Several regions for both girls and boys could see a shakeup in the standings after some huge games on tap Friday night around northeast Georgia.
On the girls side, the biggest game could be Class AAAA No. 3-ranked West Hall traveling to Marist in Region 7-AAAA. The Lady Spartans (15-4, 3-0 Region 7-AAAA) already own a win over second place Chestatee and can take control of things with a win over the other Lady War Eagles (8-9, 2-1 Region 7-AAAA). However, a Marist win and a Chestatee (17-4, 3-1 Region 7-AAAA) win over White County (5-14, 0-4 Region 7-AAAA) would put Chestatee atop the standings by a half-game.
Region 8-AA has a similar plot. Class AA No. 3 Rabun County (18-1, 6-0 Region 8-AA) travels to Putnam County (9-8, 4-2 Region 8-AA) with a chance to leave Eatonton with a three-game lead in the region. However, a Putnam win combined with an Elbert County (12-6, 5-2 Region 8-AA) win over Social Circle (4-12, 1-5 Region 8-AA) would put all three teams within a game of each other.
In Region 8-AAAAAA, Gainesville (11-5, 3-1 Region 8-AAAAAA) plays host to Dacula (9-10, 3-1 Region 8-AAAAAA) and can keep pace with No. 3 Winder-Barrow (12-5, 3-0 Region 8-AAAAAA) with a win. The winner will have control of second place with four region games left.
On the boys side, easily the biggest game of the night will be No. 2 Gainesville playing host to Dacula in a battle for first place in Region 8-AAAAAA. The Red Elephants (17-1, 4-0 Region 8-AAAAAA) rebounded with their first loss of the season with a win over Apalachee on Tuesday while the Falcons (14-5, 4-0 Region 8-AAAAAA) come in riding a four-game win streak. The teams will meet twice in eight days.
In Region 8-AA there are two huge games that could set up a frantic sprint to the end of the regular season. No. 7 Banks County (13-4, 5-0 Region 8-AA) leads both Monticello (12-6, 5-2 Region 8-AA) and Putnam County (13-5, 5-2 Region 8-AA) by one game. The Leopards are riding a 10-game win streak but will travel to Monticello with a chance to maintain its slim lead. But a Hurricanes win and Putnam County win over Rabun County (9-10, 3-3 Region 8-AA) would put the three teams within percentage points of each other with five games left.
In Region 7-AAA, No. 2 Greater Atlanta Christian (14-4, 7-0 Region 7-AAA) and East Hall (12-6, 6-1 Region 7-AAA) have firm locks on the top two spots but Lumpkin County (10-9, 2-5 Region 7-AAA) has won 6 of its last 9 games and can climb into fourth place with a win over struggling Dawson County (8-11, 2-5 Region 7-AAA) which has dropped four straight games. An Indians win coupled with a North Hall (11-9, 4-4 Region 7-AAA) loss to Fannin County (7-10, 0-6 Region 7-AAA) and a Union County (9-9, 3-3 Region 7-AAA) loss to GAC would put them within a half-game of third place.
Below are the area prep basketball standings as of Jan. 20 and Friday's scheduled games:
GIRLS
Region 5-AAAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Lambert........................4-0.........................16-2
South Forsyth...............4-1.........................13-7
North Forsyth................1-2.........................13-4
West Forsyth................1-3...........................9-8
Milton...........................0-2...........................1-8
Forsyth Central..............0-2.........................0-14
Region 8-AAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Winder-Barrow..............3-0.........................12-5
Gainesville....................3-1.........................11-5
Dacula..........................3-1.........................9-10
Lanier...........................1-3.........................12-5
Habersham Central........1-3.........................13-6
Apalachee.....................0-2.........................5-11
Region 8-AAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Buford.........................7-0.........................16-0
Flowery Branch............6-1.........................15-3
Clarke Central..............5-2...........................9-8
Loganville....................3-3..........................9-10
Cedar Shoals...............2-6..........................8-12
Walnut Grove...............1-5..........................6-13
Johnson......................0-7..........................0-20
Region 7-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
West Hall....................3-0..........................15-4
Chestatee...................3-1..........................17-4
Marist.........................2-1...........................8-9
Blessed Trinity.............1-3..........................6-14
White County...............0-4..........................5-14
Region 8-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
North Oconee...............4-0.........................16-2
Jefferson......................4-0.........................13-5
Madison County............2-2..........................9-9
St. Pius X.....................2-2.........................7-11
Stephens County..........1-4.........................2-17
Oconee County.............0-5.........................6-11
Region 7-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
East Hall......................7-0.......................12-8
Greater Atlanta Chr.......6-1........................11-5
North Hall.....................4-4.......................11-9
Dawson County.............3-4.......................6-13
Fannin County...............2-4........................8-9
Union County................1-5.........................7-9
Lumpkin County............1-6........................5-14
Region 8-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Franklin County............4-0.........................15-4
Hart County..................4-1........................16-3
Morgan County.............3-2.........................7-11
Jackson County............1-2........................10-6
Monroe Area.................0-3........................2-15
East Jackson................0-4........................10-9
Region 8-AA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Rabun County..............6-0.........................18-1
Putnam County............4-2..........................9-8
Elbert County...............4-2.........................12-6
Banks County..............3-2.........................11-6
Monticello....................3-3..........................9-5
Social Circle................1-5.........................4-12
Oglethorpe County........0-7.........................0-12
Region 8-A
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Lakeview Academy........7-0........................15-4
George Walton..............7-1........................14-3
Tallulah Falls.................6-1........................10-8
Prince Avenue...............5-2........................12-4
Athens Academy...........3-4........................11-7
Towns County................2-4........................3-13
Providence Christian......2-5........................7-10
Athens Christian............2-5........................6-11
Commerce....................1-5........................2-14
Hebron Christian............0-8........................1-17
BOYS
Region 5-AAAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Lambert........................4-0........................16-3
Milton...........................4-0........................7-10
Forsyth Central.............2-2........................10-9
South Forsyth...............2-3........................6-14
West Forsyth................1-4........................3-15
North Forsyth................0-4........................4-15
Region 8-AAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Gainesville..................4-0.........................17-1
Dacula........................4-0.........................14-5
Apalachee...................1-2.........................8-10
Winder-Barrow..............1-2.........................7-10
Lanier..........................1-3..........................9-9
Habersham Cental........0-4.........................1-17
Region 8-AAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Buford...........................7-0........................16-2
Cedar Shoals.................6-2........................17-3
Flowery Branch..............3-3........................15-4
Walnut Grove.................3-3........................11-8
Clarke Central................2-5........................10-8
Loganville......................1-5..........................9-9
Johnson........................1-6........................8-12
Region 7-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Blessed Trinity.............3-1..........................12-6
White County...............3-1..........................13-7
Marist..........................2-1.........................10-9
West Hall.....................1-1..........................6-11
Chestatee.....................0-4.........................5-15
Region 8-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Madison County............3-1.........................12-6
St. Pius X.....................3-1.........................11-7
North Oconee...............2-1...........................9-8
Oconee County.............3-2.........................10-7
Stephens County...........2-3........................13-5
Jefferson.......................1-4........................4-14
Region 7-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Greater Atlanta Chr.......7-0.......................14-4
East Hall......................6-1.......................12-6
North Hall.....................4-4.......................11-9
Union County................3-3........................9-9
Dawson County.............2-5.......................8-11
Lumpkin County............2-5.......................10-9
Fannin County...............0-6.......................7-10
Region 8-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Morgan County..............5-0....................... 13-4
Hart County...................4-1........................11-8
Franklin County.............2-2..........................6-9
Jackson County.............1-2........................3-13
Monroe Area.................0-3.........................6-11
East Jackson................0-4.........................1-17
Region 8-AA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Banks County..............5-0.........................13-4
Putnam County............5-2.........................13-5
Monticello....................5-2.........................12-6
Elbert County...............4-2.........................10-8
Rabun County..............3-3.........................9-10
Oglethorpe County........1-6.........................5-10
Social Circle................0-7.........................2-18
Region 8-A
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Tallulah Falls.................8-0.......................18-0
Lakeview Academy........8-0.......................13-5
Athens Christian............7-1.......................15-3
Towns County................5-3.......................12-6
Prince Avenue...............4-4.......................10-8
Athens Academy...........3-4.........................9-6
George Walton..............3-5.........................6-9
Hebron Christian............3-6.......................8-11
Riverside Military............2-6.........................3-8
Commerce.....................0-7.......................2-13
Providence Christian.......0-7........................1-16
Schedule for Friday, Jan. 20
Region 5-AAAAAAA
Milton at West Forsyth
South Forsyth at Forsyth Central
Lambert at North Forsyth
Region 8-AAAAAA
Dacula at Gainesville
Winder-Barrow at Apalachee
Lanier at McIntosh (Sat., Jan. 21)
Region 8-AAAAA
St. Francis at Buford (girls only)
Johnson at Walnut Grove
Flowery Branch at Loganville
West Hall at Buford (Sat., Jan 21)
Region 7-AAAA
West Hall at Marist
Chestatee at White County
West Hall at Buford (Sat., Jan 21)
Region 8-AAAA
Oconee County at North Oconee
Jefferson at Madison County
St. Pius at Stephens County
Region 7-AAA
Greater Atlanta Christian at Union County
Fannin County at North Hall
Dawson County at Lumpkin County
Hayesville (N.C.) at Union County (Sat. Jan. 21)
Region 8-AAA
Franklin County at Morgan County
Hart County at East Jackson
Monroe Area at Jackson County
Region 8-AA
Rabun County at Putnam County
Social Circle at Elbert County
Banks County at Monticello
Region 8-A
Riverside Military at Tallulah Falls (boys only)
Hebvron Christian at Commerce
Bethlehem Christian at George Walton
Prince Avenue at Athens Academy
