Tourney time arrives for area prep basketball teams

Christian Heritage’s girls basketball team has been noticeably better than the rest of Georgia Independent School Association Region 4-2A this season.

For the Lady Lions (19-5), maintaining that gap between themselves and the league over the next two games — the final two rounds of the region tournament — could play a big part in reaching their ultimate goal of being the best in the state.

Christian Heritage takes on the Heritage School in the Region 4-2A tournament semifinals at 7 p.m. today at LaGrange Academy, following a 5:30 p.m. boys semifinal between Christian Heritage and Furtah Prep. The No. 1-seeded Lady Lions’ closest region game this season was a 75-56 win over Flint River Academy in mid-December, and Christian Heritage’s pressure defense and up-tempo play has put league opponents in the rearview mirror quickly in most games.

This isn’t the time of year Christian Heritage coach Heather Lowery is likely to take her foot off the gas.

“We feel like we’re peaking and we’re playing well,” Lowery said. “But these are two very important games, because we want to win and win well. If we win and play mediocre ... we don’t want that to fester over into the state tournament.”

Because they received a bye into the region semifinals, the Lady Lions have known for a while that they’ll be making their fifth appearance in the Class 2A state tournament in as many seasons competing in the GISA. They also know they’ll be playing Friday, win or lose today, and that it’s only a matter of whether it’s for the region title or third place. They’ve played for a region title every year they’ve been in the GISA as well, winning last year and in 2008, when they also reached the state title game.

The Lady Lions made the state semifinals last season, losing to eventual champion Terrell Academy, but they’re looking for two more wins this year. While not looking ahead to next week’s state tournament, Lowery and her players are still well aware that they’ll set the tone for those games with their play in the region tourney.

“We had a long discussion after practice today about getting into this (semifinal) game and showing the kind of emotion want to have,” Lowery said. “In any game, we want to have some pep in our step and be on fire. We want to play every game like a championship game. I think that has kind of helped us, and I feel like we’re in a good place. We know what’s at stake.”

Two standout seniors for the Lady Lions have battled injuries in recent weeks, but Maggie Peeples (back) and Ann Marie Massengale (ankle) are well enough that Lowery has no concerns about starting both today. Others on the team have dealt with illness over the past week, but Lowery isn’t worried about them being ready either.

“I don’t think if somebody had a broken leg I could stop them from going,” Lowery said.

The Lions (8-14) face a much tougher task, taking on top-seeded Furtah Prep (28-0), but like the Lady Lions are already assured of another trip to state.

However, for local Georgia High School Association basketball teams, nothing is settled yet when it comes to state berths.

The boys and girls at Coahulla Creek and North Murray face double duty in the first leg of the postseason, needing to survive both the Sub-region 7B-2A and Region 7-2A tournaments to make the Class 2A state bracket.

Both of the teams at first-year Coahulla Creek are the lowest seeds in the 7B-2A brackets and will play in today’s opening round at Dade County against a No. 5 seed. The Colts (1-24) face Calhoun at 7 p.m., while the Lady Colts (0-25) take on Chattooga at 8:30 p.m., with both needing wins to prolong their seasons and stay in the tournament, from which the top three teams will advance to next week’s Region 7-2A tournament at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center.

With a win today, the Colts would advance to face Sonoraville on Friday.

North Murray’s girls, seeded fourth, received a bye into the second round of the sub-region tournament and await the winner of today’s game between Coahulla Creek and Chattooga. The Lady Mountaineers (14-11), who swept home-and-home series with both teams this season, will play at 8:30 p.m. Friday.

North Murray’s boys, seeded second behind the host Wolverines, have a bye into Saturday’s semifinals. The Mountaineers (19-6) play at 4 p.m. that day, taking on either Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Chattooga or Gordon Central. Seventh-seeded Chattooga and sixth-seeded LFO play today, with the winner facing No. 3 seed Gordon Central in Friday’s second round.

In Region 7-3A, both Dalton’s boys and girls are No. 1 seeds and need just one win to make the state tournament, having received byes into the quarterfinals of the tourney, which starts Monday at Murray County High’s Kenneth Ross Gymnasium.

The Catamounts (18-6) face the winner of Monday’s 4 p.m. game between fifth-seeded Heritage-Catoosa and fourth-seeded Cedartown at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Lady Cats (18-6) play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, taking on the winner of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. game between fifth-seeded Southeast Whitfield (1-23) and Gilmer.

The boys teams at Murray County and Southeast both help tip off the tourney’s first day of action. Murray County (10-15), a No. 6 seed, plays third-seeded Ridgeland at 7 p.m. Monday. The sixth-seeded Raiders (1-23) face Pickens in the game to follow, set for 8:30.

Murray County’s girls also play in the opening round, with the fifth-seeded Lady Indians (7-18) playing fourth-seeded LaFayette at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In Region 7-4A, Northwest Whitfield’s boys and girls used late-season runs to secure a spot in the upper half of the tourney field and receive byes, avoiding Saturday’s opening day of play at Cass High. Each team needs only a win to secure a spot in the Class 4A state tournament.

The fourth-seeded Bruins (15-9) play No. 5 seed Sequoyah at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Lady Bruins (15-10), the No. 5 seed, take on fourth-seeded Forsyth Central at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

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