By this time of the season most of the region favorites have been established. That means the important games begin to occur on a more regular basis. Friday night is one of the first big nights for showdown games around the state. Here’s a look at some of the best.
Boys
Cedar Grove at St. Pius: Two of the best teams in Region 6-AAA have their return match, this time at Cedar Grove. No. 9 Cedar Grove (9-5, 7-1) handed No. 5 St. Pius (16-2, 5-2) its first league loss on Dec. 3.
Cedar Grove has won two straight, including a gritty defensive showdown against Decatur, since stumbling through the holidays. The Saints lost twice in a loaded tournament in Albany, and lost three straight (including to region foe Blessed Trinity) before righting the ship.
St. Pius will try to rebound from Tuesday’s 41-38 loss at Blessed Trinity. The Lions had won 15 straight games before that defeat.
Carver at Central Macon: The outcome of this game should have a huge impact on Region 2-AAA. Carver (11-4, 5-0) has won three straight since losing to Northside Columbus in the Shaw Christmas Tournament. (Carver had beaten Northside a week earlier.) Central (14-3, 5-1) has won four straight since losing to Northeast Macon. The Chargers are undefeated on their home court. The two meet again on Feb. 1 in Columbus.
Morgan County at Hart County: These two teams join with Elbert County to make Region 8-AAA one of the most hotly contested in the state. Each of the three already has at least 10 wins and only one region loss.
No. 6-ranked Morgan County (12-4, 6-1) has played an ambitious non-league schedule that included an appearance in the Nike Christmas Tournament at Berkmar. The Bulldogs are led by junior guard Tookie Brown and senior center C.J. Thurman. Brown had 19 and Thurman had 10 points and 11 rebounds when Morgan hammered Hart County 70-35 on Dec. 10. Sophomore Jailyn Ingram also scored 18 that night.
Hart County (10-4, 5-1) has won four straight and is coming off a 73-68 win over No. 4-ranked Elbert County. The Bulldogs have averaged 70 points over the last four games.
Girls
Beach at Tattnall County: Two of the hottest teams in Class AAA mix it up for the second time this year when No. 5 Tattnall County (14-2, 8-2) hosts No. 3 Beach (18-0, 9-0) to determine first place in Region 1. Beach won the first meeting 59-54 on Dec. 14.
Beach is one of two undefeated team remaining in Class AAA. Among their impressive wins are back-to-back wins over Augusta powers Laney and Josey in December and is coming off a 24-point victory over Southeast Bulloch.
Tattnall has won eight straight games since losing back-to-back games to Beach and Southeast Bulloch. That stretch includes a win over No. 6 Dodge County. The Warriors will try to slow down Beach guard Jacqueline Anderson, who had 25 points and made four 3-pointers in the first meeting.
Dodge County at Washington County: In a crucial Region 3-AAA game, No. 6 Dodge County (13-1, 2-0) visits No. 2 Washington County (13-0, 3-0) for the first time this season in the renewal of this Middle Georgia rivalry.
Only one team has come within 10 points of Washington County this season. Tuesday’s 53-27 win over Thomson has been typical of the season. Shon Kitchens leads the high-scoring Golden Hawks with 18.1 points per game.
Dodge County has won five straight since its non-conference loss to Tattnall County. The Indians are led by Rachel Selph, a 6-foot-2 junior, who averages 14.3 points and 10.7 rebounds.
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