Tuesday night could set the stage for the final two weeks of the regular season more than any other date so far in the prep basketball season. Several key matchups around northeast Georgia may go a long to deciding regular season region champions on both the girls and boys sides.
The biggest matchup of the night is on the girls side with No. 2 Flowery Branch heading to No. 1 Buford in a Region 8-AAAAA showdown. Buford won the first meeting and could all but lock up the region title with a repeat win. The Lady Falcons could tie for the lead and set up a sprint to the finish with a victory.
In Region 7-AAA, East Hall plays host to Greater Atlanta Christian with all four teams sitting either Nos. 1 or 2 in the region standings. The GAC boys are ranked No. 2 in Class AAA, while the Lady Spartans are No. 3. The GAC boys can virtually clinch the region with a win, having already taken down the Vikings earlier in the year. East Hall's girls, meanwhile -- with help from a forfeit win over the Lady Spartans -- can essentially clinch the region with an upset win.
In Region 8-A, Lakeview Academy travels to Tallulah Falls with all four teams sitting at or near the top of the standings with a chance to take full control. Both boys teams are undefeated in region play while the undefeated Lakeview girls sit one game ahead of both Tallulah Falls and George Walton.
In Region 8-AAAA, the Jefferson girls travel to No. 1 North Oconee with both teams tied atop the region standings.
In Region 8-AAAAA, the top four girls teams will all play each other.
In Region 7-AAAA, the West Hall and Chestatee girls face key games to stay atop the region and set up a future showdown for the title next week.
Below are the area prep basketball standings as of Jan. 24 and Tuesday's scheduled games:
GIRLS
Region 5-AAAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Lambert.......................6-0.........................18-2
South Forsyth..............5-1.........................14-7
North Forsyth...............2-3.........................14-5
West Forsyth...............1-3...........................9-8
Forsyth Central............0-3.........................0-17
Milton...........................0-4.........................1-10
Region 8-AAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Winder-Barrow...............4-0........................14-5
Gainesville.....................4-1........................13-5
Dacula...........................3-2.........................9-11
Lanier............................2-3.........................13-5
Habersham Central.......2-4.........................14-6
Apalachee.....................0-5.........................5-14
Region 8-AAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Buford..........................7-0.........................17-1
Flowery Branch............7-1.........................16-3
Clarke Central..............6-2.........................10-8
Loganville.....................3-4..........................9-11
Walnut Grove...............2-5..........................7-13
Cedar Shoals...............2-7..........................8-13
Johnson.......................0-8..........................0-21
Region 7-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
West Hall....................4-0..........................16-5
Chestatee...................4-1..........................18-4
Marist..........................2-2..........................8-10
Blessed Trinity............1-3..........................6-14
White County..............0-5..........................5-15
Region 8-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
North Oconee...............5-0.........................17-2
Jefferson......................5-0.........................14-5
St. Pius X.....................3-2.........................9-11
Madison County...........2-3.........................9-10
Stephens County.........1-5.........................2-18
Oconee County............0-6.........................6-12
Region 7-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
East Hall.......................8-0.......................13-8
Greater Atlanta Chr......7-1.......................12-5
North Hall.....................5-4.......................12-9
Dawson County............4-4.......................7-13
Fannin County..............2-6.......................8-11
Union County...............1-6.......................9-10
Lumpkin County...........1-7.......................5-15
Region 8-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Franklin County............5-0.........................15-4
Hart County..................5-1.........................17-3
Morgan County.............3-3.........................7-12
Jackson County............2-2........................12-6
Monroe Area.................0-4........................2-17
East Jackson................0-5.......................10-10
Region 8-AA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Rabun County..............7-0.........................19-1
Banks County..............5-2.........................13-6
Putnam County............6-3.........................11-9
Elbert County...............5-3.........................13-7
Monticello....................4-4.........................10-6
Social Circle................1-8.........................4-15
Oglethorpe County......0-8.........................0-13
Region 8-A
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Lakeview Academy.......7-0........................15-4
George Walton..............7-1........................16-3
Tallulah Falls.................6-1........................10-8
Prince Avenue...............6-2........................13-5
Athens Academy...........3-5........................11-8
Athens Christian............3-5........................7-11
Towns County................2-4........................3-13
Commerce.....................2-5........................3-14
Providence Christian.....2-6........................8-11
Hebron Christian...........0-9........................1-18
BOYS
Region 5-AAAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Lambert........................6-0.......................18-3
Milton...........................5-1........................8-11
South Forsyth..............3-3........................7-14
Forsyth Central............2-3.......................10-10
West Forsyth...............1-5........................3-17
North Forsyth...............0-5........................4-16
Region 8-AAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Gainesville...................5-0.........................19-1
Dacula.........................4-1.........................14-6
Apalachee...................3-2........................10-10
Lanier..........................2-3........................10-10
Winder-Barrow............1-3.........................8-11
Habersham Cental......0-6.........................1-19
Region 8-AAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Buford............................7-0........................17-2
Cedar Shoals.................7-2........................18-3
Flowery Branch..............4-3........................16-4
Walnut Grove.................4-3........................12-8
Clarke Central................2-6........................10-9
Loganville......................1-6.........................9-10
Johnson........................1-7.........................8-13
Region 7-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
White County................4-1........................15-7
Blessed Trinity..............3-1........................13-6
Marist...........................3-1.........................11-9
West Hall.....................1-3.........................6-13
Chestatee....................0-5.........................5-16
Region 8-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Madison County............4-1.........................13-6
St. Pius X......................4-1.........................13-7
North Oconee...............3-2.........................13-9
Oconee County.............3-3.........................11-8
Stephens County..........2-4.........................13-6
Jefferson......................1-5.........................4-15
Region 7-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Greater Atlanta Chr.......8-0.......................15-4
East Hall.......................7-1.......................13-6
North Hall......................5-4.......................12-9
Union County................3-4......................10-10
Dawson County.............3-5.......................9-11
Lumpkin County............2-6......................10-11
Fannin County...............0-8.......................7-12
Region 8-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Morgan County..............6-0....................... 14-5
Hart County...................5-1........................12-8
Franklin County.............2-3........................6-10
Jackson County.............1-3........................3-15
Monroe Area.................1-3.........................7-12
East Jackson.................0-5........................1-18
Region 8-AA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Banks County..............7-0.........................15-4
Putnam County............7-2.........................15-5
Monticello....................6-3.........................13-7
Elbert County...............5-3.........................11-9
Rabun County..............3-4.........................9-11
Oglethorpe County.......1-7.........................5-11
Social Circle.................0-9.........................2-20
Region 8-A
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Tallulah Falls..................9-0.......................19-0
Lakeview Academy........9-0.......................14-5
Athens Christian............8-1.......................16-3
Towns County................5-4.......................12-7
Prince Avenue...............5-4.......................12-8
Hebron Christian...........4-6.......................9-11
Athens Academy...........3-5........................9-8
George Walton..............3-5.......................7-10
Riverside Military...........2-7.......................3-10
Commerce....................0-8.......................2-15
Providence Christian....0-8.......................1-18
Schedule for Tueday, Jan. 24
Region 5-AAAAAAA
Lambert at West Forsyth
Milton at South Forsyth
North Forsyth at Forsyth Central
Region 8-AAAAAA
Gainesville at Habersham Central
Winder-Barrow at Lanier
Apalachee at Dacula (Wed., Jan. 25)
Region 8-AAAAA
Flowery Branch at Buford
Buford at Walnut Grove (Wed., Jan. 25)
Cedar Shoals at Walnut Grove
Loganville at Clarke Central
Region 7-AAAA
Chestatee at Marist
Blessed Trinity at West Hall
Region 8-AAAA
Stephens County at Oconee County
Jefferson at North Oconee
Madison County at St. Pius
Region 7-AAA
Greater Atlanta Christian at East Hall
Union County at North Hall
Fannin County at Dawson County
Fannin County at Greater Atlanta Christian (Wed., Jan. 25)
Region 8-AAA
Franklin County at Jackson County
Morgan County at Hart County
East Jackson at Monroe Area
Region 8-AA
Monticello at Rabun County
Oglethorpe County at Social Circle
Banks County at Elbert County
Region 8-A
Hebron Christian at Riverside Military (boys only)
Towns County at Commerce
Lakeview Academy at Tallulah Falls
Prince Avenue at George Walton
