Tuesday and Wednesday's opening round of the Georgia High School Association girls soccer playoffs saw five Northeast Georgia-area teams join Towns County, who had a first-round bye, into the Sweet 16.
A half-dozen more area teams will hit the pitch Thursday, looking to make the Sweet 16 party as well as Classes 6A, 4A, and 2A get their tournaments underway.
Class 6A ninth-ranked Habersham Central (15-2) has a brutal opening, playing host to No. 4 and defending Class 6A state champion Lassiter (11-2-2) at Raider Stadium on Thursday. If they can get past the Lady Trojans, No. 10 Alexander (15-3) will likely be waiting.
In Class 4A, unranked Johnson (10-4-1) may have the most challenging road of our area teams. The Lady Knights open against No. 7 Northwest Whitfield (11-3-1) and could face a ranked team in every round. If they can pull the upset against the Lady Bruins, No. 3 Westminster (13-3), the seven-time reigning Class 3A state champ before moving up, will likely be waiting in the second round.
Also in Class 4A, No. 4 Cherokee Bluff (15-2) has a favorable draw with just one potential ranked team -- No. 10 Lovett, which is the reigning Class 2A state champion -- standing in its way to a second straight semifinal appearance (3A).
East Jackson (2-7-1) opens Class 2A against No. 2 Model (15-0) on the road. Union County heads to North Murray.
(Check below for the full first-round schedule and scores for Northeast Georgia-area girls teams.)
GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE, Thursday, April 13
Class 6A
North Forsyth (R8, S4) at Blessed Trinity (R7, S1), 6 p.m.
Lassiter (R7, S4) at Habersham Central (R8, S1), 6 p.m.
Class 4A
Johnson (R8, S3) at Northwest Whitfield (R7, S2), 6 p.m.
Southeast Whitfield (R7, S3) at Cherokee Bluff (R8, S2), 5:30 p.m.
Class 2A
East Jackson (R8, S4) at Model (R7, S1), TBA
Union County (R8, S3) at North Murray (R7, S2), 6 p.m.
GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT SCORES, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 11-12
Class 7A
Buford 4, Meadowcreek 0
Class 5A
Dalton 3, Flowery Branch 2
Jefferson 7, Cartersville 0
Class 3A
Oconee County 5, Dawson County 1
Lumpkin County 10, Stephens County 0
White County 1, Hebron Christian 0
Class A Division 1
Commerce 11, Pepperell 1
Darlington 2, Rabun County 0
Class A Division 2
Towns County (R3, S3), BYE in 1st round
