Here’s what to look for this weekend in Class AAAAA:
- Region 6 has several big games on the final weekend before the region play-in games, but none will have more of an impact on the final subregion standings than Mays against Tri-Cities. Assuming Carver-Atlanta beats winless Banneker, the loser of Mays and Tri-Cities will finish fourth in Division B and have no shot at the state playoffs. If Carver and Mays win, Creekside would be the subregion champion, followed by Mays and Carver. But if Carver and Tri-Cities win, Carver would be the champion, followed by Creekside and Tri-Cities. Southwest DeKalb and Stephenson will meet to determine the Division A winner. The winner of each subregion will play for the region championship next week, while the No. 2 and No. 3 teams will play play-in games for spots in the state tournament.
- Dalton has waited almost two weeks since clinching a subregion title to find out who its opponent will be in next week’s Region 7 championship game, and the wait ends on Friday when third-ranked Kell meets Sprayberry with the other subregion title on the line. Third-ranked Kell has won 25 consecutive regular-season games and was the region champion the past two seasons. Sprayberry started the season with losses to South Paulding and Kennesaw Mountain but has since won six consecutive games. Dalton is 8-1.
- Allatoona secured the championship in 5-AAAAA last week, and second place in the region will go to the winner of Friday’s game between Alexander and South Paulding, both of which have qualified for the state playoffs. South Paulding, which was the runner-up to North Paulding in the region last year, can finish no worse than third place. Alexander could finish in fourth place if it loses to South Paulding and in the regular-season finale against New Manchester, which is fighting for the program’s first playoff berth.
- Elsewhere: Harris County can clinch the championship in Region 1 with a victory against LaGrange, which is tied for second place with Carver and Northside of Columbus. Both Columbus teams lost to Harris County. ... Victories this week by Houston County and Northside-Warner Robins would set up a showdown next week for the region title in 2-AAAAA. ... Both subregion titles in Region 4 are still up for grabs. Mundy’s Mill is guaranteed at least a share of first place in Division A, but Drew and Northgate can move into a tie with victories this week. The situation is clearer in Division B, where Stockbridge can win the title by beating 2-6 Union Grove. ... Lanier can claim the first region title in program history with a Region 8 victory against Winder-Barrow, which is tied for third place in the region and seeking its first state playoff berth since 2003.
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