There are two weeks left in the regular season and northeast Georgia area boys teams are making their final push for region tournament positioning.
More than half of the eight regions housing the 24 Georgia High School Association schools in the AccessWDUN coverage area have multiple teams within one game of first place for the all-important top seeds. For several regions, it will 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:
Region 8-4A, which is subdivided, has spirited races on both sides. Tenth-ranked Cherokee Bluff (16-5, 7-1 Region 8-4A North) leads the North subregion and third-ranked North Oconee (19-3, 6-1 Region 8-4A South) leads the South.
North Hall (10-11, 6-2 Region 8-4A North) has surged into second place behind the Bears with East Hall (11-10, 6-3 Region 8-4A North) a half-game back of the Trojans. Bluff can wrap up the top seed from the subregion with a win over the Trojans at home on Tuesday.
In the South, Seckinger (15-6, 5-2 Region 8-4A South) is just a game back of the Titans and the two teams split their two regular season meetings. The Titans can seal the top spot in the South with a win over Cedar Shoals on Tuesday.
The real question will be can the North subregion find a win in the region tournament against the South? As a group, the North subregion is 1-19 against the South this season going into Friday’s crossover action. Bluff has the only win, 58-56 over Walnut Grove (11-10, 1-5 Region 8-4A South) last week.
In Region 8-6A, it looked like No. 2 Shiloh was going to steamroll its way to the top seed. But the Generals (16-4, 6-1 Region 8-6A) were knocked off by Habersham Central (16-4, 5-2 Region 8-6A) on Tuesday to split their season series, moving the Raiders within one game of first place. Gainesville (6-13, 4-2 Region 8-6A) is right behind Habersham.
The Raiders will need to win out and get at least one more loss from Shiloh to have a shot at the top seed.
The Red Elephants could be the key team with games left against both Habersham Central and Shiloh. They take on the Raiders on Friday in Gainesville and close out the regular season on the road at Shiloh. However, their two region losses were to both Habersham and Shiloh earlier this month.
Three teams are tied for fourth in 8-6A. Jackson County (9-11, 3-4 Region 8-6A), North Forsyth (6-14, 3-4 Region 8-6A), and Lanier (8-11, 3-4 Region 8-6A) all are trying to stay out of the sixth spot and a play-in game position.
Region 8-2A is tightening up after No. 9 Union County (16-3, 3-1 Region 8-2A) took down No. 10 Banks County (14-7, 5-1 Region 8-2A) on Tuesday to hand the Leopards their first region loss. The two teams meet again on Tuesday in Blairsville with the Panthers now having a chance to take over first place.
Athens Academy (15-4, 3-2 Region 8-2A) is just 1 1/2 games behind Banks County in third place. The race could take even more shape as all three play each other over the next week. Union County travels to Athens Academy on Friday while Banks County plays host to the Spartans on Feb. 2 in Homer.
In Region 8-7A, No. 7 Buford (18-3, 6-0 Region 8-7A) leads Collins Hill (14-7, 4-2 Region 8-7A) by two games and the two teams will meet again on Feb. 2 in Lawrenceville. The Wolves beat the Eagles by 27 in their first meeting and their magic number to clinch is two, including a win over the Eagles next week if they can get it.
In Region 7-3A, no team is hotter than Lumpkin County (10-10, 4-4 Region 7-3A), which has won seven straight, including four in a row in region play. That has moved the Indians into fourth place and they could have a huge impact on who grabs the top seed.
Pickens (15-5, 6-1 Region 7-3A) and Gilmer (12-6, 6-1 Region 7-3A) are tied atop the standings and split their two regular season meetings. Dawson County (11-8, 4-3 Region 7-3A) is in third place, three games back.
But all three have to travel to Dahlonega over the next week. Lumpkin County plays host to Gilmer on Friday, Pickens on Tuesday, and the Tigers on Feb. 2.
Seventh-ranked Winder-Barrow (19-3, 8-1 Region 8-5A) may have put a stranglehold on Region 8-5A on Wednesday, knocking off Jefferson (16-5, 6-2 Region 8-5A) to move 1 1/2 games ahead of the Dragons with just three games left. The win was the Bulldoggs ninth straight since a loss to Jefferson back on Dec. 15 at The Arena.
The loss for the Dragons now puts them just one-half game ahead of third-place Clarke Central (10-11, 6-3 Region 8-5A). The Dragons and the Gladiators will close out the regular season on Feb. 6 in Jefferson.
In Region 8-A Division 2, Towns County (15-4, 10-0 Region 8-A Division 2) leads Greene County (13-5, 7-1 Region 8-A Division 2) by two games and has beaten every team in the region at least once. However, they have a huge road game at Warren County (13-5, 5-3 Region 8-A Division 2) on Feb. 2 before playing host to Greene County on Feb. 6 with a chance to close out the top seed.
Region 8-A Division 1, like the girls, is locked in a three-team duel with Athens Christian (13-7, 4-0 Region 8-A Division 1), Rabun County (8-13, 2-2 Region 8-A Division 1), and Commerce (7-13, 2-2 Region 8-A Division 1). All three teams have a chance to separate themselves.
The Tigers play host to Rabun County on Friday and travel to Athens Christian on Feb. 6 to close out the regular season. The 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.
