With just over two weeks left in the regular season, Georgia High School Association region tournament positioning is hotter than ever for northeast Georgia area teams.
Of the eight regions housing the 24 GHSA schools in the AccessWDUN coverage area, only one, Region 8-6A, looks like one team is ready to put a lock on the top seed. For the other seven, it may very well come down to the final night of the season.
Here is a look at each region and some of the key matchups down the stretch that could decide top seeds:
North Forsyth (20-0, 7-0 Region 8-6A) is ranked second in Class 6A and has steamrolled to a perfect 8-6A record so far. The Lady Raiders lead second place Lanier (10-10, 5-2 Region 8-6A) by two games after routing the Lady Longhorns 63-18 on Tuesday. They have beaten everyone in the region at least once so far this season.
The magic number for North Forsyth to clinch is two with four games left in the regular season.
But the real race is for second place in 8-6A. Including Lanier, five teams are within 1-1/2 games of third place, with Habersham Central (6-11, 3-3 Region 8-6A) sitting in third at the moment. All five teams face each other over the final two weeks of the season.
The best race may be in Region 8-A Division 2. Four teams, including eighth-ranked Towns County (13-6, 6-2 Region 8-A Division 2), are within one-half game of first place. Despite the Lady Indians trailing Greene County (8-9, 5-1 Region 8-A Division 2) by percentage points, the regular season title likely will probably run through Hiawassee.
Lake Oconee Academy (11-7, 5-2 Region 8-A Division 2), the 2022 state champion, is tied with Warren County (14-4, 5-2 Region 8-A Division 2) for third. The Lady Indians have all three remaining on the schedule. Towns County lost to both Lake Oconee and Greene County on the road but have both at home (Jan. 30 and Feb. 6) with a road battle at Warren County inbetween on Feb 2.
In Region 8-7A, No. 3 Buford (17-2, 6-0 Region 8-7A) leads Mill Creek (15-4, 5-1 Region 8-7A) by one game and the two teams will play for the second time on Friday at The Buford Arena. The Lady Wolves beat the Lady Hawks 63-41 in the first matchup and can extend their lead to two games with just three games left. Buford already owns wins over every team in the region this season and has not lost a region game, including a region tournament, since joining the region in 2022.
Region 8-5A has sixth-ranked Jefferson (18-3, 8-0 Region 8-5A) atop the standings with Loganville (16-5, 6-2 Region 8-5A) and Eastside (12-7, 6-2 Region 8-5A) tied for second two games back. The Lady Dragons have a chance to clinch the top seed with matchups at The Arena against Eastside on Friday and then Loganville next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Flowery Branch (9-10, 3-5 Region 8-5A) is battling for fourth place with Clarke Central (7-11, 3-5 Region 8-5A) but the Lady Falcons have a tough finish with games against Eastside and Loganville in the final week.
The subdivided Region 8-4A has sixth-ranked Chestatee leading the North subregion (17-4, 8-0 Region 8-4A North) and North Oconee (14-8, 7-0 Region 8-4A South) leads the South.
Eighth-ranked Cherokee Bluff (17-4, 7-1 Region 8-4A North) is just a game back of the Lady War Eagles and the two teams will meet again on Feb. 2 at The Bluff. Chestatee won the first meeting, 57-48, in Gainesville. In between, Chestatee takes on East Hall and the Lady Bears have North Hall with neither being able to afford a loss
For North Oconee, the Lady Titans already have clinched the top seed from the South with two wins over second place Walnut Grove (11-9, 4-2 Region 8-4A South) with just one subregion game left.
In Region 8-2A, fifth-ranked Banks County (17-4, 6-0 Region 8-2A) now leads second place Union County (10-9, 3-1 Region 8-2A) by two games with four games left. But the two teams will meet again on Tuesday in Blairsville with a chance for the Lady Panthers to try and pull into a tie for first place. The Lady Leopards can put a wrap on the region title with a win on Friday against Fellowship Christian (12-5, 2-2 Region 8-2A) and a win in Blairsville.
Region 8-A Division 1 is locked in a three-team duel with Athens Christian (16-3, 4-0 Region 8-A Division 1), Rabun County (16-5, 3-1 Region 8-A Division 1), and Commerce (12-8, 2-2 Region 8-A Division 1). All three teams have a chance to separate themselves.
The Lady Tigers play host to Rabun County on Friday and travel to Athens Christian on Feb. 6 to close out the regular season. The Lady Wildcats travel to Commerce on Friday and play host to Athens Christian on Feb. 2.
But Athens Christian already owns wins over both Rabun County and Commerce.
Region 7-3A is being dominated by No. 2 Wesleyan (16-2, 8-0 Region 7-3A) and No. 3 Pickens (19-1, 6-1 Region 7-3A) with seventh-ranked Dawson County (12-8, 5-3 Region 7-3A) a distant third. Fifth-ranked White (15-5, 3-4 Region 7-3A) and Lumpkin County (8-12, 3-5 Region 7-3A) are battling for fourth.
