The opening week of region schedules for northeast area teams produced some interesting outcomes, and some early-season favorites.
There is a lighter than normal schedule for Tuesday, with just nine matchups for area teams.
(NOTE: Weather issues late Monday night caused several school systems to either close or delay opening. Check with each individual school to determine the status of their games.)
On the boys side, Region 7-3A is off to a hot start. East Hall (5-3, 2-0 Region 7-3A) and defending Class 3A state champion Greater Atlanta Christian (5-3, 2-0 Region 7-3A) are the only unbeatens left but three teams -- Cherokee Bluff, Dawson County, North Hall -- are just a game back in the standings.
The Bluff plays host to East Hall on Tuesday as they try to stay near the top on the region standings. They do have Gainesville transfer Griffin Neville and Flowery Branch transfer Connor Boyd and the pair has helped them open with a 4-3 overall record, 1-1 in region play.
Bears coach Benjie Wood said his squad is perhaps a little ahead of where he expected for the first-year program.
“We are ahead of schedule I think,” Wood said. “ You never really know with a new school what to expect. But we’ve played pretty well overall. We aren’t that experienced but that’s what we’re building overall.
“It’s a big game (Tuesday) but it’s not a statement game or anything. Statements in December are often forgotten in February so we’re really just focused on trying to get better and build this program. But we’re excited about what we’ve done in the early going.”
North Hall (3-3, 1-1 Region 7-3A) meanwhile, has a chance this week to make its own statement first traveling to GAC on Tuesday and then playing host to Dawson County (6-2, 1-1 Region 7-3A) on Friday.
For the boys in Region 7-4A, Blessed Trinity and Marist sit tied at 2-0 with Chestatee, Flowery Branch, and Denmark all tied a game back. Chestatee (7-2, 1-1 Region 7-4A) plays host to Marist (4-2, 2-0 Region 7-4A) on Tuesday with a chance to climb the standings. The Branch (1-5, 1-1 Region 7-4A) entertains Blessed Trinity (6-2, 2-0 Region 7-4A).
In Region 8-3A, Jefferson, Hart County, and Morgan each opened on Friday with region wins. The Dragons (4-3, 1-0 Region 8-3A) can claim the early lead playing host to Franklin County (4-3, 1-1 Region 8-3A) on Tuesday and then traveling to Morgan County (4-1, 1-0 Region 8-3A) on Friday.
For the girls, Region 7-3A already is shaping up to be a slugfest. Dawson County (5-2, 2-0 Region 7-3A), Lumpkin County (9-0, 2-0 Region 7-3A), and North Hall (5-2, 2-0 Region 7-3A) are all tied at the top after the first week. Lumpkin County plays host to Fannin County (1-7, 0-2 Region 7-3A) while the Lady Trojans have a chance this week to truly make a statement. They first head to 2017 state runner-up GAC (4-5, 1-1 Region 7-3A) which is coming off its first-ever on-court loss in 7-3A to the Dawson County last week. Then the Lady Trojans play host to Dawson County.
In Region 7-4A, Flowery Branch (5-1, 2-0 Region 7-4A) and Blessed Trinity (7-3, 2-0 Region 7-3A) lead defending region champion Marist (4-2, 1-0 Region 7-3A) by half a game for first place.
Flowery Branch has won five straight since a season-opening loss to Dawson County and will play host to Blessed Trinity on Tuesday with a chance to grab sole possession of the lead. Marist will travel to Chestatee (5-5, 1-1 Region 7-3A) on Tuesday.
Lady Falcons coach Courtney Newton-Gonzalez said her new-look group without former standout Taniyah Worth (Alabama) has turned the corner since the opener.
“We kind of needed that eye-opener to start off,” Newton-Gonzalez explained. “The kids were having to take on some new roles and needed to see what they needed to do. They are embracing those new roles now. We’ve definitely played much better since then.
“Blessed Trinity is much-improved since last year of what little I know about them. We’re looking forward to getting our first look at them. Our attitude in the region so far is that we know we’re the new kids so we’re trying prove ourselves a little bit. There is still a long way to go though, so we’re not putting too much on this one so early in the season.”
In Region 8-3A, Jefferson, East Jackson, Hart County and Morgan County all won their openers last week. The Lady Dragons (7-0, 1-0 Region 8-3A) have a big week ahead first entertaining Franklin County (5-3, 0-2 Region 8-3A) on Tuesday and then traveling to Morgan County (3-2, 1-0 Region 8-3A) on Friday.
Regions 8-2A and 8-A will open region play on Friday while Regions 8-5A and 8-6A will not open region play until after the New Year.
Schedule for Tuesday, Dec. 11
(Games listed in alphabetical order by visiting team)
Blessed Trinty at Flowery Branch*
Commerce at Jackson County
East Hall at Cherokee Bluff*
Fannin County at Lumpkin County*
Franklin County at Jefferson*
Holy Innocents at Buford
Marist at Chestatee*
North Hall at Greater Atlanta Christian*
Rabun County at Stephens County
(* -- denotes region contest)
