The postseason is a great thing once you make it, but plenty of area teams found out last week that there is little time to enjoy it -- until it's over. And, unfortunately, a number of northeast Georgia programs saw their playoff runs come to an end as May dawned.
This week the teams still left standing will fight hard to keep themselves in the postseason.
It starts on Monday with state sectional golf tournaments, as a number of area teams look to book their places in the state championships. Teams like the Flowery Branch boys and girls, Commerce boys and girls, Rabun County boys and girls, Union County boys and girls, Jefferson girls, North Hall boys, White County boys, Buford girls, Banks County girls, West Hall girls, Jackson County boys and girls, Stephens County boys and girls, Johnson girls and Habersham Central boys will all take their shot at advancing to the penultimate tournament of the campaign.
On Tuesday, the postseason continues with soccer getting back in on the act. Six area boys teams will compete in the second round of the playoffs, including home games for Johnson and Dawson County, while Gainesville, West Hall, North Hall and Lumpkin County take to the road.
The remaining girls teams will do battle in the second round on Wednesday, including a marquee match-up, as No. 2 Buford plays host to No. 3 Blessed Trinity. Dawson County will also travel to St. Pius, while White County heads to Oconee County.
Perhaps the biggest paring down that took place in last week's playoffs came on the diamond, as northeast Georgia's 12 representatives from the first round are now down to four.
Buford, Flowery Branch, Gainesville and North Hall are the only four left standing -- and all four have every intention of staying on their feet, as doubleheaders get underway on Wednesday in the best-of-three series.
North Hall drew perhaps the tastiest match-up in a Class AAA top 10 showdown with Blessed Trinity. The Trojans edged out the Titans two games to one in last year's Class AAA semifinals and this year's battle promises plenty more fireworks.
The week will also contain soccer quarterfinals, but perhaps the biggest spectacle in Georgia high school sports will dominate the weekend, as the Georgia Olympics -- otherwise known as the boys state track and field championships will take place Thursday-Saturday in Jefferson.
There will be plenty of area athletes gunning for glory over the three days, including Gainesville discus standout Colton Quinones, North Hall distance specialist Bryce Schuebert -- along with Buford standout David Curry and Jefferson leader Mason Hamrick, who are both looking to defend championships in Class AAA and AA, respectively.
AREA SPORTS SCHEDULE, MAY 5-10
Monday, May 5
GOLF:
State Sectional tournaments
Tuesday, May 6
SOCCER -- Boys second round playoff games:
Gainesville at Lithia Springs
Carrollton at Johnson
Lumpkin County at Southeast Whitfield
St. Pius at Dawson County
West Hall at Woodward Academy
North Hall at North Murray
Wednesday, May 7
BASEBALL -- Second round state playoff doubleheaders in best-of-three series:
Sequoyah at Gainesville
Flowery Branch at North Paulding
St. Pius at Buford
North Hall at Blessed Trinity
SOCCER -- Girls second round playoff games:
Blessed Trinity at Buford
Dawson County at St. Pius
White County at Oconee County
Thursday, May 8
BASEBALL -- Second round state playoff series:
Game 3 if necessary
TRACK and FIELD:
Boys State Championships (Georgia Olympics) in Jefferson
Friday, May 9
SOCCER -- Boys quarterfinal round playoff games -- TBD
TRACK and FIELD:
Boys State Championships (Georgia Olympics) in Jefferson
Saturday, May 10
SOCCER -- Girls quarterfinal round playoff games -- TBD
TRACK and FIELD:
Boys State Championships (Georgia Olympics) in Jefferson
North Hall's Andrew Smith
http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/5/274526