It won’t have any playoff implications, but perhaps the best matchup of the night on Tuesday will be the Class 4A No. 1 Jefferson girls playing host to Class 2A No. 2-ranked Rabun County at The Arena.
Both teams were projected to win their respective regions coming into the season and should give each a stern test before returning to region action on Friday.
There are several key showdowns on Tuesday on both the girls and boys side as a full slate of games is on tap.
For the girls, Gainesville (9-6, 0-4 Region 6-7A) is still looking for its first region win in the state’s highest classification. They dropped a heartbreaker in double-overtime to South Forsyth last week and will travel to No. 6 North Forsyth (11-2, 4-0 Region 6-7A) on Tuesday.
After a 35-day layoff due to coronavirus, Class 6A No. 6 Buford (9-0, 1-0 Region 8-6A) is starting to get in form. The Lady Wolves won four times last week and travel to surging Winder-Barrow (8-4, 2-1 Region 8-6A) which has won six straight.
In Region 8-4A, Flowery Branch (4-8, 2-1 Region 8-4A) faces a crucial road game at No. 10 Cedar Shoals (8-2, 3-1 Region 8-4A) with a chance to climb into second place.
Three teams are still unbeaten in Region 7-3A and White County (5-7, 4-0 Region 7-3A) heads to No. 2-ranked Lumpkin County (11-3, 4-0 Region 7-3A) in a battle for the top spot. Gilmer (8-2, 3-0 Region 7-3A) travels to Cherokee Bluff (5-11, 1-4 Region 7-3A).
On the boys side, Gainesville (10-6, 2-2 Region 6-7A) looks to rebound against last-place North Forsyth (4-11, 0-4 Region 6-7A) on the road.
In Region 8-6A, No. 9 Buford (11-2, 2-0 Region 8-6A) will try and keep pace with Lanier and Dacula atop the standings traveling to always-tough Winder-Barrow (8-4, 1-2 Region 8-6A).
In Region 7-3A, No. 9 Dawson County (9-5, 3-1 Region 7-3A) is coming off a win over previously-ranked Cherokee Bluff (9-6, 4-1 Region 7-3A) and both teams will try to keep pace with each other and White County (7-5, 4-1 Region 7-3A) with big region tilts. Dawson County plays host to West Hall and the Bears entertain Gilmer, while the Warriors face a tough road contest at Lumpkin County (6-7, 2-3 Region 7-3A).
In Region 8-A Public, No. 4 Towns County (6-1, 1-0 Region 8-A Public) travels to Commerce (3-10, 1-1Region 8-A Public) to try and stay atop the region standings.
(Check below for Tuesday through Thursday night's schedule.)
AREA BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Tuesday, Jan. 12
(Games listed by highest classification)
(Games begin at 6 p.m. with girls unless otherwise noted)
REGION 6-7A
Gainesville at North Forsyth* -- 94.5 FM The Lake
REGION 8-6A
Buford at Winder-Barrow*
Habersham Central at Stephens County
REGION 8-5A
Apalachee at Jackson County*
Greenbrier at Johnson, 5 p.m.*
REGION 8-4A
Chestatee at Madison County*
Flowery Branch at Cedar Shoals*
Rabun County at Jefferson
REGION 7-3A
Gilmer at Cherokee Bluff*
Union County at North Hall
West Hall at Dawson County*
White County at Lumpkin County*
REGION 8-A PUBLIC
Towns County at Commerce*
REGION 6-A PRIVATE
Lakeview Academy at Fellowship Christian*
AREA BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Thursday, Jan. 14
(Games listed by highest classification)
(Games begin at 6 p.m. with girls unless otherwise noted)
REGION 8-5A
Jackson County at Loganville*
