It’s still in the very early stages as far as playoff races in the regions that house northeast Georgia area teams.
Friday will make the imaginary halfway point for several regions that have been embroiled in region play over the past two weeks.
Regions 8-5A, 8-4A, and 7-3A all have some crucial matchups on tap. After that, there will only be a handful of region games across the eight regions in the Georgia High School Association where teams covered by AccessWDUN Sports are located until region schedules resume in January.
A half-dozen games, whether they are on the boys or girls side, could help shape things moving forward.
In Region 8-5A, the Jefferson boys will take on No. 7 Winder-Barrow at The Arena. The Dragons (7-2, 1-0 Region 8-5A) have won three straight while the Bulldoggs (10-2, 2-0 Region 8-5A) are on a five-game win streak. The winner will have the outright lead in the region heading into the Christmas tournament season.
In Region 8-4A North for the girls, No. 7 Chestate (6-1, 2-0 Region 8-4A North) and No. 10 Cherokee Bluff (6-1, 2-0 Region 8-4A North) will both be in action on the road. The Lady War Eagles take on a East Forsyth team (6-3, 1-1 Region 8-4A North) that is unbeaten at home (4-0). The Lady Bears travel to play a young and talented, but struggling, East Hall (1-6, 0-2 Region 8-4A) squad.
On the boys side in Region 8-4A North, six teams are within a game of first place East Hall (6-1, 2-0 Region 8-4A North). The Vikings play host to Cherokee Bluff (3-4, 1-1 Region 8-4A North) in a matchup that could set the tone in the subregion. Chestatee (2-6, 1-1 Region 8-4A North) heads to East Forsyth (2-7, 1-1 Region 8-4A North) in a showdown between up-and-down teams.
(See the entire schedules for Friday and Saturday below.)
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR Friday, Dec. 15
Banks County at Commerce, 7 p.m.
Cherokee Bluff at East Hall, 6 p.m.*
Chestatee at East Forsyth, 7 p.m.*
Denmark at Buford, 6 p.m.
East Jackson at West Hall, 6 p.m.
Forsyth Central at Flowery Branch, 7 p.m.
Franklin County at Jackson County, 7 p.m.
Lumpkin County at Pickens, 6 p.m.*
North Hall at Johnson, 7 p.m.*
Oglethorpe County at Lakeview Academy, 6 p.m.
Sandy Creek at Gainesville, 6 p.m.
Towns County at Aquinas, 6:30 p.m.*
Union County at Fannin County, 7 p.m.
White County at Gilmer, 6 p.m.*
Winder-Barrow at Jefferson, 7 p.m.*
Saturday, Dec. 16
East Forsyth at Dawson County, 7 p.m.
Gainesville boys vs. Richmond (Rockingham, NC), 3:30 p.m. (Iverson Classic at Grovetown)
Gainesville girls vs. South Atlanta, noon (at Woodward Academy)
Lakeview Academy boys at Banks County, TBD
Lakeview Academy girls at Mill Creek, 10 a.m.
Lumpkin County at Commerce, 4 p.m.
Starr’s Mill boys at Buford, 7 p.m. (North Georgia Showcase at Buford Arena)
Starr’s Mill girls at Buford, 5:30 p.m. (North Georgia Showcase at Buford Arena)
(* -- denotes region contest)
