Basketball: Quest for state playoffs begins with region tournaments

The second season for prep basketball teams begins on Monday.

Region tournaments get under way around the area with state playoff bids hanging in the balance. 

And, while there are plenty of heavy favorites for region crowns and top state seeds among area teams, upsets are just one or two bad minutes away as underdogs and dark horses look for their moment. No team is safe. Each region will send four boys and four girls teams into the state tournament.

Several area teams, however, already have clinched playoff berths. The Gainesville boys in Region 8-AAAAAA, both Buford teams in Region 8-AAAAA, the White County and West Hall girls and the White County boys in Region 7-AAAA, and the Jefferson boys in Region 8-AAAA all earned spots by vitue of their regular season finish.

Several northeast Georgia area regions should provide plenty of excitement and fireworks throughout the week. Region 7-AAA, with the exception of the powerhouses Greater Atlanta Christian girls and boys team, should have every playoff spot up for grabs. Action in 7-AAA begins Tuesday at East Hall and then moves to Dawson County on Friday. Region 8-AAAAA, meanwhile, is loaded with power teams like Buford and the Flowery Branch girls, not to mention last year's boys state runner-up Cedar Shoals. The Flowery Branch boys have been strong down the stretch as well.

Look for some defensive slugfests in Region 7-AAAA as grinding teams like the Marist and White County girls try to slow down high-flying West Hall and 2,000-point scorer Anna McKendree.

Region 8-A, where both Lakeview Academy teams won their subregions, is expected to be a dogfight every night with Prince Avenue, Athens Academy, Hebron Christian, Tallulah Falls, and Towns County all looking to advance. Only the winners of the region tournament in 8-A receive automatic berths as Class A Public and Private use the powr rankings to determine the rest of the 24-team field.

Below is the schedule of all eight northeast Georgia area region tournaments:

(Listed by higher classification first and region.)

REGION 8-AAAAAA
All games at Dacula
Tuesday, Feb. 6
No. 3 Dacula girls vs. No. 6 Apalachee, 4 p.m.
No. 3 Lanier boys vs. No. 6 Habersham Central, 5:30 p.m.
No. 4 Habersham Central girls vs. No. 5 Gainesville, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Apalachee boys vs. No. 5 Winder-Barrow, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 9
No. 3 Dacula/No. 6 Apalachee girls vs, No. 2 Lanier, 4 p.m.
No. 3 Lanier/No. 6 Habersham Central boys vs, No. 2 Dacula, 5:30 p.m.
No. 4 Habersham Central/No. 5 Gainesville girls vs. No. 1 Winder-Barrow,  7 p.m.
No. 4 Apalachee/No. 5 Winder-Barrow boys vs. No. 1 Gainesville, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 10
Consolation girls, 3 p.m.
Consolation boys, 4:30 p.m.
Championship girls, 6 p.m.
Championship boys, 7:45 p.m.

REGION 8-AAAAA
Tuesday, Feb. 6
at Clarke Central
No. 4 Flowery Branch boys vs. No. 5 Loganville, 4:30 p.m.
No. 3 Cedar Shoals boys vs. No. 6 Walnut Grove, 6 p.m.
No. 2 Clarke Central boys vs. No. 7 Johnson, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 9
at Johnson
No. 1 Buford girls vs.No. 4 Loganville girls/No. 5 Clarke Central, 4 p.m.
No. 1 Buford boys vs, No. 4 Flowery Branch/No. 5 Loganville , 5:30 p.m.
No. 3 Cedar Shoals/No. 6 Walnut Grove girls vs. No. 2 FloweryBranch/No. 7 Johnson,  7p.m.
No. 3 Cedar Shoals/No. 6 Walnut Grove boys vs. No. 2 Clarke Central boys vs. No. 7 Johnson, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 10
at Johnson
Consolation girls, 1 p.m.
Consolation boys, 2:30 p.m.
Championship girls, 4 p.m.
Championship boys, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 8
at West Hall
No. 3 White County girls  vs. No.  2 West Hall, 4 p.m.
No. 2 Marist boys vs. No. 3 White County, 5:30 p.m.
No. 1 Marist girls vs. No. 4 Chestatee/No. 5 Blessed Trinity, 7 p.m.
No. 1 Blessed Trinity boys vs. No. 4 Chestatee/No. 5 West Hall, 8:30

Saturday, Feb. 10
at West Hall
Consolation girls, 3 p.m.
Consolation boys, 4:30 p.m.
Championship girls, 6 p.m.
Championship boys, 7:30 p.m.

REGION 8-AAAA
Tuesday, Feb. 6
All games at Jefferson
No. 5 North Oconee girls vs. No. 4 Stephens County, 4 p.m.
No. 5 Madison County boys vs. No. 4 Oconee County, 5:30 p.m.
No. 3 Jefferson girls vs. No. 6 Oconee County, 7 p.m.
No. 3 Stephens County boys vs. No. 6 North Oconee, 8:30 p.m.

REGION 7-AAA
Tuesday, Feb. 6
at East Hall
No. 4 Union County boys vs. No. 5 North Hall, 4:30 p.m.
No. 3 Dawson County boys vs. No. 6 Lumpkin County, 6:00 p.m.
No. 2 East Hall boys vs. No. 7 Fannin County, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 7
at East Hall
No. 4 Dawson County girls vs. No. 5 Union County, 4:30 p.m.
No. 3 North Hall girls vs. No. 6 Fannin County, 6:00 p.m.
No. 2 East Hall girls vs. No. 7 Lumpkin County, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 9
at Dawson County
No. 2 East Hall girls/No. 7 Lumpkin County vs. No. 3 North Hall girls/No. 6 Fannin County, 4:00 p.m.
No. 2 East Hall boys/No. 7 Fannin County vs. No. 3 Dawson County boys/No. 6 Lumpkin County, 5:30 p.m.
No. 1 GAC girls vs. No. 4 Dawson County girls vs. No. 5 Union County, 7:00 p.m.
No. 1 GAC boys vs. No. 4 Union County boys/No. 5 North Hall, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 10
at Dawson County
Consolation girls, 3 p.m.
Consolation boys, 4:30 p.m.
Championship girls, 6 p.m.
Championship boys, 7:30 p.m.

REGION 8-AAA
Tuesday, Feb. 6
at Monroe Area
No. 5 Jackson County girls vs. No. 4 Monroe Area, 4 p.m.
No. 5 Franklin County boys vs. No. 4 East Jackson, 5:30 p.m.
No. 6 East Jackson girls vs. No. 3 Morgan County, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Jackson County boys vs. No. 3 Monroe Area, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 8
at Emmanuel College
No. 3 Morgan County girls/No. 6 East Jackson vs. No. 2 Hart County, 4 p.m.
No. 3 Monroe Area boys/No. 6 Jackson County vs. No. 2 Hart County, 5:30 p.m.
No. 4 Monroe Area girls/No. 5 Jackson County vs. No. 1 Franklin County, 7 p.m.
No. 4 East Jackson boys/No. 5 Franklin County vs. No. 1 Morgan County, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 10
at Emmanuel College
Consolation girls, 4 p.m.
Consolation boys, 5:30 p.m.
Championship girls, 7 p.m.
Championship boys, 8:30 p.m.

REGION 8-AA
Monday, Feb. 5
at Banks County
No. 5 Elbert County girls vs. No. 4 Monticello, 4 p.m.
No. 6 Social Circle girls vs. No. 3 Rabun County, 5:30 p.m.
No. 7 Oglethorpe County girls vs. No. 2 Banks County, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 6
at Banks County
No. 5 Putnam County boys vs. No. 4 Rabun County, 4 p.m.
No. 6 Oglethorpe County boys vs. No. 3 Monticello, 5:30 p.m.
No. 7 Social Circle boys vs. No. 2 Banks County, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 8
at Putnam County
No. 6 Social Circle/No. 3 Rabun County girls vs. No. 7 Oglethorpe County/No. 2 Banks County girls, 4 p.m.
No. 6 Oglethorpe County/No. 3 Monticello boys vs. No. 7 Social Circle/No. 2 Banks County boys, 5:30 p.m.
No. 5 Elbert County/No. 4 Monticello girls vs. No. 1 Putnam County girls, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Putnam County/No. 4 Rabun County boys vs. No. 1 Elbert County boys, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 9
at Putnam County
Consolation girls, 4 p.m.
Consolation boys, 5:30 p.m.
Championship girls, 7 p.m.
Championship boys, 8:30 p.m.

REGION 8-A
Monday, Feb. 5
All games at Commerce
4S Athens Christian girls vs. 5N Towns County, 4 p.m.
4S Athens Christian boys vs. 5N Towns County, 5:30 p.m.
4N Commerce girls vs. 5S Providence Christian, 7 p.m.
4N Riverside Military boys vs. 5S Providence Christian, 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 6
4N Commerce/5S Providence Christian girls vs. 1S Prince Avenue, 4 p.m.
4N Riverside Military/5S Providence Christian boys vs. 1SPrince Avenue, 5:30 p.m.
4S Athens Christian/5N Towns County girls vs. 1N Lakeview Academy, 7 p.m.
4S Athens Christian/5N Towns County boys vs. 1N Lakeview Academy, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 7
2S Athens Academy girls vs. 3N Hebron Christian, 4 p.m.
2S Athens Academy boys vs. 3N Tallulah Falls, 5:30 p.m.
2N Tallulah Falls girls vs. 3S George Walton, 7 p.m.
2N Hebron Christian boys vs. 3S George Walton, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 9
Girls semifinals, 4 p.m.
Boys semifinal, 5:30 p.m.
Girls semifinal, 7 p.m.
Boys semifinal, 8:30 p.m.