Chestatee vs. Troup
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Troup High, LaGrange
Records: Chestatee (19-10, No. 2 Region 8-AAA); Troup (22-5, No. 1 Region 6-AAA)
Coaches: Chestatee, Web Daniel; Troup, Carla Thornton
Key players: Chestatee, C Maegan Kenimer (6-2, Jr.); G Emily Crain (5-4, So.). Troup, PG Tanisha Jackson (5-2, Sr.); C Shamiya Brooks (6-2, Sr.).
Outlook: Making a playoff run is nothing new for either team, as Chestatee and Troup both made the second round of the playoffs last season. The Lady War Eagles are in the second round for the third time since 2009.
Chestatee earned its berth in the second round by holding off Gilmer, 37-33, in Friday's playoff opener in Gainesville. Crain drained a 3-pointer late to make it a two-possession game against the Lady Bobcats, helping secure victory.
Kenimer led Chestatee in the playoff opener with 10 points, all from the free-throw line.
According to Daniel, a key to tonight's game against the Lady Tigers is shutting down Jackson, who averages 12 points and five assists per game. No. 8 Troup's other offensive weapon is Brooks with 15 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Chestatee's coach said the Lady War Eagles are going to put an emphasis on keeping Troup's 6-foot-2 center as far away from the basket as possible.
"I like our chances (tonight)," Daniel said. "I think we match up really well with them.
"At this point, it's all about the matchups and I think we match up well against each other."
According to Thornton, Troup is focused on trying to stop Chestatee's scoring opportunities.
"Chestatee runs its offense very well," Thornton said. "It's going to be a very challenging game.
"But all the teams left at this point are good."
The winner of Tuesday's game faces the second-ranked Columbia/Oconee County winner in the state quarterfinals on Saturday at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center in Dalton. Chestatee is seeking its first state quarterfinals berth for the girls in school history.
East Hall vs. Lovett
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: East Hall High, Gainesville
Records: East Hall (26-3, No. 1 Region 8-AA); Lovett (24-5, No. 2 Region 6-AA).
Coaches: East Hall, Joey Rider; Lovett, Liz Kennedy.
Key players: East Hall, PG Jasmine Jenkins (5-8, Sr.); SG Morgan Jackson (6-0, Sr.); SF Audrianna Lindsey (5-8, Sr.). Lovett, G Tatianna Jackson (5-8, Sr.); C Chris Johnson (6-1, Sr.); F Sydney Umeri (6-1, Jr.).
Outlook: Second-round playoff games rarely come with the even billing and high level of talent as the third-ranked Lady Vikings and No. 5 Lions bring to the court.
East Hall rode a 26-point and seven 3-pointer effort by freshman Chelsea Dale to victory in the first round against Dade County on Friday in Gainesville, while Lovett dispatched Carver-Columbus 56-34 to open the playoffs in Atlanta.
Jenkins (18 points per game) and Jackson (20 points per game) have been the main scoring threats for the Lady Vikings all season, but it was the freshman Dale who proved to be the difference in the opening round against Dade County.
Jenkins (12 points) and Jackson (10 points) still managed to hit double figures in the playoff opener.
Rider has no doubts his team will be ready for Lovett, even though the Lady Lions do create some matchup problems with two players inside who are more than six-feet tall.
"Our team has had a resolve all season," Rider said. "They believe they're going to win."
East Hall's senior-heavy roster is in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Lovett is also used to playing at this point in the season. The Lady Lions are in the second round of state for the second consecutive season and have reached the playoffs six straight years.
Jackson (14 points, four rebounds) and Umeri (11 points, eight rebounds) are the Lady Lions' main scoring threats.
Lovett was region runner-up as a result of a 45-39 loss in its 6-AA title game to Buford on Feb. 18.
"It should be a very good game between two good teams," Kennedy said. "It's going to be one of those that comes down to which way the ball is bouncing."
The winner of Tuesday's game will face the Model/Greater Atlanta Christian winner in the state quarterfinals on Saturday at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center in Dalton.
North Hall vs. Carrollton
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: North Hall High, Gainesville
Records: North Hall (22-7, No. 1 Region 8-AAA);
Carrollton (25-4, No. 2 Region 6-AAA).
Coaches: North Hall, Kristi House; Carrollton, Shon Thomaston
Key players: North Hall, G Mary Kate Rushton (5-9, Sr.); G McKenna Rushton (5-10, Sr.); G Taylor Swoszowski (5-6, Sr.). Carrollton, G Kenyatta Hendrix (5-10, Jr.); PG Raven Trammell (5-7, Sr.); C Taylor Love (6-2, Jr.).
Outlook: There's plenty of familiarity between these two programs. No. 6 Carrollton won a 62-57 overtime game against North Hall last year in the first round of the state playoffs.
Making the matchup even more similar is that both bring predominately the same group of players to the floor as in the 2011 meeting.
"We feel a certain familiarity with them because of our matchup last season," House said. "We know that we will have to play well to contend with their athleticism."
Swoszowski led the Lady Trojans with a team-high 18 points in a first-round win against Pickens on Saturday. She's averaging eight points and five assists per game for North Hall, and is a point of emphasis for Thomaston.
Twins McKenna and Mary Kate Rushton are both at 13 points a game for North Hall.
Hendrix (14 points per game) and Trammell (11 points) were both first-team All-Region 6-AAA picks this season, while Love (seven points, seven rebounds and three blocks) and sophomore guard Brooklyn Embry were second-team selections. Four different scorers were in double figures in Carrollton's first-round win against Woodward Academy on Friday.
Thomaston was in Gainesville on Saturday to scout North Hall in its first-round win against the Lady Dragons.
"North Hall is a very strong team," Thomaston said. "They're a team that is supposed to be in the second round."
The winner of Tuesday's game will face the Allatoona/Columbus winner in the state quarterfinals on Saturday at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center.