As the high school basketball regular season nears its conclusion, there are still a number of tight subregion races.
For the boys, one of those races could come to an end tonight.
North Hall, which hosts Franklin County at 7:30 p.m., can clinch Region 8-AAA North with a win. The Trojans (20-3, 8-0) hold a two-game lead over the Lions, and each team has just two games left on the schedule.
On the other side of the region, Gainesville (15-8, 9-2) is just one game back in the losing column behind Walnut Grove. That race could end tonight as well, as Walnut Grove would clinch with a win over Oconee County. The Red Elephants play once more in the subregion, at Monroe Area on Tuesday.
Lakeview Academy, which is having one of its best season’s in school history, currently holds a two-game lead in the loss column over second-place Commerce in Region 8A-A. Wins in two of its final four games will secure the subregion title.
On the girls side, Region 8-AAA South is the biggest battleground subregion. Oconee County and Gainesville are deadlocked for the subregion lead with just two games remaining.
West Hall, which struggled early in the season, has won five straight and is still alive in the subregion, sitting one game back.
Region 8-AAA North has three teams still fighting for first place, but North Hall looks secure with a two-game lead over White County.
NORTH HALL BOYS ON SPECTACULAR RUN: The Trojans basketball team lost back-to-back games in the Lanierland tournament, falling short of its own expectations. Barely over a month later, things couldn’t be more different.
Since a one-point loss to Flowery Branch on Dec. 22, North Hall has won 13 straight games, including a close 79-72 win over East Hall last Saturday.
The Trojans host Franklin County tonight and travel to Stephens County on Tuesday. Wins in both games would give them a 15-game streak and a perfect subregion record throughout the regular season.
THREE-WAY TIE AT HALL COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS: Last Saturday, Hall County wrestling teams were deadlocked in the Hall County duals championships at Johnson High.
Chestatee, North Hall and Flowery Branch each finished with one loss, all among themselves.
In order to break a tie in wrestling, coaches and officials meet to go down a list of criteria until one stands out as the winner.
In this particular tournament, Flowery Branch was crowned the winner based on the third criteria on the list, which was most individual wins. Chestatee finished in second, while North Hall, which topped the War Eagles in the final match to force the tie, finished in third.