Region Races to Watch

<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Region 4-7A</strong></h2>   <p>Considered the strongest region in the state, No. 1 Grayson seems like the clearcut favorite to win the grouping and the unanimous frontrunner to win the state title. With that being said, by no means will it be easy, although early scores may suggest otherwise. The Rams have to cut through No. 5 Archer, No. 6 Newton, previously ranked Brookwood, a tough South Gwinnett team and a better-than-expected group at Parkview. Grayson sits at 3-0 in the region headlined by decisive wins over Brookwood (81-41) and Archer (73-38) while Newton is 2-0, beating South Gwinnett at the buzzer 47-46 and thumping Brookwood 82-49. The Rams have a key tilt on Friday at Archer that will help determine who the early favorite for the two-seed will be behind Grayson who could be immune to an upset.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Region 2-5A</strong></h2>   <p>Two regions stand out above the rest in Class 5A, one of them being Region 2. No. 2 Dutchtown, No. 9 Jones County and No. 10 Eagle's Landing lead the way with Union Grove and Warner Robins also dangerous as previously ranked opponents. Dutchtown currently sits at 6-0 in the driver's seat behind the length of [player_tooltip player_id='1300737' first='Joah' last='Chappelle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1300745' first='Matthew' last='Hinton'], holding wins over Eagle's Landing (53-47), Warner Robins (70-54), Union Grove (70-45) and Jones County (63-37). Friday the Bulldogs head to Eagle's Landing searching for a sweep of the Eagles which would be a crucial victory as Dutchtown hunts for the one-seed. Eagle's Landing has played a tough schedule and has been up-and-down, but are currently on an uptick winning three-straight including a 58-51 win at Union Grove, pushing the Wolverines down to 2-4 in the region while the Eagles are 5-2. Jones County's 61-60 home win against Eagle's Landing in mid-December looms large, placing the Greyhounds in second place at 5-1. The emergence of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2324416' first='Jaden' last='Stanley'] (16.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.9 spg) and Kaden Douglas (15.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1 spg) has propelled Jones County near the top of the standings, both players strong candidates for Class 5A Most Improved Player. While it currently looks like they will be battling for the four-seed, Warner Robins and Union Grove are both dangerous. The Demons are powered by their explosive backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='1145101' first='Camryn' last='Perkins'], Jay Johnson and Gabe Jacobs who set a school-record this year with 14 threes and 50 points in a game while the Wolverines have a versatile frontcourt anchored by [player_tooltip player_id='1227099' first='Nile' last='King'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1574210' first='Caleb' last='Samples'] with [player_tooltip player_id='2046334' first='Chase' last='Williamson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1227100' first='Jason' last='Isaac'] as big guards.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Region 5-5A</strong></h2>   <p>No. 4 Tri-Cities, No. 5 Chapel Hill, No. 6 [player_tooltip player_id='2297297' first='Maynard' last='Jackson'] and No. 7 Mays are locked in a gauntlet which will see tournament seeding change by the week. Tri-Cities is currently in first place at 6-0 behind freshman phenom [player_tooltip player_id='2102286' first='Tre' last='Keith'] (20.5 ppg) who just pulled a UGA offer. The Bulldogs are in a position of power holding wins over Chapel Hill (82-77) and Mays (72-69) heading into this Friday's showdown with [player_tooltip player_id='2297297' first='Maynard' last='Jackson'] who is 5-1 in second place after losing to Chapel Hill 74-68, the Panthers tied for third place deadlocked at 5-2 with surprise Lithia Springs. The Lions are only 8-8 overall and yet to be ranked but Coach Keith Simmons has done a tremendous job with his roster, seeing addition by subtraction in the offseason and reaping the benefits, already surpassing last year's 7-19 record. The Lions have played a tough non-region schedule and have put scares into the top dogs in the region, losing to Tri-Cities 57-53 and [player_tooltip player_id='2297297' first='Maynard' last='Jackson'] 65-62 before recently getting over the hump by winning at Chapel Hill 54-52 proving that Lithia is indeed a legitimate dark horse to make noise in the region tournament and possibly state if they get there. Mays has work to do at 2-3 in fifth place with losses against [player_tooltip player_id='2297297' first='Maynard' last='Jackson'] (71-63), Tri-Cities (72-69) and Chapel Hill (75-65). The Raiders host Lithia Springs on Friday with a chance to claw back into the region race. [player_tooltip player_id='1967600' first='Derron' last='Lindsey'] has been an explosive scorer this season averaging 22.8 points and 4.9 assists per game.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Region 8-4A</strong></h2>   <p>Pick your horse in Region 8, as there are many differing styles of basketball. In the Top 10 are No. 4 North Oconee (6-1), No. 6 Madison County (6-1), No. 7 Seckinger (5-1) and No. 10 Walnut Grove (3-3). The Titans lead the pack with wins over Walnut Grove (60-51), Madison County (79-45) and recently ranked Cherokee Bluff 56-44, knocking the Bears back into the middle of the pack at 4-3 in region play. North Oconee's lone loss has come at Seckinger 63-61, polar opposites as the Titans allow 50.5 points per game while the Jaguars give up 64.1 a night. North Oconee has the biggest team in the region with 6-foot-7 [player_tooltip player_id='1300715' first='Evan' last='Montgomery'] and 6-foot-4 [player_tooltip player_id='1765473' first='Khamari' last='Brooks'] anchoring the interior with explosive scorers [player_tooltip player_id='1300680' first='Byrd' last='Carter'], [player_tooltip player_id='1861277' first='Justin' last='Payne'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2046364' first='Justin' last='Wise'] lining the perimeter. Seckinger plays a deep bench and is led by point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1470272' first='Braxton' last='Miller'] who has a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio and binge scorers [player_tooltip player_id='2046338' first='Carter' last='Watkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1444781' first='Keith' last='Banks']. 6-foot-4 freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='2243047' first='Caleb' last='Wells'] is a difference maker averaging over 10 points per game, a dangerous shooter alongside big brother [player_tooltip player_id='2046353' first='Tony' last='Wells']. Seckinger's one region loss came at Madison County 83-66, but the Jags have an opportunity to atone for their misstep this Friday. Piedmont-commit [player_tooltip player_id='1765472' first='Mason' last='Smith'] powered the Red Raiders with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists in their first meeting. [player_tooltip player_id='1386823' first='Jay' last='Carruth'] netted 15 points, the reigning Region 8 Player of the Year. Madison County has the highest scoring offense in the region averaging 72.8 points per game with [player_tooltip player_id='1765472' first='Mason' last='Smith'] providing outside shooting and [player_tooltip player_id='1978542' first='Frae'Quan' last='Wilkins'] electric athleticism as a move-in from Franklin County.</p>   <p>Walnut Grove has arguably the best guard in the region in [player_tooltip player_id='1383035' first='Marcus' last='Smith'], but injuries and a lack of size due to graduation and transfer have besmirched the Warriors, losers of five of their last seven games. East Hall is one of the most improved teams in the state, finishing 7-20 last year and 3-12 in the region, currently sitting at 10-5 overall and 5-3 in region play. Press Hall plays at a frantic pace, turning defense into offense. With the amount of possessions they create in each game, they are never out of any contest. The Vikings have lost to Walnut Grove 83-81, 86-84 in overtime to Cherokee Bluff and most recently last week at Madison County 73-70. Coach Joe Dix won his 400<sup>th</sup> game on Tuesday against Johnson-Gainesville and has seen a young core of sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2319619' first='Jamarcus' last='Harrison'], Chasen Jones and Kahlil Goss along with freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2125516' first='Braydon' last='Langston'] propel the Vikes into the state playoff hunt.</p>   <p>The most unstoppable player in the region and possibly the state statistically speaking is Chestatee's [player_tooltip player_id='1350895' first='Colton' last='Wilbanks']. The War Eagles try to outscore teams and are currently 5-12 overall and just 1-6 in the region but are scary to contend with, losing 75-70 in overtime to Seckinger, falling 89-84 to East Hall and pushing Walnut Grove to the limit 67-63. Wilbanks, incredulously with only a D-III Piedmont offer, is averaging over 35 points and 14 rebounds per game. He possesses the most elite motor Georgia has seen since Aidan Hadaway (LaFayette High School – Ohio University), similar in game just not as skilled of a perimeter playmaker and shot maker. If Chestatee can start to string together consistent stops on defense and continue to get offensive production from Josh Bull and Jordan Harris around Wilbanks, the War Eagles could shock teams come region tournament time.</p>