Only one game stands in the way of the Georgia High School Association's state basketball finals for two northeast Georgia area teams.
Two of those games will be played Friday night as both the Lumpkin County girls and Commerce girls battle to make their first appearance in a state championship game.
The Commerce girls will travel to Calhoun County in their first Class A Public semifinal game since1989. Game time is set for 6 p.m. Meanwhile, Lumpkin County plays host to Cross Creek out of Augusta in its first-ever Class 3A semifinal game. The toss-in is set for 7 p.m.
"These girls are not satisfied with just being in the Final Four," Commerce coach Brad Puckett said. "They want to play in Macon next week and are ready to go to war with Calhoun to try and get there. We have to be prepared to be in a physical game tonight, keep our composure, and execute the game plan we went over yesterday."
(Access the BOYS and GIRLS brackets and check below for the full schedule)
Commerce (19-10, Region 8-A No. 2 seed) rallied past Turner County, 55-47, in front of a packed house at home on Wednesday to advance. Bryanna Sanders scored 17 points, Carson Hobbs had 15 and Maggie Mullis chipped in 10 to lead Commerce.
As for the Lady Indians, they held off two Pierce County charges en route to a 65-55 victory five hours from home Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A tournament. Freshman Averie Jones led the Lady Indians with 23 points, while Isabel Davenport hit for 17, and MacKenzie Caldwell added 10 points.
Lumpkin County coach David Dowse said he's had a difficult time finding any Cross Creek weaknesses.
"They are a big and athletic team a team that is very skilled in all five positions, and very disciplined and incredibly well-coached," Dowse said. "I usually spend quite a bit of time to find some kinks in the armor and some weaknesses, and I don't see a whole lot with Cross Creek. They're an outstanding team, and we're going to have to be at our very best to be in the ball game at the end and have a chance to win."
STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE, Friday, March 5
CLASS 3A
Cross Creek girls (R4, S1) at Lumpkin County (R8, S1), 7 p.m.
Commerce girls (R8, S2) at Calhoun County (R1, S1), 6 p.m.
STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS, Saturday, March 6
CLASS A PUBLIC
Towns County boys (R8, S1) at Chattahoochee County (R5, S1), 4 p.m.
STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCOREBOARD, Wednesday, March 3
(Area teams in bold)
CLASS 4A
Troup County girls 49, Flowery Branch 42
CLASS 2A
Thomasville boys 64, Rabun County 53
CLASS A PUBLIC
Commerce girls 55, Turner County 47
STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCORES, Tuesday, March 2
(Area teams in bold)
CLASS 6A
Lovejoy girls 49, Buford 42
CLASS 4A
Carver-Columbus girls 61, Jefferson 60
CLASS 3A
Lumpkin County girls 64, Pierce County 55
CLASS A PUBLIC
Towns County boys 61, Irwin County 55
