There are more than a few crucial region games on tap across northeast Georgia on Friday on the hardwood. A half-dozen highly-ranked area teams will put their rankings and region standings on the line, many coming on the road.
On the girls side, Class 6A No. 3 North Forsyth (9-0, 3-0 Region 6-6A) travels to rival West Forsyth (2-8, 2-1 Region 6-6A) looking to stay atop the region standings.
In Region 8-5A, Alcovy, Habersham Central, and Jackson County all are tied for the early lead atop the Region 8-5A standings. The Lady Raiders (2-4, 1-0 Region 8-5A) travel to Alcovy (4-6, 1-0 Region 8-5A) while Jackson County (6-3, 1-0 Region 8-5A) heads to Clarke Central (2-4, 0-1 Region 8-5A).
In Region 7-5A, Lanier (4-6, 2-1 Region 7-5A) plays host to Gainesville (6-2, 2-1 Region 7-5A) with no worse than second place in the region on the line. First place and fourth-ranked Milton (5-0, 2-0 Region 7-5A) plays host to Chattahoochee (7-5, 1-1 Region 7-5A).
In Region 6-3A, No. 1-rated (PSR rankings) Pickens (6-0, 2-0 Region 6-3A) plays host to North Hall (3-3, 0-1 Region 6-3A) and No. 5 White County (7-2, 2-0 Region 6-3A) travels to Johnson (0-6, 0-1 Region 6-3A). No. 25 Dawson County (6-4, 1-1 Region 6-3A) travels to arch-rival and No. 11 Lumpkin County (4-3, 1-1 Region 6-3A) and Chestatee (3-4, 0-2 Region 6-3A) plays host to No. 16 GAC (7-2, 1-1 Region 6-3A) looking for its first region win and to get out of last place in the standings.
In Region 8-A Division 1, Banks County and Rabun County both will open their region schedules on Friday
For the boys, Class 5A ranked teams Habersham Central and Gainesville both have tough road games on Friday in region play.
In Region 8-5A, sixth-ranked Habersham Central (7-1, 1-0 Region 8-5A) heads to Alcovy (9-2, 1-0 Region 8-5A) with both teams riding 3-game win streaks. In Region 7-5A, seventh-ranked Gainesville (5-3, 3-0 Region 7-5A) will try to stay tied atop the standings traveling to Lanier (7-4, 1-2 Region 7-5A).
In Region 6-3A, the top two teams in the standings, North Hall (5-2, 2-0 Region 6-3A) and Pickens (7-0, 2-0 Region 6-3A), will meet in Jasper.
In Region 7-2A, No. 3 Union County (6-1, 2-0 Region 7-2A) travels to Coahullua Creek (4-1, 2-0 Region 7-2A) with both teams looking to keep pace with North Cobb Christian atop the standings.
(See below for the full schedule of Friday's games.)
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, Dec. 13
Banks County at Elbert County, 7 p.m.*
Eastside at East Forsyth, 7 p.m.*
Franklin County at Cherokee Bluff, 6 p.m.
Gainesville at Lanier, 6 p.m.*
GAC at Chestatee, 6 p.m.*
Habersham Central at Alcovy, 6 p.m.*
Jackson County at Clarke Central, 7 p.m.*
Lakeview Academy at Tallulah Falls, 6 p.m.
Lumpkin County at Dawson County, 7 p.m.*
North Forsyth at West Forsyth, 6 p.m.*
North Hall at Pickens, 7 p.m.*
North Oconee at Flowery Branch, 7 p.m.*
Rabun County at Oglethorpe County, 6:30 p.m.*
Stephens County at West Hall, 6 p.m.
Union County at Coahulla Creek, 7 p.m.*
White County at Johnson, 7 p.m.*
(* -- denotes region contest)
