The race for region seeding and possible playoff spots begins its final stretch this week for northeast Georgia area basketball teams.
More than a dozen crucial region contests spanning seven regions in six classifications are on tap for Friday night.
Region tournaments are slated for mid-February so the final month of the regular season should be wide open for most area teams.
On the girl's side, in Class 6A, No. 6 Buford travels to Central Gwinnett in Region 8-6A. Class 4A No. 1 Jefferson plays host to East Hall in Region 8-4A. Lumpkin County, which is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, entertains West Hall in Region 7-3A action to highlight the action.
For the boys, No. 10 Buford hits the road against Central Gwinnett in Region 8-6A. Chestatee heads to No. 10 North Oconee in Region 8-4A while in Region 7-3A No. 8 Cherokee Bluff travels to Dawson County.
However, Commerce's road game at Lincoln County has been postponed until further notice.
(Check below for Friday night's schedule.)
AREA BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Jan. 8
(Games listed by highest classification)
(Games begin at 7 p.m. with girls unless otherwise noted)
REGION 6-7A
South Forsyth at Gainesville*
REGION 8-6A
Buford at Central Gwinnett*
Habersham Central at Dacula*
REGION 8-5A
Jackson County at Johnson*
REGION 8-4A
Chestatee at North Oconee*
East Hall at Jefferson*
Madison County at Flowery Branch*
REGION 8-3A
Oconee County at East Jackson*
REGION 7-3A
Cherokee Bluff at Dawson County*
Lumpkin County at West Hall*
North Hall at Gilmer*
REGION 8-2A (Thursday)
Rabun County 57, Rabun Gap 29
REGION 8-A PUBLIC
Commerce at Lincoln County* -- postponed
Banks County at Towns County
(* -- denotes region contest)
