The regular season of the high school basketball 2022-23 campaign will come to a close this week with several Northeast Georgia-area teams still hoping to lay claim to the top seeds in upcoming region tournaments.
The regular season for several regions will conclude on Monday and Tuesday while the rest will finish on Friday.
The Buford boys are locked in a three-way duel with Collins Hill and Mill Creek atop the Region 8-7A standings. It figures to be a mess no matter what happens. Buford (17-6, 7-2 Region 8-7A) split with both Mill Creek (17-7, 7-2 Region 8-7A) and Collins Hill (15-9, 7-2 Region 8-7A) during the regular season. The Wolves will play host to Dacula while Collins Hill travels to Mill Creek on Tuesday. Collins Hill beat Mill Creek in their first matchup.
The Buford girls (21-3, 9-0 Region 8-7A) already have clinched the top spot.
In Region 8-6A, the Lanier boys (19-4, 10-0 Region 8-6A) already have wrapped up the No. 1 spot. The rest, however, is up for grabs. North Forsyth (14-10, 7-4 Region 8-6A) sits third and closes out its season against Apalachee on Tuesday on the road. Gainesville is fourth (12-10, 5-5 Region 8-6A) and heads to Jackson County on Tuesday and plays host to second-place Shiloh (12-12, 8-3 Region 8-6A) on Friday. Habersham Central (14-8, 4-6 Region 8-6A) sits fifth but travels to Lanier on Tuesday and is at home on Friday against Jackson County.
For the girls in 8-6A, North Forsyth (18-6, 10-1 Region 8-6A) has locked up the top spot. Gainesville (19-3, 7-3 Region 8-6A) and Habersham Central (15-7, 7-3 Region 8-6A) are tied for second with Lanier (14-9, 6-4 Region 8-6A) in fourth a game back.
In Region 8-5A, the Jefferson girls (8-16, 7-4 Region 8-6A) already have clinched a state playoff spot berth as the No. 2 seed. The Flowery Branch girls (13-11, 6-5 Region 8-6A) can lock up the No. 3 seed with a win at Heritage-Conyers (13-9, 5-6 Region 8-6A) on Tuesday.
For the boys in 8-5A, Flowery Branch (15-8, 5-6 Region 8-6A) is already locked in at fourth while Jefferson (7-16, 3-8 Region 8-6A) is tied for fifth.
Region 8-4A is subdivided with the Cherokee Bluff boys (17-7, 10-4 Region 8-6A) and North Hall girls (19-5, 11-2 Region 8-6A) clinching the top seeds on the North side. The top seeds on the South, however, are up for grabs with the regular season ending on Tuesday.
In Region 7-3A, the No. 1 seed gets an automatic bid to the state tournament. The Lumpkin County girls (20-3, 10-1 Region 7-3A) have clinched the top spot and a berth to try to defend their state title. However, nothing has been decided on the boys side with several huge games on Tuesday. However, the Wesleyan boys (17-6, 8-2 Region 7-3A) can wrap up the top seed with a win at Pickens (11-11, 6-4 Region 7-3A) on Tuesday.
The Dragons can clinch the No. 1 seed if they can win out and Wesleyan drops its last two games, both on the road. White County (12-11, 6-4 Region 7-3A), West Hall (11-11, 6-4 Region 7-3A), and the Dragons all are tied for second heading into this week.
In Region 8-2A, the Banks County girls (22-3, 8-0 Region 8-2A) and the Providence Christian boys (21-3, 8-1 Region 8-2A) both locked up the No. 1 seeds last week.
In Region 8-A Division 1, the Rabun County girls (21-1, 6-0 Region 8-A D1) can lock up the No. 1 seed with a win over Elbert County (20-4, 6-1 Region 8-A D1) on Tuesday. The Lady Wildcats beat the Lady Blue Devils in their first meeting. For the boys, Athens Christian (11-9, 6-1 Region 8-A D1) can claim the top spot with a win over second place Tallulah Falls (16-6, 4-2 Region 8-A D1) on Tuesday.
In GIAA AAAA/AAA District 4, the Lakeview Academy girls (11-12, 4-0 GIAA AAAA/AAA District 4) can clinch the region with a win over Georgia Walton (17-2, 3-1 GIAA AAAA/AAA District 4) on Tuesday on the road. The Lady Lions knocked off the Lady Bulldogs in their first meeting last month.
For the boys, George Walton (19-5, 6-0 GIAA AAAA/AAA District 4) can clinch the top spot with a win over the Lions (13-11, 4-2 GIAA AAAA/AAA District 4) on Tuesday.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Monday. Feb.6
Jefferson at Clarke Central*
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Athens Academy at East Jackson*
Cherokee Bluff at Madison County*
Cedar Shoals at Chestatee*
Dawson County at White County*
Fellowship Christian at Union County*
Flowery Branch at Heritage-Conyers*
Gainesville at Jackson County* (AM 1240 & FM 94.5 The Lake)
Lakeview Academy at George Walton Academy*
Lanier at Habersham Central*
North Forsyth at Apalachee*
Providence Christian at Banks County*
Rabun County at Elbert County*
Riverside Prep at Loganville Christian*
Towns County at Greene County*
Walnut Grove at North Hall*
West Hall at Gilmer*
(* -- denotes region contest)
