Several northeast Georgia area teams continue to remain among the state's best according to rankings released MaxPreps and Kyle Sandy.
In all, 17 teams are ranked in either the top 20 in MaxPreps or the top 10 in Kyle Sandy for both boys and girls with just two weeks left in the regular season.
On the girls side, in Class 6A Buford (15-0, 6-0 Region 8-6A) is holding on to the No. 2 spot in MaxPreps and is third in Kyle Sandy. The Lady Wolves are third overall in Georgia, all classifications, in the MaxPreps poll. Habersham Central (13-3, 5-2 Region 8-6A) has climbed up to 18th in MaxPreps.
In Class 4A, Jefferson (14-3, 6-0 Region 8-4A) is still atop the MaxPreps rankings but dropped to second behind Luella in the Kyle Sandy poll. East Hall (11-6, 2-3 Region 8-4A) is 13th in MaxPreps.
In Class 3A, Lumpkin County (15-4, 6-1 Region 7-3A) dropped from the top spot down to fifth in MaxPreps and is fourth in Kyle Sandy. White County (9-7, 8-1 Region 7-3A) has climbed into the top 20 at No. 20 in MaxPreps.
In Class 2A, Rabun County (13-4- 2-1 Region 8-2A) slipped to No. 2 behind fellow Region 8-2A foe Elbert County in MaxPreps and is fourth in Kyle Sandy. Banks County (13-9, 0-3 Region 8-2A) is seventh in Kyle Sandy and eighth in MaxPreps.
In Class A Public, Commerce (8-8, 4-1 Region 8-A Public) is 17th in MaxPreps.
For the boys, Gainesville (14-6, 5-2 Region 6-7A) has dropped out of the top 20 in MaxPreps in Class 7A despite a four-game win streak but remains at 10th in Kyle Sandy.
In Class 6A, Buford (13-4, 4-2 Region 8-6A) dropped to ninth in MaxPreps and out of the top 10 in Kyle Sandy. In Class 4A, Jefferson (12-4, 5-1 Region 8-4A) is ninth in MaxPreps and 10th in Kyle Sandy.
In Class 3A, White County (11-5, 8-1 Region 7-3A) has climbed into 10th in Kyle Sandy fueled by a six-game win streak. The Warriors are 18th in MaxPreps. Dawson County (15-6, 6-2 Region 7-3A) sits 15th in MaxPreps while Cherokee Bluff (11-8, 6-1 Region 7-3A) is 20th in MaxPreps.
In Class 2A, Banks County (14-7, 2-1 Region 8-2A) dropped out of the Kyle Sandy poll but 12th in MaxPreps. In Class A Public, Towns County (12-2, 6-0 Region 8-A Public) is third in Kyle Sandy and seventh in MaxPreps.
As always, there are some huge games on tap all over the area in every region on Tuesday night and several key rescheduled region games on Wednesday and Thursday as well.
(Check below for the schedule from Tuesday through Thursday around the area.)
AREA BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Tuesday, Jan. 26
(Games listed by highest classification)
(Games begin at 6 p.m. with girls unless otherwise noted)
REGION 6-7A
Denmark at Gainesville (girls only), 6:30 p.m.* -- 94.5 FM The Lake
REGION 8-6A
Habersham Central at Buford*
REGION 8-5A
Clarke Central at Jackson County*
Johnson at Loganville*
REGION 8-4A
East Hall at Chestatee*
Flowery Branch at Jefferson*
REGION 8-3A
East Jackson at Stephens County*
REGION 7-3A
Cherokee Bluff at White County*
Dawson County at Gilmer*
Lumpkin County at North Hall*
REGION 8-2A
Union County at Banks County*
REGION 8-A PUBLIC
Towns County at Social Cicle, 5 p.m.*
Commerce at Lake Oconee Academy*
REGION 6-A PRIVATE
King's Ridge at Lakeview Academy (boys only), 7 p.m.*
AREA BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Wednesday, Jan. 27
(Games listed by highest classification)
REGION 7-3A
West Hall at Dawson County*
AREA BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Thursday, Jan. 28
(Games listed by highest classification)
REGION 8-4A
Chestatee at Jefferson*
REGION 7-3A
Lumpkin County at Cherokee Bluff*
REGION 8-2A
Rabun County at Tallulah Falls (boys only), 5:30 p.m.
Rabun County at Rabun Gap (girls only), 6 p.m.
REGION 6-A PRIVATE
Pinecrest Academy at Lakeview Academy*
(* -- denotes region contest)
