The region standings are beginning to take shape in several of the northeast Georgia regions covered by AccessWDUN. But not all.
Some exciting finishes are brewing for several regions, like in Region 7-3A for both the boys and girls. Region 8-2A on the girls is wide open as is the boys side of Regions 8-4A, 8-6A, and 6-7A.
There are some huge games on tap all over the area in every region on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
For the boys, Gainesville (13-6, 5-2 Region 6-7A) is tied with Denmark for second place and both are just one game behind first-place South Forsyth. The Red Elephants were scheduled to take on Forsyth Central in a huge game but was postponed on Friday morning.
In Region 8-6A, Buford (12-4, 3-2 Region 8-6A) is tied for third with Dacula and both are just 1 1/2 games out of second place. The two teams meet at The Buford Arena on Friday in a monster showdown. You can hear the action starting at 6 p.m. with the girls game on WDUN AM 550.
In Region 8-4A, Jefferson (11-3, 5-1 Region 8-6A) sits just one-half game behind Cedar Shoals (11-5, 6-1 Region 8-6A) and those two teams meet Friday in Athens with first place on the line.
In Region 7-3A, three teams are within one game of first place. White County (10-5, 7-1 Region 7-3A) leads the region and travels to North Hall while second place Cherokee Bluff (11-8, 6-1 Region 7-3A) travels to winless West Hall in a pair of key games. Third-place Dawson County (14-6, 6-2 Region 7-3A) is off this weekend from region play.
On the girls side of things, several regions are beginning to take shape with Buford (14-0, 5-0 Region 8-6A) rolling atop Region 8-6A and holding a 2 1/2 game lead over second place Habersham Central (12-3, 4-2 Region 8-6A). The Lady Raiders can get some distance over third-place Dacula (7-8, 3-2 Region 8-6A) with a win over fifth-place Lanier and a Buford win over Dacula on Friday.
In Region 8-4A, the Lady Dragons (12-3, 5-0 Region 8-4A) hold a one-game lead over Cedar Shoals and can increase that with a win over the Lady Jaguars (10-3, 5-2 Region 8-4A) on Friday.
In Region 7-3A, White County (9-7, 6-1 Region 7-3A) is one-half game ahead of both Lumpkin County (13-4, 5-1 Region 7-3A) and Gilmer (10-3, 5-1 Region 7-3A) with White County and Gilmer splitting their two meetings and Lumpkin beating White County in their first meeting. The Lady Indians play host to Gilmer while White County travels to defending region champion North Hall on Friday.
In Region 8-2A, three teams -- Elbert County (1st), Rabun County (3rd), Banks County (8th) -- all are in the top 10 in the MaxPreps rankings and it should be a battle for first til the final day of the season.
(Check below for the entire weekend's schedule.)
AREA BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Friday, Jan. 22
(Games listed by highest classification)
(Games begin at 7 p.m. with girls unless otherwise noted)
REGION 6-7A
Gainesville at Forsyth Central (boys only) POSTPONED
REGION 8-6A
Lanier at Habersham Central, 6 p.m.*
Dacula at Buford, 6 p.m.*
REGION 8-5A
Walnut Grove at Jackson County, 6 p.m.*
Apalachee at Johnson*
REGION 8-4A
Jefferson at Cedar Shoals*
REGION 8-3A
East Jackson at Franklin County*
REGION 7-3A
Gilmer at Lumpkin County, 6 p.m.*
West Hall at Cherokee Bluff*
White County at North Hall*
REGION 8-2A
Banks County at Elbert County*
Rabun County at Union County
REGION 8-A PUBLIC
Towns County at Greene County, 6 p.m.*
Fannin County at Union County
AREA BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Saturday, Jan. 23
(Games listed by highest classification)
REGION 6-7A
Gainesville at East Hall, 4 p.m. -- 94.5 FM The Lake
REGION 8-5A
Jackson County at Johnson, 2 p.m *
REGION 8-4A
Gainesville at East Hall, 4:30 p.m. -- 94.5 FM The Lake
Jefferson at Rabun County, 4:30 p.m.
REGION 8-3A
Monroe Area at East Jackson, 7 p.m.*
REGION 7-3A
Pickens at Dawson County, 1 p.m.
Union County at Lumpkin County, 4 p.m.
West Hall at Gilmer, 4 p.m.*
Winder-Barrow at Cherokee Bluff, 5 p.m.
REGION 8-2A
Jefferson at Rabun County, 4:30 p.m
Union County at Lumpkin County, 4 p.m.
REGION 8-A PUBLIC
Commerce at Social Circle, 6 p.m.*
Lincoln County at Towns County, 5 p.m.*
REGION 6-A PRIVATE
George Walton Academy at Lakeview Academy, 3 p.m.
(* -- denotes region contest)
