If Wednesday night does indeed prove a harbinger, then the state playoffs hold plenty of big moments to come for northeast Georgia programs.
Six of the seven area teams that played in Wednesday's "Sweet 16" round of the GHSA girls bracket advanced to next week's quarterfinals -- the sole loss coming down to the absolute wire, as West Hall suffered an agonizing 50-47 setback against a powerful Columbus team in Oakwood.
(NOTE: Scroll down for a complete list of scores from Wednesday, Thursday's second round playoff schedule and the state quarterfinal match-ups already set.)
Elsewhere, however, everything came up roses for northeast Georgia's girls, including blowout wins for Buford, Jefferson and Rabun County at home. Perhaps the most impressive, however, was Flowery Branch's Class AAAAA road-warrior domination of Statesboro, as the Lady Falcons pulled ahead early and never looked back en route to a 59-36 victory.
The Dawson County girls might disagree -- and they have their own claim on the night's most impressive victory after they trekked all the way to Albany and shot past Monroe, 63-53, in the Class AAA bracket.
Also, in Class A Private, the Lady Lions of Lakeview booked their second straight state quarterfinal spot with a gritty, 59-55 defeat of Greenforest Christian.
Buford and Rabun County each jumped out to sizable early advantages and cruised in Classes AAAAA and AA, respectively. Jefferson, however, overcame a slow start to pancake Luella in the second half of a Class AAAA showdown. The Lady Dragons led 28-21 at the half. They then outscored the visitors 23-8 in the third quarter en route to a comfortable 70-48 victory.
Each booked spots in next week's quarterfinal round, which will take place Feb. 28 and March 1 (Tuesday-Wednesday).
On Thursday, northeast Georgia's boys programs -- as well as the North Hall girls -- will look to get in on the act, as seven more area teams do battle in the Sweet 16. Jacobs Media will bring you live broadcasts from Gainesville's Class AAAAAA showdown with Effingham County, with 1240 AM ESPN Radio on the spot. Meanwhile, AM 550 will carry the East Hall boys Class AAA contest with Islands.
WEDNESDAY'S SECOND ROUND STATE PLAYOFF SCORES
Area teams listed in bold
Class AAAAA
Buford girls 76, Ware County 41
Flowery Branch girls 59, Statesboro 36
Class AAAA
Columbus 50, West Hall girls 47
Jefferson girls 70, Luella 48
Class AAA
Dawson County girls 63, Monroe girls 53
Class AA
Rabun County girls 79, Vidalia 55
Class A Private
Lakeview Academy girls 59, Greenforest 55
THURSDAY'S STATE SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Class AAAAAA
- Effingham County (Region 2, No. 2 seed) at Gainesville boys (Region 8, No. 1), 5:30 p.m. Thursday -- Radio: 1240 AM ESPN
Class AAAAA
- New Hampstead (Region 2, No. 2) at Buford boys (Region 8, No. 1), 6 p.m. Thursday
Class AAA
- Islands (Region 3, No. 3) at East Hall boys (Region 7, No. 1), 5:30 p.m. Thursday -- Radio: WDUN AM 550
- North Hall girls (Region 7, No. 3) at Johnson-Savannah (Region 3, No. 1), 6 p.m. Thursday
Class AA
- Josey (Region 4, No. 3) at Banks County boys (Region 8, No. 1), 6 p.m. Thursday
Class A Public
- Towns County boys (No. 15) at Calhoun County (No. 2), 5 p.m. Thursday
Class A Private
- Wesleyan (No. 15) at Lakeview Academy boys (No. 2), 6:30 p.m. Thursday
QUARTERFINAL ROUND PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS
Class AAAAA
Buford girls (Region 8, No. 1 seed) vs. Columbia-Warner Robins winner
Flowery Branch girls (Region 8, No. 2) at Carrollton (Region 7, No. 1)
Class AAAA
Jefferson girls (Region 8, No. 1) vs. Chapel Hill-Carver, Columbus winner
Class AAA
Dawson County (Region 7, No. 2) at Morgan County (Region 8, No. 1)
Class AA
Rabun County girls (Region 8, No. 1) vs. Fitzgerald (Region 1, No. 1)*
Class A Private
Lakeview Academy girls (No. 3) vs. Darlington (No. 11)
* - Coin flip to determine home-court advantage
