institute, Milton, and Woodward Academy round out the top five. No. 3 Bradwell Institute climbed five spots in the final rankings after a run to the semifinals before losing to Hughes. Brunswick, Veterans, New Manchester, Morrow, and Alexander round out the poll. No. 7 Veterans and No. 10 Alexander finished the season ranked after being unranked heading into the postseason.
In Class 4A, No. 1 Creekside finishes atop the rankings as the best team after clinching their first state championship in program history defeating No. 2 Jackson-Atlanta 57-37. Creekside picked up notable wins over Marist, Ware County, Cass, and Griffin this postseason and finished the season undefeated. No. 3 Bradwell Institute was unranked prior to the postseason but finished as a top-three team in the final rankings after their run to the semifinals. North Oconee and Ware County round out the top five. No. 5 Ware County jumped from No. 9 to a top-five team at the end of the postseason. Cartersville, Dalton, Northview, Kell, and Midtown round out the top 10. No. 6 Cartersville, No. 8 Northview, and No. 9 Kell were all unranked before the postseason began.
In Class 3A, No. 1 Cherokee Bluff made an improbable run to the state championship to win its first-ever championship. The Lady Bears were unranked heading into the postseason and finished as the top seed. No. 2 Baldwin showed their championship mettle and finished just short of a state championship but that doesn’t take away from the great career Janaye Walker had with the Lady Braves finishing her final season averaging a double-double. Jenkins, Fayette County, and Luella round out the top five. Pickens, Monroe, Sandy Creek, White County, and Sandy Creek round out the poll. Oconee County and Heritage-Ringgold fall out of the final poll.
In Class 2A, No. 1 Hardaway jumped six spots to the top overall ranking after capturing its first state championship in program history. Hardaway defeated No. 2 Murray County 47-34 in the state championship. Morgan County, Josey, and Sonoraville round out the top five. Thomson, Butler, Carver-Columbus, Tattnall County, and Columbia round out the top 10. No. 8 Carver Columbus is the only unranked team that made the final rankings for the 2024-2025 season. Coahulla Creek and Sumter County dropped out after disappointing finishes in the postseason.
In Class A Div I, No. 1 Fannin County won its first state championship since 1999 after defeating No. 2 Banks County 51-42 in Macon. Fannin County finished the regular season as the No. 2 team and proved how good they were at winning a state title. Banks County jumped from No. 8 to No. 2 after a strong postseason showing. Model, East Laurens, and Lamar County round out the top five. No. 4 East Laurens climbed six spots after a strong postseason to finish in the top five. Heard County, Vidalia, Rabun County, Bremen, and Central-Macon round out the top 10.
In Class A Div II, No. 1 Wilcox County clinched its first state championship in program history after a 72-48 victory over No. 2 Washington-Wilkes. Washington-Wilkes was unranked coming into the postseason but defeated Macon County, Telfair County, Seminole County, and Brooks County in the run to the state championship. Macon County, Screven County, and Clinch County round out the top five. Macon County and Screven County each climbed up in the final rankings and Clinch County went from unranked to a top-five finish. Turner County, Telfair County, Randolph-Clay, Bryan County, and Bowdon round out the poll. No. 10 Bowdon finished top 10 after a second-round finish and gave Telfair County all they could handle losing by three points.
In Class A-3A Private, No. 1 Holy Innocents defeated nationally ranked and No. 2 Hebron Christian in the state championship 57-39. Holy Innocents Hailee Swain was superb being named Morgan and Morgan Player of the Game after a stellar effort to cap off a great career with the Lady Bears. No. 2 Hebron Christian’s run to the state championship was impressive, especially with all the injuries they endured this past season. Coach Azar and the Lady Lions are a premier program in the country. No. 3 St. Francis lost by just two points to Holy Innocents in the semifinals in a back-and-forth game among private powerhouses. The two-time defending state champions will be back and better next season. Galloway and Mount Paran round out the top five. North Cobb Christian, Greater Atlanta Christian, Calvary Day, Southwest Atlanta Christian, and Trinity Christian round out the top 10.
Class 6A
1. Newton
2. Grayson
3. North Forsyth
4. Cherokee
5. Lowndes
6. Carrollton
7. North Paulding
8. Buford
9. Hillgrove
10. Etowah
Class 5A
1. River Ridge
2. Langston Hughes
3. Bradwell Institute
4. Milton
5. Woodward Academy
6. Brunswick
7. Veterans
8. New Manchester
9. Morrow
10. Alexander
Class 4A
1. Creekside
2. Jackson-Atlanta
3. Marist
4. North Oconee
5. Ware County
6. Cartersville
7. Dalton
8. Northview
9. Kell
10. Midtown
Class 3A
1. Cherokee Bluff
2. Baldwin
3. Jenkins
4. Fayette County
5. Luella
6. Pickens
7. Monroe
8. Sandy Creek
9. White County
10. Sandy Creek
Class 2A
1. Hardaway
2. Murray County
3. Morgan County
4. Josey
5. Sonoraville
6. Thomson
7. Butler
8. Carver-Columbus
9. Tattnall County
10. Columbia
Class A Division I
1. Fannin County
2. Banks County
3. Model
4. East Laurens
5. Lamar County
6. Heard County
7. Vidalia
8. Rabun County
9. Bremen
10. Central-Macon
Class A Division II
1. Wilcox County
2. Washington-Wilkes
3. Macon County
4. Screven County
5. Clinch County
6. Turner County
7. Telfair County
8. Randolph-Clay
9. Bryan County
10. Bowdon
Class A-3A Private
1. Holy Innocents
2. Hebron Christian
3. St. Francis
4. Galloway
5. Mount Paran
6. North Cobb Christian
7. Greater Atlanta Christian
8. Calvary Day
9. Southwest Atlanta Christian
10. Trinity Christian
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