The Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) State Basketball Tournament is underway, with teams from Rome participating across various age groups and locations with Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation playing host to the 10U Boys and 12U Boys groups.
In the 8U Boys division, hosted by Whitfield County, Rome Red, coached by Bobby Ferguson, was eliminated in the first round by Whitfield County with a score of 33-0. However, Rome Blue, led by Jordan Clement, advanced in the first round after beating Bartow County 22-13, and beat Cartersville in the second round 24-16. Rome Blue defeated Powder Springs 16-14 and will play Central Cobb tonight, Wednesday, Feb 26 at 7:15 at Riverbend in Whitfield. Rome Blue will advance to state regardless of tonight’s outcome because of the seeding for stat,e taking the host plus 2 from the district tournament. The state tournament for 8u Boys will be played in Whitfield County on March 7th and 8th.
For the 8U Girls tournament, also held in Whitfield County, Rome Red, coached by Megan McCord, lost to Smyrna 42-4 in the opening round. Rome White fared better, defeating Bartow County 18-13. Rome Red beat Cartersville in round two, in the semi-finals, with a score of 24-5. They will play against Smyrna for the district championship on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 6:00pm at Riverbend in Whitfield County. Rome White is coached by Taylor Burger. Rome White will advance to state regardless of the championship game outcome, due to the seeding of the bracket for state. Rome White lost to Smyrna in the championship round of the district 5 tournament, finishing 2nd in District 5. Rome will advance to the state level tournament for district 5 which will be played on March 7th and 8th in Whitfield County.
The 10U Boys tournament, hosted by RFPRA at the at the John Horace Anthony Center and Bill Thornton Recreation Center, features three Rome teams. Rome Gray, coached by Will Mink, won their first-round game against Bartow County 45-41. Rome Blue, led by Darren Reed, beat Paulding County on Monday, February 24 with a score of 34-33 and will play Whitfield County in the Semi-Finals on Thursday, February 27 at 6:00pm at the Bill Thornton Recreation Center. Rome Red, coached by Nathan West, is set to face Rome Gray on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the same venue.
In the 10U Girls division, played in Whitfield County, both Rome teams faced tough competition. Rome Red, coached by Adam Grant, lost to Smyrna 48-3, while Rome Blue, led by Mark Floyd, was defeated by Cartersville 21-8.
The 12U Boys tournament, hosted by RFPRA at the Bill Thornton Recreation Center, saw both Rome teams eliminated. Rome Red, coached by Erick Carr, narrowly lost to Bartow County 54-52, while Rome Blue, led by Bethany Wigley, fell to Powder Springs 54-19.
In the 12U Girls division, the Rome All Stars team, coached by Brecia Hall, traveled to Paulding County for their tournament, where they were defeated by the host team 49-39. Similarly, the 14U Boys Rome All Stars team, coached by Sal Alderete, played at the Cobb Civic Center and lost to Paulding County 73-26.
GRPA State results will be posted after the tournaments.