The local high school basketball teams are in the thick of their region schedules this week.

There are a number of important matchups, but maybe none more important than Friday's matchup at 7 p.m. at East Hall between the 12-1 Lady Vikings and the 16-1 Rabun County girls.

Both were undefeated until last week, although East Hall has still yet to lose in Region 8A-AA at 2-0, while the Lady Rebels are 2-1 after a close, 48-44 loss to Banks County (11-5, 2-1), a team the Lady Vikings have already defeated this season, 57-41.

On the boys side, the premier matchup is in Region 8-AAA North, between the only two teams that have yet to lose in the subregion.

North Hall (14-3, 3-0 8-AAA) will travel to Franklin County (12-3, 3-0) for a scheduled 7:30 p.m. start on Tuesday.

Both teams come in on hot streaks - the Lions have won five consecutive games, and the Trojans have not lost since the Lanierland tournament in December and will be searching for their eighth-straight win.

WRESTLING: With the state duals tournament in the rearview mirror, local teams continue to wrestle in duals and local tournaments in preparation for the traditional area tournaments in early February.

On Friday and Saturday, Habersham Central, which will also host the 8-AAAA area tournament, is holding the Sham Slam, which will feature a number of local teams, including Buford, Commerce, Chestatee, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Jefferson and Lumpkin County.

Gainesville and Chestatee will also square off earlier in the week at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Chestatee in a dual match.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Like the local high school basketball teams, the Georgia and Georgia Tech hoops teams are in the middle of regular-season conference play.

The Georgia men have a big test at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Athens against Tennessee, while the women host Kentucky at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The Georgia Tech teams will also host conference games this week, with the women playing at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Duke and the men taking on Virginia at 8 p.m. Thursday.