The first round of the Georgia High School Association basketball playoffs will tip off on Tuesday, with 15 area teams looking to advance to the second round.
Thirteen girls teams and two boys team in six different classifications will open things up, with Buford staging a doubleheader at The Buford Arena. The Lady Wolves will take on Chapel Hill at 6 p.m. with the Buford boys playing Carrollton in the nightcap.
One girls matchup will have a pair of Region 8-3A teams duking it out once again when Jefferson, seeded ninth in Class 3A in the Postseason Rankings (PSR) used to seed the field, taking on East Hall at The Arena. This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams with the Lady Dragons (21-5) winning all three of the previous matchups, the latest being a 69-33 rout in the region tournament.
The Gainesville girls (14-12) will have the most daunting task traveling to River Ridge (26-1) which is ranked No. 1 in all classifications in the state in Class 5A.
Banks County (21-5) secured the No. 2 overall seed in Class A Division 1 and be will at home against fellow Region 8-A D1 foe Oglethorpe County. The Lady Leopards, who are riding an 18-game win streak, beat the Lady Patriots twice during the regular season.
The North Forsyth, Habersham Central, East Forsyth, White County, and Union County girls all will be at home as well in the opening round.
(See below for the entire first round schedule of games for Tuesday.)
PREP BASKETBALL 1st ROUND GIRLS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE, Feb. 18
Class 6A
Chapel Hill girls (Region 2, Seed 4) at Buford (R8, S1), 6 p.m.
Carrollton boys (Region 2, Seed 4) at Buford (R8, S1), 7:30 p.m.
North Gwinnett (R7, S4) at North Forsyth (R8, S1)
Class 5A
Gainesville (R7, S4) at River Ridge (R6, S1), 6 p.m. – 94.5 FM The Lake
Jackson County (R8, S3) at Veterans (R2, S2), 6 p.m.
Class 4A
Union Grove (R2, S3) at East Forsyth (R8, S2), 6:30 p.m.
Class 3A (Seedings based on GHSA Postseason Rankings)
Bainbridge (23) at White County (10), 6 p.m.
Chestatee (18) at Cross Creek (15), 6 p.m.
Dawson County (21) at NW Whitfield (12), 6 p.m.
East Hall (24) at Jefferson (9), 6 p.m.
Class 2A (Seedings based on PSR)
Coahulla Creek girls (17) at Union County (16), 5 p.m.
Pierce County boys (27) at Union County (6), 6:30 p.m.
Class A Division 1 (Seedings based on PSR)
Oglethorpe County (31) at Banks County (2), 6 p.m.
Rabun County (23) at Armuchee (10), 6 p.m.
