The massive early region battles are just one of many things that make basketball interesting.
Of course, that's not to detract from a massive region battle anytime during the season. Teams improve throughout the season, and the good teams only get better game by game.
That brings us to Friday night's games to watch, and there are no two bigger games on the schedule than the Winder-Barrow boys traveling to Jefferson and the Cherokee Bluff boys invading Valhalla at East Hall.
We'll start with Winder-Barrow at Jefferson. The double-G Bulldoggs are playing really well right now, winning the last five, and are ranked No. 7 in Class 5A.
The Dragons (7-2, 1-0 Region 8-5A) are also playing well, winning their last three. If the Dragons win on Friday, they'll take the early Region 8-5A lead. If the Bulldoggs (10-2, 2-0 Region 8-5A) win, they'll claim the top spot for now.
Meanwhile, on the girls' side, Jefferson (7-2, 1-0 Region 8-5A) has picked up where they left off last season and is playing well right now. A win over Winder-Barrow will have them a half-game out of first place in the Region 8-5A standings.
In Class 4A, Cherokee Bluff travels to East Hall to face a red-hot Vikings team.
The Vikings (6-1, 2-0 Region 8-4A North) have flipped the script from last year, winning the last 6-of-7 and are sitting at 6-1 and atop the sub-region standings. This time last year, the Vikings were 1-7
The Bears (3-4, 1-1 Region 8-4A North) hit a few bumps early on, playing without key players in the rotation, which has led to a 3-4 start. But the Bears are building depth, which should have them playing at their full potential down the road. However, that doesn't change the importance of winning over the Vikings on Friday. A win would put them in a tie with the Vikings atop the sub-region standings. A loss will most likely drop them to fourth.
Regardless, this game should be really good.
Also on the Region 8-4A North boys' side, Chestatee travels to East Forsyth in a battle for a tie for second place in the subregion.
The War Eagles (3-6, 1-1 Region 8-4A North) played Region 8-4A South foe Walnut Grove, ranked in the top 10, to a four-point loss on Tuesday. They are improving and could better themselves with a win over East Forsyth on Friday.
However, the Broncos (2-7, 1-1 Region 8-4A North) are looking for the same thing: a shot to move up in the standings. They've also shown improvement at times. This one is a toss-up, but it should be a good one.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Friday, Dec. 15
Banks County at Commerce, 7 p.m.
Cherokee Bluff at East Hall, 6 p.m.*
Chestatee at East Forsyth, 7 p.m.*
Denmark at Buford, 6 p.m.
East Jackson at West Hall, 6 p.m.
Forsyth Central at Flowery Branch, 7 p.m.
Franklin County at Jackson County, 7 p.m.
Lumpkin County at Pickens, 6 p.m.*
North Hall at Johnson, 7 p.m.*
Oglethorpe County at Lakeview Academy, 6 p.m.
Sandy Creek at Gainesville, 6 p.m.
Towns County at Aquinas, 6:30 p.m.*
Union County at Fannin County, 7 p.m.
White County at Gilmer, 6 p.m.*
Winder-Barrow at Jefferson, 7 p.m.*
