Now that the holiday tournament season has ended, the chase for state titles gets serious beginning this week for northeast Georgia area basketball teams.
So, where do our area teams sit in their respective regions as teams get back in action?
Well, Regions 8-6A, 8-5A, and 8-A finally get under way as each has a five-week sprint to their region tournaments. However, Regions 7-4A, 7-3A, 8-3A, and 8-2A already have played nearly half of their region schedules and resume action this week.
On both the boys and girls side of things, virtually every region is crowded at the top at the midway point.
For the boys, in Region 7-3A, East Hall (9-7, 4-0 Region 7-3A) and defending Class 3A state champion Greater Atlanta Christian (10-4, 4-0 Region 7-3A) are tied atop the region and the two teams will battle Friday in Norcross for first place.
Dawson County (12-3, 3-1 Region 7-3A) is a game back with new school Cherokee Bluff (8-6, 2-2 Region 7-3A) just two games back. North Hall (5-11, 1-3 Region 7-3A), Lumpkin County (5-11, 1-4 Region 7-3A), and Fannin County (2-10, 0-5 Region 7-3A) are battling to get into the fourth spot.
In Region 8-3A, Morgan County (13-1, 4-0 Region 8-3A) and Hart County (11-3, 3-0 Region 8-3A) are unbeaten atop the region with Jefferson (10-5, 3-1 Region 8-3A) in third place but just a game back. The Dragons have a chance to jump up a spot playing host to the Bulldogs on Friday. East Jackson (6-8, 0-4 Region 8-3A) and Jackson County (9-5, 0-4 Region 8-3A) are still looking for their first region wins.
In Region 7-4A, Marist (8-5, 3-0 Region 7-4A) is the only unbeaten left but Denmark (12-3, 3-1 Region 8-3A), Blessed Trinity (7-6, 3-1 Region 8-3A) sit right behind with Chestatee (11-4, 3-2 Region 8-3A) just one game back. Chestatee travels to Blessed Trinity on Friday in a key game with a chance to jump into second place. West Hall (2-9, 1-2 Region 8-3A), Flowery Branch (1-11, 1-2 Region 8-3A), and White County (3-10, 0-4 Region 8-3A) all are trying to get back in the race.
In Region 8-2A, Banks County (7-6, 3-0 Region 8-2A) and Elbert County (11-2, 3-0 Region 8-2A) are unbeaten in region play and the Leopards head to Elberton on Friday in the first battle for first place. Social Circle (11-3, 2-1 Region 8-2A) and Putnam County (4-9, 2-1 Region 8-2A) are just a game back. Union County (7-5, 1-2 Region 8-2A) and Oglethorpe County (2-10, 1-2 Region 8-2A) are still within striking distance while Rabun County (1-10, 0-4 Region 8-2A) and Monticello (0-13, 0-3 Region 8-2A) are still looking for their first region wins.
For the girls, Region 7-3A is a logjam at the top with Dawson County (10-5, 3-1 Region 7-3A), North Hall (11-4, 3-1 Region 7-3A), and GAC (7-8, 3-1 Region 7-3A) all tied for first place. Surprising Fannin County (6-8, 3-2 Region 7-3A) is just a half-game back with Lumpkin County (13-3, 2-3 Region 7-3A) 1 1/2 games back. East Hall (7-10, 1-3 Region 7-3A) and Cherokee Bluff (8-8, 0-4 Region 7-3A) will try and get back into the race. Lumpkin County plays host to North Hall on Friday as the Lady Indians try to close the gap.
In Region 8-3A, Morgan County (11-3, 4-0 Region 8-3A) and Hart County (12-2, 3-0 Region 8-3A) are unbeaten atop the region with Jefferson (13-2, 3-1 Region 8-3A) in third place. East Jackson (4-11, 1-3 Region 8-3A) and Jackson County (4-10, 0-4 Region 8-3A) are trying to climb out of the bottom of the standings. Like the boys, Jefferson plays host to Hart County on Friday in a crucial matchup.
In Region 7-4A, Flowery Branch (12-3, 4-0 Region 7-4A) is the only unbeaten team left and is coming off a dominating Lanierland tournament title. The Lady Falcons are off from region action until next week, however.
Defending region champ Marist (9-4, 2-1 Region 7-4A) is second with Chestatee (8-9, 3-2 Region 8-3A) in third. Blessed Trinity (7-6, 2-2 Region 8-3A) and White County (7-7, 2-2 Region 8-3A) are tied for fourth. Chestatee and Blessed Trinity will meet in Roswell in a key game on Friday. West Hall (4-10, 1-3 Region 8-3A) is trying to stay close until leading scorer Aashaya White returns from injury and newcomer Denmark (1-13, 0-4 Region 8-3A) is still looking for its first region win.
In Region 8-2A, Rabun County (10-1, 3-0 Region 8-2A) and Putnam County (10-3, 3-0 Region 8-2A) are tied atop the standings with Union County (8-4, 2-1 Region 8-2A) and Monticello (5-7, 2-1 Region 8-2A) just a game back. Banks County (11-3, 1-2 Region 8-2A) and Elbert County (4-9, 1-2 Region 8-2A) are two games back. Both of the Lady Leopards’ region losses have been to Rabun and Putnam in the early going and they will travel to Elbert on Friday looking to climb in the standings. Social Circle (5-6, 0-3 Region 8-2A) and Oglethorpe County (0-11, 0-3 Region 8-2A) are still looking for their first region wins.
(See the full schedule of games for the entire weekend below.)
Thursday, Jan. 3
Walnut Grove at Buford*
Cherokee Bluff at North Oconee
Clarke Central at Johnson*
Friday, Jan. 4
Banks County at Elbert County*
Chestatee at Blessed Trinity*
Commerce at George Walton*
Dawson County at Cherokee Bluff*
East Hall at Greater Atlanta Christian*
East Jackson at Jackson County*
Gainesville at Habersham Central*
Hart County at Jefferson*
Marist at West Hall*
North Hall at Lumpkin County*
Prince Avenue at Riverside Military*
Towns County at Providence Christian*
Union County at Rabun County*
White County at Denmark*
Saturday, Jan. 5
Buford at Johnson*
Commerce at Hebron Christian*
Dacula at Gainesville*
George Walton at Lakeview Academy*
Jackson County at North Oconee
Lanier Christian Academy at Chestatee
Mill Creek at Flowery Branch
Oglethorpe County at Banks County*
Putnam County at Union County*
Rabun County at Monticello*
Towns County at Hayesville (N.C.)
(* -- Denotes region contest)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2019/1/748834/basketball-regions-crowded-at-the-top-at-midway-point