After an interesting first round of the GHSA basketball playoffs across the coverage area, the second round brings more intense, intriguing matchups as the girls take center stage on Friday.
However, there were some upsets in the opening round, mainly on the boys' side, with No. 1 Gainesville falling to No. 4 seed Sprayberry at Davis-Hill Gym on Wednesday. Meanwhile, in Flowery Branch, No. 2 seed Cherokee Bluff lost to No. 31 seed Peach County at home. Both were favorites to make deep runs in the tournament.
On Friday, eight area girl's teams will battle for a ticket to the Elite 8. No. 1 seeds Buford and North Forsyth have tough second-round matchups, but all eyes will be on the Class 3A bracket, which is seeded by the GHSA's postseason rankings system.
The Chestatee girls, a No. 15 seed, who travel to No. 2 seeded Heritage-Catoosa, might have the toughest draw. Also, No. 9 seeded Jefferson makes the trip to Savannah to play No. 8 seed Jenkins in what will be a heated contest, and No. 4 seed Cherokee Bluff will host an athletic No. 13 seed Doughtery.
On Saturday, Class 3A continues to grab the spotlight as No. 9 seed Cross Creek travels to No. 8 seed East Hall, and No. 31 Peach County, who upset Bluff on Wednesday, will look to knock off another Region 8-3A team, No. 15 seed Jefferson.
(See below for the entire first-round schedule of games for Friday.)
GHSA PREP BASKETBALL 2ND ROUND GIRLS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21
CLASS 6A
Archer (Region 4, Seed 3) at North Forsyth (R8, S1), 6 p.m.
Etowah (R5, S3) at Buford (R8, S1), 5:30 p.m.
CLASS 4A
East Forsyth (R8, S2) at Ware County (R1, S1), 6 p.m.
CLASS 3A (PSR RANKINGS)
Chestatee (S15) at Heritage-Catoosa (S2), 7 p.m.
Dougherty (S13) at Cherokee Bluff (S4), 6 p.m. -- WDUN AM 550 & FM 102.9
Jefferson (S9) at Jenkins (S8), 6 p.m.
CLASS 2A (PSR RANKINGS)
Union County (S16) at Murray County (S1), 6:30 p.m.
CLASS A DIVISION 1 (PSR RANKINGS)
Rabun County (S23) at Worth County (S7), 6 p.m.
Washington County (S15) at Banks County (S2), 6 p.m.
GHSA PREP BASKETBALL 2ND ROUND BOYS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
CLASS 6A
Etowah (Region 5, Seed 3) at Buford (R8, S1), 3:30 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Brunswick girls (R1, S2) at Habersham Central (R8, S1), 6 p.m.
Brunswick boys (R1, S2) at Habersham Central (R8, S1), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 4A
East Forsyth (R8, S3) at Tucker (R5, S1), 6 p.m.
CLASS 3A (PSR RANKINGS)
Cross Creek (S9) at East Hall (S8) -- WDUN AM 550
Peach County (S31) at Jefferson (S15), 6 p.m.
CLASS 2A (PSR RANKINGS)
Westside-Macon (S11) at Union County (S6), 6 p.m.
CLASS A DIVISION 1 (PSR RANKINGS)
Banks County (S17) at Southwest-Macon (S1), 6 p.m.
BEST Academy (S15) at Rabun County (S2), 6 p.m.
Commerce (S11) at Putnam County (S6), 6 p.m.
