GHSA to stage dunk, 3-point contests

The Georgia High School Association for the first time will put on a dunk contest for boys and 3-point shooting contest for girls that will culminate at the state basketball finals March 6-7 in Macon.

The dunk contest opens Monday when the GHSA will begin taking video from contestants. The 3-point contest will commence Feb. 1 at eight quarterfinal sites. Each GHSA school is allowed one participant in each contest.

GHSA secured BSN, a sports apparel and equipment company, as the sponsor. “I have been trying to get it approved for almost 10 years, and I’m just excited that this idea of mine has come to life this year,” said GHSA assistant executive director Ernie Yarbrough. “We were basically waiting for a sponsor of the event, since it is not one of our regularly scheduled team or individual events. I feel this will generate some excitement across the state.”

For the dunk contest, entries must be submitted by video to the GHSA from Jan. 20-Feb. 2. All videos will be accepted online at a site to be announced Sunday.

Voting on social media will begin Feb. 3 and determine the 15 players who advance to the second round. Another round of voting Feb. 11-14 will trim the field to eight. The eight semifinalists may submit new video Feb. 16-23. The top three vote-getters from the semifinals will advance to the championship, which will be staged March 7 between the last two championship games during state finals weekend at the Macon Centreplex.

The 3-point contest begins Feb. 1 with quarterfinals at Tift County, Perry, Armuchee, Banks County, Butler, Etowah, Beach and Mundy’s Mill high schools. Four players from each site advance to four semifinal rounds Feb. 15, and the top four from each semifinal — 16 total — qualify for the finals March 6. Participants have one minute to shoot from three areas beyond the 3-point arc, each with a rack of six balls. The first five count for one point. The final ball counts for three.

For the dunk contest, no props or gimmicks are allowed but one additional participant is allowed to assist.