The regular season is almost completed. In about two weeks teams will begin the region tournaments and start to determine the four teams that will represent their league in the state playoffs.
One of the biggest boys basketball games this weekend will be at Thomson, where the No. 9 Bulldogs will try to derail No. 1 Washington County on Saturday.
Washington County is 17-1 and undefeated in the league. Thomson is 14-1 with only one league loss – that a 53-43 setback to Washington County on Jan. 14.
Although it is a non-region game, the Saturday contest between Morgan and Buford should be a beauty for both the boys and girls. The No. 2 Morgan boys defeated the No. 6 Wolves 76-65 in the season opener in Madison. The No. 6 Morgan girls beat the No. 3 Wolves 54-51.
In a critical girls game, No. 8 Chapel Hill (18-3) and Central Carroll (20-2) meet on Friday in a game that could determine the regular-season championship for Region 4-AAA. Chapel Hill is 10-0 in the league, one better than Central.
Here’s a look at how the other regions in Class AAA are shaking out as the sprint toward the finish line begins.
Boys
Region 1: Defending state champion Johnson and 2013 runner-up Savannah are essentially tied for first place with one league loss. They split during the regular season.
Region 2: Carver Columbus has only one league loss and holds a one-game lead over Central Macon. The two teams have already split their two meetings.
Region 4: Douglass has one region loss, but Callaway and B.E.S.T. Academy are only one game back. This promises to be a scramble to the end. The Astros play at Callaway on Saturday and have to make up a game against B.E.S.T.
Region 5: No. 3-ranked Cartersville is clearly the class of the league. The Hurricanes are 18-2 and undefeated (11-0) in the league.
Region 6: No. 8 Cedar Grove has only one region loss and holds a one-game lead over No. 10 Blessed Trinity. The two teams clash on Friday night at Cedar Grove. Blessed Trinity beat the Saints 53-42 on Jan. 7.
Region 7: No. 6 Buford has wrapped up the region. The Wolves are unbeaten within the region and have a three-game lead.
Region 8: This has turned into a two-team race between No. 2 Morgan County (17-4, 10-1) and No. 7 Elbert County (17-3, 9-2). Morgan beat Elbert 56-52 last week, meaning the two powers have split their two meetngs.
Girls
Region 1: Beach (19-1) holds a one-game lead over Tattnall County and surprising Johnson.
Region 2: Peach County (17-3) is one game ahead of No. 10 Southwest Macon. They meet tonight in Macon. Peach won the first game 63-57 in Fort Valley.
Region 3: No. 1 Washington County is the only undefeated team left in the classification. But the Hawks only have a one-game lead on No. 7 Dodge County (16-2). The two meet in the season finale on Feb. 4 at Dodge.
Region 5: Unranked Cartersville (17-3) is unbeaten in the league and has a two-game advantage over rival Adairsville.
Region 6: Defending state champion St. Pius (18-3) leads Woodward Academy and Decatur by two games.
Region 7: No. 3-ranked Buford is the class of the league. The Wolves are 18-2 overall and hold a perfect 10-0 mark in league play.
Region 8: Looks like a battle between No. 6 Morgan County (16-2, 10-1) and Franklin County (16-5, 9-1) for first place. Morgan won the first meeting 55-50 on Jan. 10. They meet again in the final game on Feb. 7 in Carnesville.
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