CREEKSIDE CHRISTIAN REPEATS AS GAPPS CHAMPIONS

The Creekside Christian Cougars (20-9) capped off their 2023-24 season with a 75-49 victory over Cherokee Christian to win their second straight GAPPS state championship. This season Creekside Christian won the state title in Division 1-2A (the highest classification in GAPPS), while last season they won it in Division 1-3A (then the highest classification in GAPPS).

In the championship game, Bilal Osman led Creekside Christian with 22 points while Cedric Taylor and Joe Reddick tallied 10 points and Kelton Teasley finished with nine points.

“Unbelievable feeling to win it again this season and not many people get to experience this,” Creekside John Green said. “This was different because we lost six seniors from last seasons team and it was a rebuilding, character finding team and going through the ups and downs to get to the ultimate goal”

Creekside Christian Academy 2023-2024 GAPPS State Champions

Cedric Taylor (17ppg 10.8rpg 2.5apg 1.8bpg), Bilal Osman (13.7ppg 4rpg), Joseph Reddick (11ppg 6.2rpg 2.9apg), Kelton Teasley (8.8ppg 3.2rpg) led Creekside Christian this season.

Osman, Taylor and Reddick were name to the All-Region team and the All-State team.

Creekside Christian won their state tournament games by an average of 29 points per game. In the quarterfinals the Cougars defeated Lanier Christian Academy 84-51 and Rock Springs Christian Academy 77-49 in the semifinals.

Georgia Association of Private & Parochial Schools

Creekside Christian finished the season 20-9 overall, 9-0 vs GAPPS teams, 1-2 vs GIAA teams, 4-3 vs OOS teams, 4-4 in games decided by 5 points or less and complied a 7-3 record against GHSA teams which included a 5-2 record against GHSA state tournament teams.

The Cougars complied notable wins over GHSA state tournament teams Decatur (5A Second Round), St. Francis (1A-Div I First Round), Mt. Pisgah (1A- Div I Final Four), Salem (3A First Round) and Drew Charter (2A First Round). GIAA Furtah Prep (2A Semifinals). FHSAA state tournament teams Bell Creek (FL-3A State Region Quarterfinals) and Blanche Ely (FL-5A State Region Quarterfinals) and MSHSAA state tournament team Oxford (MS-7A First Round) this season.

The Cougars had notable losses to Wilson Academy (GA Independent), Heritage-Newnan (GIAA 3A Runner-Up), Victory Christian Center (NC-NCISAA 1A State Champions), Riverwood (GHSA 6A Finalist), Cedar Grove (GHSA 3A First Round), The Rock (FL-SIAA state champions), Florida State University High (FL-3A State Region Semifinals) and Cristo Rey Atlanta (GIAA 3A Semifinals).

“The schedule was to gain respect and notoriety for the kids. We feel we can go and compete with some of the best and see where we stand win or lose and find out where Creekside Christian stands in the basketball landscape,” Green said. “We going to continue to make sure we play a challenging schedule each year.”

Creekside Christian Wins GAPPS Division 1-3A State Title

The Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools Division 1-AAA state championships were held over the weekend at Ace Academy in Macon, GA.

Creekside Christian (24-6) defeated Valor Christian (16-3) 64-57 in the state championship game. Jaylen Priester led all Creekside Christian scorers with 14 points. Cedric Taylor added 13 while Joseph Reddick and Jeremy Benard each finished with 10 points for the Cougars.

First-year head coach John Green, who was the associate head coach last season, leads Creekside Christian to their fourth basketball state championship in program history. Burton Uwarow was the head coach when Creekside Christian won state championships in the GICAA in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

2022-2023 GAPPS Division 1-AAA State Champions Creekside Christian Academy Cougars

The Cougars entered the GAPPS D1-3A state tournament as the D1-3A Region 3 champion and received a bye into the quarterfinals. Creekside Christian defeated The King’s Academy (17-10) 96-40 in the quarterfinals and New Creation Christian (23-8) Academy 58-48 in the semifinals to advance to the finals.

Creekside Christian ended the season on a 12-game winning streak and did not lose to a GAPPS opponent this season. The Cougars played an array of teams from across multiple states and associations to fill their non-GAPPS schedule with quality opponents.

Creekside Christian Academy spent time in the “Keeping Tabs On” teams in the Hillsman Heavy Top10GA this season.

Creekside Christian was 4-3 against GHSA schools this season and maybe the biggest win of the season was a 77-70 win over North Cobb Christian (1A- Division I). They also had wins over GHSA teams Dacula, Ola and Locust Grove. Brookwood, Cedar Grove and Osborne were their three losses to GHSA teams. Creekside defeated GIAA opponents Furtah Prep and St. Mary’s Academy and loss to The Heritage School. The Cougars also had two victories over Georgia independent school Arlington Christian and dropped a game to Georgia independent school Wilson Academy.

Playing against Florida schools they suffered a 46-44 loss to Oldsmar Christian (FL) of the SIAA and defeated Buchholz (FL) of the FHSAA 64-56 while playing in the Florida Get Down New Year’s.

Creekside Christian was a “Keeping Tabs On” team this season in the Hillsman Heavy Top 10 GA poll.