Seven girls teams, and one boys team, moved through to the second round of the Georgia High School Association basketball tournament Friday night. On Saturday, eight boys team, and one girls team, will look to join them around the area and state.
(Click here to read the feature on East Jackson and Cherokee Bluff making their first-ever state playoff appearance.)
(Click here to read a feature on the Gainesville boys looking for redemption against Langston Hughes.)
(NOTE: For a complete list of tip-off times involving northeast Georgia programs scroll down.)
Over the years, East Hall has been a shoo-in for the state tournament – 42 out of the last 43 seasons and 10-straight to be exact.
This season, under new head coach Seth Thompson, the Vikings’ (13-14) path to the playoffs hasn’t been an easy one. They’ve struggled at times this season and almost were eliminated by Cherokee Bluff in the first round of the Region 7-3A tournament last week. Nevertheless, the Vikings are in as a No. 3 seed and have the talent to mount a charge in the playoffs.
“We are very excited for this opportunity,” Thompson said. “This is what we have been working for since the summer. Coming out of our region with the number three seed is an accomplishment in itself. With the region tournament over with, we have to look forward to this game with Calhoun. We will need to play better in order to advance.”
The Vikings will travel to Region 6-3A No. 2 seed Calhoun Saturday at 6 p.m. Thompson says the Yellow Jackets are very athletic.
“Calhoun has a really nice post player inside,” Thompson said. “They have guards that can shoot it from anywhere. They are very well coached and have a tradition of winning at their school. We’re looking forward to this opportunity and hopefully, we can come out on top.”
The Lumpkin County Indians, the No. 4 seed out of Region 7-3A, are making the trip back to the Class 3A playoffs after missing last season's dance. The Indians (8-20) have been a work in progress this season, but are playing the best they have all year, according to coach Jeff Steele.
“I told the guys Wednesday that I can tell they are finally playing for each other which, in my opinion, makes a huge difference,” Steele said.
The Indians knocked North Hall out of the region tournament last week and lost on a last second 3-pointer by East Hall’s Imre Earls in the third-place game. Now, they’ll face Region 6-3A No. 1 seed, North Murray, Saturday.
“North Murray is well coached and does a great job of keeping you off balance by changing defenses often,” Steele said. “They are 26-4, but with that being said, I like the matchup for us. We will see!”
In Class 4A, West Hall (8-19) is making its fourth-straight trip to the tournament as the No. 4 seed out of Region 7-4A. Spartan coach Bobby Pless said his team is looking forward to the challenge.
"We have the mindset of playing every possession as competitors," he said. "And, we know it will take us making plays on both ends of the floor."
The Spartans will battle Region 6-4A's No. 1 seed, Southeast Whitfield. They'll have the challenge of defending the Raiders' strong inside game and balanced attack.
"SE Whitfield has been playing well lately and won the region with timely shooting and balance," Pless said. "They have a strong inside player Zac Cole (6'-4"), so we are going to have to rebound well and limit paint points. Their perimeter play is spread out among several players, so they are balanced overall."
FIRST ROUND BOYS
(Jefferson plays a doubleheader with boys and girls on Saturday)
(Games listed by classification and time)
SATURDAY (Feb. 10)
Class 6A
Langston Hughes (Region 5, Seed 3) at Gainesville (Region 8, Seed 2), 6 p.m. (RADIO: FM 94.5 & AM 1240 THE LAKE)
Class 4A
West Hall (R7, S4) at Southeast Whitfield (R6, S1), 6 p.m.
Class 3A
East Hall (R7, S3) at Calhoun (R6, S2), 6 p.m. (RADIO: FM 102.9 & AM 550 WDUN)
Lumpkin County (R7, S4) at North Murray (R6, S1), 6 p.m.
Ringgold (6, S4) at Dawson County (R7, S1), 6 p.m.
Cedar Grove girls (R5, S3) at Jefferson (R8, S2), 6 p.m.
Westminster boys (R5, S3) at Jefferson (R8, S2), 7:30 p.m.
Class 2A
Rabun County (R8, S4) at Bremen (R5, S1), 3:30 p.m.
Callaway (R5, S3) at Banks County (R8, S2), 6 p.m.
