Defending champ Hardaway girls basketball team heating up

Hardaway reenters rankings after 10-game win streak and region title

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The defending state champion Hardaway High School girls basketball team has reentered the AJC Varsity rankings after winning 10 straight games, including capturing the Region 1-2A tournament championship. Hardaway, now ranked No. 10, was under the radar earlier in the season but has surged late, similar to its path to the state title last year.

Why it matters

Hardaway’s late-season surge shows the team is rounding into form at the right time, positioning it as a potential repeat champion in the upcoming state tournament. The Hawks’ ability to bounce back from a midseason slump and reclaim their spot as one of Georgia’s top teams is an impressive feat.

The details

Hardaway won twice last week to capture the Region 1-2A tournament championship, including a 68-28 victory over Shaw and a 69-39 win against Carver. The team has now won 10 straight games after dropping to 9-8 following a three-game losing streak in mid-January against Carver-Columbus, Sumter County and Holy Innocents’.

  • Hardaway was 9-8 after a three-game losing streak in mid-January.
  • Hardaway has now won 10 consecutive games.
  • Hardaway won the Region 1-2A tournament championship last week.

The players

Hardaway High School

The defending state champion girls basketball team.

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What’s next

The GHSA Girls 2A State Championship tournament begins on February 24.

The takeaway

Hardaway’s late-season surge mirrors its path to the state title last season, when the team won 20 of its final 21 games after a slow start. The Hawks’ ability to bounce back and reclaim their spot as one of Georgia’s top teams shows they are rounding into form at the right time to potentially repeat as state champions.