Entering the fray
Local teams face tests in the opening round of the state basketball playoffs.
It’s not unusual for the competition to take a step up when the postseason comes around, but the opponents some area basketball teams will face this weekend could require a leap.
“It’s a whole new ball game,” Model girls’ coach Sally Echols said about going into the playoffs. “You’re fighting for your life and fighting to stay alive.”
The No. 6 Lady Devils will host No. 9 Putnam County Friday at 6 p.m. in the Class AA state playoffs, while No. 9 Rome is on the road to take on No. 5 Flowery Branch at 7 p.m.
Model (22-3) won its fourth consecutive Region 7-AA title last week and will face a Lady War Eagles squad that lost two close games in the Region 8-AA tournament last week to get the four seed and a 20-4 record.
Rome (23-5) enters the playoffs as the No. 3 seed from Region 7-5A, while Flowery Branch (22-6) is the No. 2 seed from 8-5A.
Meanwhile, Rockmart’s girls (19-8) will host No. 7 Rabun County (22-6) Friday at 7 p.m. in a 2 vs. 3 matchup. Pepperell’s girls (6-18) will travel to Homer to face No. 2-ranked Banks County (23-5) at 5:30 p.m. followed by Coosa’s boys (10-17) taking on the No. 9 Banks County boys (24-4).
Darlington’s girls’ team just made it into the top 24 of the Class A Private Power Ratings to secure a playoff spot. The Lady Tigers (10-13) will make the trip to Athens on Friday in a matchup with No. 9-rated Athens Academy (23-4).
Darlington’s boys will begin their state playoffs Saturday by hosting Fellowship Christian at the Huffman Center at 4 p.m. The Tigers (13-10) earned the No. 12 rating in the Power Ratings, while the Paladins (12-13) are No. 21.
Also in action Saturday is Chattooga’s boys, coming off of their second-straight region 7-AA title. The Indians (23-3) will host 8-AA No. 4 seed Monticello at 4 p.m. Rockmart’s Jackets (1611) will welcome Putnam County (6-18) to The Rock at 6 p.m., while the Pepperell Dragons (14-10) are on the road at Elbert County (22-4) for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.