With a month left in the regular season, the contenders are starting to rise to the top of the standings. This always makes for some interesting matchups down the stretch. The fun is about to start for the Region 7-AAA girls.
The region has been dominated by No. 1 Dawson County (16-0), which is attempting to complete a second straight perfect season. Everyone in Region 7 is chasing the Tigers, who thrive on their pressing defense, 3-point shooting and poise.
The main protagonist for Dawson County may be revealed Tuesday when Franklin County plays at East Hall. Both teams are 13-4 overall and 4-1 in the region. The winner will move into undisputed possession of second place. The two won’t meet again until the final game of the regular season.
Franklin County has lost two of its last three games, by six points to Dawson County and by six to No. 5-ranked Hart County in a non-region game. The Lions are led by first-year coach Harry Marsh, who took over for longtime coach Holly Wilk-Mason after last year’s 16-13 season.
No.9 East Hall is coming off a loss to rival Gainesville on the road, which broke a two-game win streak. In their previous game against West Hall, Kylah Mize scored 22 points, 11 in each half, for East Hall.
Chances are that an above-average team is going to miss the state playoffs. Banks County (10-7) and West Hall (9-7) are tied for fourth place.
In other compelling games on the schedule for Tuesday:
Girls
Ringgold (13-2, 9-0 Region 6-AAA) travels to Sonoraville (12-2, 6-1), which has won nine straight games. Ringgold won the first meeting 56-40 way back on Dec. 4. Ringgold is in first place, one game ahead of the Phoenix.
Boys
Westside (13-3, 8-1 Region 2-AAA) travels to play rival No. 7 Central (13-2, 6-1) to determine the early region leader. Westside won the first meeting 82-63 on Dec. 4. The two are part of a three-way tie with Southwest for first place.
South Atlanta (12-4) has a Region 4-AAA crossover game against Douglass (xx-xx) in a battle between two of Atlanta’s traditional basketball powers. No. 3 South Atlanta leads Division A, while Douglass (12-6) is chasing Westminster in Division B. South Atlanta won by 16 a year ago.
Who’s Hot
Boys
The Banks County duo of Zez Steeple and Kahmal Wiley have been hot. Steeple had 19 points in wins over Lumpkin County and Buford, while Wiley totaled 34 points and 22 rebounds for the No. 10-ranked Leopards. Steeple has scored 62 points in his last three games.
Pepperell has turned its season around. After a rocky 2-5 start, the Dragons have won seven straight and share the lead in Region 5-AAA. Guard Austin Strickland, who scored 19 against Coosa, is part of a solid group of 3-point shooters.
Girls
Jackson Atlanta has won 13 straight games and improved to 15-1. The Phoenix are riding the hot hand of senior guard Keimeshia Walker, who is averaging 20.3 points. Walker is making 52 percent of her 3-point tries and is shooting 55 percent from the floor.
Emani Mayo, a junior at Hephzibah, had 33 points in a loss to Laney. The 5-foot-8 guard r is averaging 21.1 points and leads Class AAA in scoring.
Defections and graduation has left the Decatur girls in a rebuilding mode. The bright spot has been senior center Janay Williams, who is averaging 15.6 rebounds.
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