The top-ranked Sandy Creek boys team defeated No. 3 Salem 66-56 Friday to expand its lead in the race for the No. 1 playoff seed in Region 5.

It was the Patriots’ second victory this season against Salem, a team that is tied for second in region play.

The victory moved Sandy Creek to 8-0 in the league and left Salem (6-2), Greater Atlanta Christian (5-2) and Carver-Atlanta (4-3) chasing. The Patriots will travel to Greater Atlanta Christian on Tuesday for another league game. Sandy Creek beat the No. 7-ranked Spartans 54-47 Dec. 10.

Here were some other key results from weekend play:

Boys

-- No. 4 Sumter County (19-2, 10-1) was upended by unranked Peach County (11-8, 8-2) 63-54 on the road Saturday after beating the Trojans 91-81 in double-overtime Dec. 4 at home.

-- No. 5 Cross Creek (14-4, 5-0) narrowly defeated Burke County (11-5, 4-2) 54-48 on the road Saturday and moved to 5-0 in Region 4′s standings. The other unbeaten in the league is No. 8-ranked Thomson, which Cross Creek will play Friday and Feb. 5.

-- No. 6 LaFayette, which has not lost this season, is coming off a 73-61 victory against Rockmart on Friday. The Ramblers (11-0) lead the Region 6 standings, ahead of No. 10 Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (9-1), Adairsville (6-4) and Rockmart/Coahulla Creek (6-5).

Girls

-- No. 4 GAC lost to Class A Private No. 1 Holy Innocents’ 68-49 Saturday and will look to turn things around Tuesday against Sandy Creek (4-13) at home. The Spartans are 7-0 in Region 5′s standings and lead Westminster (6-2), Cedar Grove (5-2) and Redan (5-3).

-- No. 3 Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe lost its first game of the season Saturday against Tennessee’s Bradley Central (69-41) and will play at home against North Murray on Tuesday in a Region 6 game. The Warriors are 10-0 in league play and lead No. 8 Murray County (9-2), No. 10 Ringgold (8-3) and Sonoraville (5-5).

-- No. 6 Oconee County (13-4, 3-1) defeated Hart County 56-29 Monday, which created a three-way tie atop the Region 8 standings with Hart (3-1) and No. 5 East Jackson (3-1). Oconee will travel to Monroe Area on Wednesday before facing East Jackson at home Friday.

Class 3A boys top-10

1. Sandy Creek (16-3)

2. Windsor Forest (12-3)

3. Salem (14-4)

4. Sumter County (19-2)

5. Cross Creek (14-4)

6. LaFayette (18-0)

7. Greater Atlanta Christian (13-3)

8. Thomson (10-2)

9. Groves (7-3)

10. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (16-2)

Class 3A girls top-10

1. Lumpkin County (19-1)

2. Cross Creek (14-1)

3. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (18-1)

4. Greater Atlanta Christian (12-5)

5. East Jackson (15-2)

6. Oconee County (12-4)

7. Pierce County (15-3)

8. Murray County (15-4)

9. Sumter County (15-6)

10. Ringgold (14-5)

About the Author

Featured

The renovation of Jekyll Island's Great Dunes golf course includes nine holes designed by Walter Travis in the 1920s for the members of the Jekyll Island Club. Several holes that were part of the original layout where located along the beach and were bulldozed in the 1950s.(Photo by Austin Kaseman)

Credit: Photo by Austin Kaseman