With holiday gifts open and fireworks depleted, area basketball teams can get down to the business of chasing state titles in earnest beginning on Thursday.
Northeast Georgia area Regions 8-6A, 8-5A, and 8-A will finally join the rest of the area in getting their region schedules under way. Region 8-5A teams Buford and Johnson both will open at home as the Wolves play host to Walnut Grove and the Knights entertain Clarke Central on Thursday. Buford and Johnson will ten meet on Saturday in Oakwood.
In Region 8-6A, area teams Gainesville and Habersham Central open their region schedules against each other in Mt. Airy on Friday. The Red Elephants then play host to Dacula on Saturday.
And in Region 8-A, Riverside MIlitary Academy opens at home against Prince Avenue while Commerce and Towns County will hit the road on Friday. Lakeview Academy opens its region schedule at home on Saturday against George Walton.
Meanwhile, several huge battles are on tap in Region 7-3A on Friday, highlighted by East Hall traveling to Greater Atlanta Christian and Cherokee Bluff playing host to Dawson County.
In 8-2A, Rabun County plays host to rival Union County in a huge showdown on the girls side while Banks County heads to Elbert County for a pair of key games.
In Region 7-4A, West Hall plays host to Marist while White County travels to Denmark.
(See the full schedule of games for the entire weekend below.)
Thursday, Jan. 3
Walnut Grove at Buford*
Cherokee Bluff at North Oconee
Clarke Central at Johnson*
Friday, Jan. 4
Banks County at Elbert County*
Chestatee at Blessed Trinity*
Commerce at George Walton*
Dawson County at Cherokee Bluff*
East Hall at Greater Atlanta Christian*
East Jackson at Jackson County*
Gainesville at Habersham Central*
Hart County at Jefferson*
Marist at West Hall*
North Hall at Lumpkin County*
Prince Avenue at Riverside Military*
Towns County at Providence Christian*
Union County at Rabun County*
White County at Denmark*
Saturday, Jan. 5
Buford at Johnson*
Commerce at Hebron Christian*
Dacula at Gainesville*
George Walton at Lakeview Academy*
Jackson County at North Oconee
Lanier Christian Academy at Chestatee
Mill Creek at Flowery Branch
Oglethorpe County at Banks County*
Putnam County at Union County*
Rabun County at Monticello*
Towns County at Hayesville (N.C.)
(* -- Denotes region contest)
