Hall County has the luxury of having a number of talented high school basketball teams, which enables the county to have had a nearly all-county tournament for 52 consecutive years.
Towns County doesn’t have that luxury, so instead the Indians invite teams from all over the region to come compete in the annual Battle of the States Tournament in Hiawassee.
This year, the bracket includes teams from Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee and, of course, Georgia.
Like Lanierland, the championship bracket is an eight-team, single-elimination tournament, complete with a consolation bracket. Last season two Georgia teams won the tournament, although not the hosts. The Union County boys defeated Murphy, N.C., 58-47 in the title game and the Gordon Lee girls defeated the Lady Indians 62-48.
This year Dawson County, Union County and Towns County are among the teams in both brackets.
EAST HALL GIRLS STILL UNDEFEATED: The grind of the Lanierland tournament doesn’t leave room for many undefeated Hall County teams, and after the 52nd annual tournament last week, just one remained.
The Lady Vikings started 7-0 this season, including a 64-57 win over North Hall in the championship game last week.
The team has been led thus far by two senior Division I-commitments in Vanderbilt signee and point guard Jasmine Jenkins, and Georgia State signee and forward Morgan Jackson. Both have already turned in memorable performances this season in keeping their squad undefeated.
East Hall put its perfect record to the test at its second-straight tournament appearance, this time the McDonald’s Shootout at Hart County High, which began Wednesday.
REGION SCHEDULES WILL HEAT UP: Early in the season basketball teams have the time to work out the kinks and figure out the best lineups.
Come January, the subregion schedules either begin or get going at full speed after a few December meetings.
In a time span little more than a month, East Hall will play its final 10 subregion games from Jan. 6 to Feb. 10. North Hall, which, unlike the Vikings, hasn’t yet begun subregion play, will get all 10 games in between Jan. 6 and Feb. 8.
Flowery Branch will get in its allotted 10 subregion games from Jan. 6 to Feb. 7.
With the turn of a calendar year, the games suddenly take on an added importance as teams grapple for the best seeding in the region tournaments held in mid February.
BUFORD GIRLS BUSY: The Lady Wolves returned from a tough tournament in Phoenix and jumped right back into another tournament bracket, this time the Peach State Holiday Classic at Holy Innocents High in Atlanta.
No. 1 Buford emerged from the tournament with a 6-3 overall record for the season, but the team held its ground against the nation’s best despite playing without last year’s team leader in Andraya Carter, who is still recovering from a leg injury sustained prior to the season.
The Lady Wolves began their second tournament on Tuesday. This is another tournament that brings in teams from all over the country, but this time Buford gets to stay close to home.