Boys
No. 2 Pace Academy Knights (20-4, 10-0 Region 6) at Lovett Lions (13-9, 5-1)
These crosstown rivals will meet Saturday for the second time this season, with the Knights winning 67-47 at home on Jan. 7, extending their series win streak to eight. Senior forward Josh Reed led the Knights with 27 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals, and freshman Bryson Tiller was their other double-digit scorer with 17, adding 12 rebounds and five assists. The Lions also had a pair of double-digit scorers in sophomore Christian Anderson (22 points) and junior Kyle Walters (14 points, nine rebounds).
Anderson leads the Lions, averaging 29.7 points, and Walters averages 16.8 points, nine rebounds. They’re on a three-game win streak since losing 83-66 to 5A’s No. 2 St. Pius on Jan. 22, beating 6-2A opponents Washington twice (75-58 and 70-54) and KIPP (71-68).
The Knights are on a 13-game win streak following a 56-50 loss to 1A Private’s No. 1 Greenforest. Reed (20 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals) and Tiller (11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks) are the team’s top performers.
No. 5 Washington County Golden Hawks (16-3) at Laney Wildcats (8-12, 4-7)
You may be looking at the Wildcats’ record and asking why this is a top weekend game. On Jan. 29, the Wildcats beat the Golden Hawks 52-49 at Washington County. They were led by senior James Nipper, who had 20 points — including 3-for-5 shooting from 3-point range — with 11 rebounds before fouling out. The Golden Hawks were led by JT Thomas’ game-high 24 points.
The rematch will be played on Saturday.
The Wildcats have won two in a row and are led by Nipper, who averages 19 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals. The Golden Hawks’ loss to Laney snapped a nine-game win streak. They rebounded to beat Dodge County 68-39 on Tuesday and will play at Bleckley County (7-13) Friday — a team they beat 59-40 on Jan. 11.
Girls
No. 8 Callaway Cavaliers (14-4, 6-0 Region 5) at No. 10 Heard County Braves (18-4, 4-1)
This is the only top 10 matchup of the weekend and it will be played Friday.
On Jan. 18, these teams met at Callaway and the Cavs won 45-40, with sophomores Jazmin Thornton (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Lacey Thomas (10 points, 20 rebounds, two steals) leading the way.
Thornton leads the Cavs, averaging 16.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals. Senior Gabrielle Johnson averages 11.8 points, and Thomas averages 8.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.1 steals. The Cavs have won two in a row.
The Braves are on a three-game win streak, which began following their loss to Callaway.
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