With only a handful of regular season finales on the schedule for Friday, the first round of the Region 8-4A and 8-5A basketball tournaments also begins.
The Region 8-4A tournament, held in five different locations and spans over seven days, begins with the girls' action at North Hall on Friday.
East Forsyth will take on East Hall for a trip to the quarterfinals against top-seeded North Oconee next week. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. In the nightcap, North Hall will play Johnson at 7:30 p.m. The winner will play No. 2 seed Walnut Grove at North Oconee on Monday.
Meanwhile, on Saturday at East Hall, the East Forsyth boys will take on Chestatee at 6 p.m. The winner gets the South No. 1 seed, North Oconee. East Hall and Johnson will battle at 7:30 p.m. for a shot at South No. 2 seed Seckinger in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at North Oconee.
The tournament will continue on Monday at Chestatee with the girls' quarterfinals. Cherokee Bluff will play Madison County, and North No. 1 seed Chestatee will play the winner of Cedar Shoals vs. Seckinger.
On the boys' side at Cherokee Bluff on Tuesday, North Hall plays Madison County, and North No. 1 seed Cherokee Bluff will play the winner of Cedar Shoals-Walnut Grove. The action begins at 6 p.m.
In Region 8-5A, the No. 7 seed Flowery Branch boys will play No. 6 seed Heritage in the first round at Jefferson. Game time is 7 p.m. The winner gets No. 3 seed Jefferson on Monday.
In other action on Friday, the Gainesville boys will travel to second-ranked Shiloh. If the Red Elephants knock off the Generals, they'll secure the No. 2 seed in next week's Region 8-6A tournament. If they lose, and Habersham Central knocks off Jackson County, the Raiders will be the No. 2 seed, and Gainesville will take the No. 3 seed.
In Region 7-3A, the Dawson County girls could seal up the No. 2 seed in next week's tournament with a win at No. 2 ranked Wesleyan. If the Lady Tigers fall, they'll take the No. 3 seed. The Dawson County boys could wrap up as the No. 3 seed with a win over Wesleyan.
(See the entire schedule for Friday below.)
FINAL DAY OF REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE, Friday, Feb. 9
Commerce at Athens Christian, 6 p.m.*
Dawson County at Wesleyan, 6 p.m.*
Gainesville at Shiloh, 6 p.m.* -- FM 94.5/AM 1240 The Lake
Habersham Central at Jackson County, 6 p.m.*
Loganville Christian at Lakeview Academy, 6 p.m.*
Lumpkin County at White County, 6 p.m.*
Tallulah Falls at Rabun County, 6 p.m.*
Towns County at Washington-Wilkes, 6 p.m..*
West Hall at Pickens, 6 p.m.*
(* -- denotes region contest)
REGION 8-4A TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 9 (Girls at North Hall)
East Forsyth vs. East Hall, 6 p.m.
North Hall vs. Johnson, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 10 (Boys at East Hall)
East Forsyth vs. Chestatee, 6 p.m.
East Hall vs. Johnson, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb 12 (Girls at Chestatee)
Cherokee Bluff vs. Madison County, 6 p.m.
Chestatee vs. Cedar Shoals/Seckinger winner, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 13 (Boys at Cherokee Bluff)
North Hall vs. Madison County, 6 p.m.
Cherokee Bluff vs. Cedar Shoals/Walnut Grove winner, 7:30 p.m.
