First round of GHSA high school basketball state playoffs continue

Highlights & final scores from Wednesday, February 25

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The first round of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) high school basketball state playoffs continued on Wednesday, February 25, with several teams advancing to the next round. Highlights include the Portal Panthers cruising to a 67-44 win over Twiggs County, the Calvary Day School Cavaliers defeating the Wesleyan Wolves 74-47, and the Savannah Christian Raiders winning a close 58-56 game against Whitefield Academy in overtime on a last-second buzzer-beater. The Statesboro Blue Devils fell 68-63 to the Winder Barrow Bulldoggs, leading to a confrontation between Statesboro fans and Winder Barrow parents over an official's call after the game.

Why it matters

The GHSA high school basketball state playoffs are a highly anticipated annual event, with teams from across Georgia competing for the championship title. These first-round games set the stage for the rest of the tournament, and the results can have a significant impact on the teams' seasons and their chances of advancing further in the playoffs.

The details

In the first-round matchup between the Portal Panthers and Twiggs County, the Panthers jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back, cruising to a 67-44 victory. The Calvary Day School Cavaliers also had a dominant performance, defeating the Wesleyan Wolves 74-47. The Savannah Christian Raiders had a close call, needing a last-second buzzer-beater from Ty Bryd to send their game against Whitefield Academy into overtime, where they ultimately prevailed 58-56. The Statesboro Blue Devils fell 68-63 to the Winder Barrow Bulldoggs, leading to a confrontation between Statesboro fans and Winder Barrow parents over an official's call after the game.

  • The first-round GHSA high school basketball state playoff games were played on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

The players

Portal Panthers

The Portal Panthers are a high school basketball team that has won 5 region titles in the last 6 years.

Twiggs County

The Twiggs County high school basketball team faced the Portal Panthers in the first round of the GHSA state playoffs.

Calvary Day School Cavaliers

The Calvary Day School Cavaliers hosted the Wesleyan Wolves in the first round of the GHSA Class Private state playoffs.

Wesleyan Wolves

The Wesleyan Wolves faced the Calvary Day School Cavaliers in the first round of the GHSA Class Private state playoffs.

Savannah Christian Raiders

The Savannah Christian Raiders faced the Whitefield Academy team in the first round of the GHSA state playoffs.

Whitefield Academy

The Whitefield Academy team faced the Savannah Christian Raiders in the first round of the GHSA state playoffs.

Statesboro Blue Devils

The Statesboro Blue Devils faced the Winder Barrow Bulldoggs in the first round of the GHSA state playoffs.

Winder Barrow Bulldoggs

The Winder Barrow Bulldoggs faced the Statesboro Blue Devils in the first round of the GHSA state playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The first round of the GHSA high school basketball state playoffs featured several exciting games, with teams from across Georgia competing for a spot in the next round of the tournament. The results of these games will set the stage for the rest of the playoffs, as teams look to advance and ultimately win the championship title.