Area basketball teams have a chance, in some cases, to strengthen their positions, and for others, to make a move up the standings this week in a series of crucial region contests on tap for all seven northeast Georgia regions we cover at AccesWDUN.
(Look below for the entire schedule for the Week of Jan. 15 to Jan. 19)
For the boys, three regions will have head-to-head showdowns for first place on Tuesday alone.
In Region 8-6A, Gainesville (12-7, 4-0 Region 8-6A) and Lanier (12-6, 4-0 Region 8-6A) will duke it out in Sugar Hill with the winner taking over sole possession first place. The Red Elephants are streaking having won eight straight games.
In Region 8-5A, two key games will determine the leader at the midway point. Buford (15-2, 3-1 Region 8-5A) travels to Clarke Central (10-7, 3-1 Region 8-5A) in a battle to stay atop the standings. Both teams are tied with Cedar Shoals (9-9, 3-1 Region 8-5A) who takes on Walnut Grove (11-8, 2-3 Region 8-5A).
In Region 7-3A, Dawson County (16-3, 6-1 Region 8-5A) heads to Greater Atlanta Christian (13-4, 6-0 Region 8-5A) in a battle of Class 3A top five teams and possession of first place in the region on the line. The defending Class 3A state champion Spartans knocked off the Tigers earlier in the season.
In Region 8-A, four teams are within a half-game of first place. Lakeview Academy (13-5, 4-0 Region 8-A) and Hebron Christian (12-7, 4-0 Region 8-A) both hit the road against Prince Avenue and Towns County, respectively, trying to stay unbeaten while Riverside Military (13-4, 4-1 Region 8-A) plays host to Providence Christian. Athens Academy (10-2, 4-1 Region 8-A) is off on Tuesday.
Regions 8-2A, 8-3A, and 7-4A also have some key battles but none involving area teams for first place outright on Tuesday.
For the girls around the area, three regions as well will stage head-to-head battles for first place.
In Region 8-A, Lakeview Academy (13-5, 4-0 Region 8-A) heads to Prince Avenue (9-8, 4-1 Region 8-A) with first place on the line. Towns County (9-8, 3-0 Region 8-A) can keep pace and possibly grab first place but faces a tough Hebron Christian squad (12-8, 2-2 Region 8-A) at home.
Region 8-5A has Buford (15-1, 4-0 Region 8-5A) and Clarke Central (7-8, 4-0 Region 8-5A) battling for first place in Athens.
In Region 7-3A, two huge games will have major impacts on the standings. Dawson County (13-6, 5-2 Region 7-3A) heads to Norcross to take on GAC (9-9, 5-1 Region 7-3 A) with either the outright lead or a share of first place at stake. North Hall (13-6, 5-2 Region 7-3A) heads to Fannin County (6-12, 3-4 Region 7-3A) with a chance to jump into a tie for first with a Dawson County win. The Lady Tigers beat the Lady Spartans earlier in the season so another win over them would give them the all-important tiebreaker for seeding purposes.
In Region 7-4A, Flowery Branch (16-3, 6-0 Region 7-4A) can keep its firm grip on first place with a win over Chestatee (11-9, 5-2 Region 7-4A) on the road. But the Lady War Eagles can pull within one-half game of first place with an upset win.
Region 8-6A also has a pair of huge games that will give us a leader at the halfway point. Gainesville (10-7, 2-2 Region 8-6A) can get within a game of first place but will have to knock off a hot Lanier squad (15-3, 3-0 Region 8-6A) on the road. Winder-Barrow (12-6, 3-1 Region 8-6A) travels to Dacula (15-4, 3-1 Region 8-6A) with the winner possibly moving into first place with a Lanier loss.
In Region 8-2A, Banks County (15-3, 5-2 Region 8-2A) plays host to Putnam County (11-5, 5-2 Region 8-2A) with second place on the line. The Lady Leopards have won five straight in the region since an 0-2 start.
Tuesday, Jan. 15
Buford at Clarke Central*
Dawson County at Greater Atlanta Christian*
East Hall at Lumpkin County*
East Jackson at Franklin County*
Elbert County at Union County*
Flowery Branch at Chestatee*
Gainesville at Lanier*
Hebron Christian at Towns County*
Jackson County at Monroe Area*
Lakeview Academy at Prince Avenue*
Loganville at Johnson*
North Hall at Fannin County*
Providence Christian at Riverside Military*
Putnam County at Banks County*
Rabun County at Oglethorpe County*
Tallulah Falls at Commerce*
West Hall at Jefferson
White County at Marist*
Friday, Jan. 18
Banks County at Rabun County*
Buford at Walnut Grove*
Cherokee Bluff at East Hall*
Chestatee at Marist*
Dawson County at Denmark
Flowery Branch at Blessed Trinity*
Greater Atlanta Christian at North Hall*
Habersham Central at Gainesville*
Jefferson at Franklin County*
Johnson at Clarke Central*
Lumpkin County at Fannin County*
Morgan County at East Jackson*
Providence Christian at Lakeview Academy*
Riverside Military at Hebron Christian*
Towns County at Commerce*
Union County at Monticello*
Saturday, Jan. 19
Buford at Holy Innoncents' (girls only), 3:30 p.m.
Thomson at East Jackson
West Hall Johnson, 5 p.m.
(* -- Denotes region contest)
