The first round of the Georgia High School Association basketball playoffs continues on Wednesday, with the boys taking center stage. In all, 16 northeast Georgia area teams -- 13 boys, and three girls -- will open their postseasons seeking spots in the Sweet 16 across six different classifications.
Habersham Central in Class 5A and Cherokee Bluff in Class 3A will stage doubleheaders. Both Raiders teams will play host to Northside-Warner Robins while the Bluff boys will take on an athletic Peach County team and the Lady Bears will North Clayton.
But the most intriguing battle will be in Valhalla when East Hall and North Hall will play the first-ever first round playoff game involving two Hall County teams. The Vikings beat the Trojans twice during the regular season, including in the Lanierland tournament, but will be without leading scorer Chasen Jones for the playoffs.
Gainesville will play host to its first playoff game since 2018 against Sprayberry in Class 5A.
The Chestatee girls, coming off their best ever playoff run in 2024, opens on the road in Class 3A at Cross Creek, who won the 2021 Class 3A state title.
Jefferson in Class 3A and Rabun County and Commerce in Class A Division 1 all be at home in the first round.
(See below for the entire first round schedule of games for Wednesday.)
PREP BASKETBALL 1st ROUND BOYS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE, Feb. 19
CLASS 6A
North Forsyth (R8, S3) at Norcross (R7, S2), 6 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Jackson County (R8, S4) at Lee County (R2, S1), 6:30 p.m.
Northside-Warner Robins (R2, S4) girls at Habersham Central (R8, S1), 6 p.m.
Northside-Warner Robins (R2, S4) boys at Habersham Central (R8, S1), 7:30 p.m.
Sprayberry (R6, S4) at Gainesville (R7, S1), 7 p.m. – 94.5 FM The Lake
CLASS 4A
East Forsyth (R8, S3) at Eagles Landing (R2, S2), 7 p.m.
CLASS 3A (Seedings based on GHSA Postseason Rankings)
Chestatee girls (18) at Cross Creek (15), 6 p.m.
North Hall (25) at East Hall (8), 7 p.m. – AM 550 & FM 102.9 WDUN
Lumpkin County (21) at Douglass-Atlanta (12), 6 p.m.
North Clayton girls (29) at Cherokee Bluff (4), 6 p.m.
Peach County boys (31) at Cherokee Bluff (2), 7:30 p.m.
Westside-Augusta (18) at Jefferson (15), 6 p.m.
CLASS A DIVISION 1 (Seedings based on PSR)
Banks County (17) at Chattooga (16), 6 p.m.
Dodge County (22) at Commerce (11), 6 p.m.
Social Circle (31) at Rabun County (2), 5:30 p.m.
CLASS A DIVISION 2 (Seedings based on PSR)
Towns County (R8, S3) at Turner County (R7, S2)
