Habersham Central has been playing basketball since 1958 — Chestatee since 2002.
However, both share one thing in common: neither of the schools’ girls programs has ever advanced past the second round of the state playoffs. Both will have a chance to remedy that and make history on Friday.
The Region 8-4A champion Lady War Eagles (22-7) will play host to Region 5-4A runner-up Stockbridge (21-8) at the Lynn Cottrell Center. They face a similar opponent in the Lady Tigers, who are making just their second playoff appearance since 2005 and have not advanced in the quarterfinals since 1991.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (You can hear the action live on AM 550 & FM 102.9 WDUN)
But the current Stockbridge group is an impressive 10-2 on the road, though they won their playoff opener at home, a 67-49 destruction of Southwest DeKalb. Chestatee is 9-3 at home after routing Central-Carroll 61-25 on Tuesday in the first round.
Chestatee coach Sutton Shirley said they will have to deal with the Lady Tigers’ relentless pressure.
“They’re going to bring it, I’m sure, so we will have to handle it and not turn it over,” Shirley said. “But we’ve seen so many things this year that I feel confident we have a plan in place no matter what we see.”
Stockbridge, however, will have to find a way to slow down the Lady War Eagles’ Riley Black, who has scored 76 points in her last three games (25.3 points/per game).
But the real key may be on the defensive end for Chestatee. They allowed 15 points in the first quarter against Central-Carroll but gave up just 10 points over the final three.
Stockbridge has a do-it-all player much like Black in 5-foot-9 junior guard Carrington Wilson, who is averaging 15.4 ppg and 8.8 rebounds/game while also dishing out 4.3 assists/game and swiping 4.1 steals/game on the season. The Lady Tigers also are averaging nearly 15 offensive rebounds a game as well.
“We’ve struggled all year to put four quarters together on defense. We will have to do that (on Friday),” Sutton said. "The way we played in the second half of the last two games is what we are capable of. We just need to focus in for an entire game."
Shirley acknowledged that taking that next step as a program is the goal.
“Last year, we made the region finals and lost. This year, we won region,” Shirley said. “Last year, we made the second round but lost. Now we need to take that next step. It's the natural progression. It would be huge for the program.”
The Region 8-6A runner-up Lady Raiders (19-8) travel down to Atlanta to take on Hughes, the Region 5-6A champion. They beat Lassiter 53-40 in the opening round in Mt. Airy, while Hughes (23-4) smacked Rome 55-36 at home.
Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m.
Habersham coach Bill Bradley and his squad have a tough assignment against a Lady Panthers team that is 12-1 at home and making its fifth-straight trip to the second round. The Lady Raiders, however, are a respectable 6-4 on the road this season.
“Hughes is long, fast, and athletic,” Bradley said. “It will probably take the best game we’ve played all season. But our girls have worked hard and steadily improved from the beginning of the season.
“The key will be we can’t turn the ball over, and we have to try and get them into a half-court game with our defense. If we can do that, then we definitely will have a shot. (Junior point guard) Kyia (Barrett) will have to have a good game, and we will need (senior wing) Jazky (Bantaum) to hit some 3-pointers for sure.”
As for trying to do something no other team has done in its 60-plus-year history?
“That would be a huge step for the program but, more importantly, a validation of the hard work these girls have put in to keep improving and competing,” Bradley said.
2nd round notebook: The Buford girls are into the 2nd round for a 16th consecutive season. However, they did not make the Elite 8 in 2022 for the first time since 2006. ... The North Forsyth girls are looking for their 5th quarterfinals in the last six years (they lost in the 2nd round in 2022). ... The Banks County girls are looking for their first Elite 8 appearance since 2018. ... The Chestatee girls are 0-5 all-time in 2nd round games. ... The Gainesville girls are looking for their first Elite 8 since 2015. ... The Dawson County girls are looking for their first Elite 8 since 2019 but it would be their fifth since finishing as Class 3A state runner-up in 2013. ... The Lumpkin County girls, the defending Class 3A state champs, are looking for their 3rd straight Elite 8 appearance. ... The Rabun County girls, the 2022 Class 2A state runners-up, are looking for their 2nd straight Elite 8 and 6th quarterfinals since 2016. They are 8-2 in 2nd round games under DeeDee Dillard since 2009. ... The Rabun County boys are looking for their second Elite 8 in the last three seasons. ... The Towns County girls are looking for their first Elite 8 since 2014. ... The Union County boys are looking for their first Elite 8 appearance since 2001. ... Both Lakeview teams could make the semifinals (GIAA) for the first time since both made the Final 4 in 2017 in Class A Private.
