Tuesday’s inclement weather across the Augusta area caused some school closures, particularly in Richmond County, and, as a consequence, triggered cancellation of basketball games and other sport and extra curricular events.
All that did, though, was make what was already going to be a jam-packed weekend of high school sports action even more packed. With the holidays behind us, the basketball games and the wrestling matches matter more, and the beginning of spring sports action is looming.
Holiday basketball tournaments and showcases have now given way to the region grind on the road to the postseason, and wrestling is gearing up for its own state tournament action in just a matter of days.
So with all that said, here are five high school sports contests you’ll want to put on your radar this coming weekend.
Who: Thomson (13-1, 4-0) at Josey (13-2, 4-0) (girls)
When: Friday, Jan. 12, 6 p.m. at Josey
Why: So much has been made about the Thomson boys basketball team’s fast 12-0 start, but the Lady Bulldogs have been just as good. Coach Sierra Williams’ squad has just one blemish on its record — a narrow 57-53 setback to Class AAAAA Midtown (12-2, 4-1 in Region 5-AAAAA). Aside from that, Thomson hasn’t just been winning, but winning big. Thomson has been doing it behind the strength of high-scoring juniors, Jada Kendrick (18 ppg) and Ty’Leishiah Latimore (16 ppg). Meanwhile, Josey is Josey. Just a couple of seasons removed from a Class AA Final Four finish and a coaching change, the Eagles are still proving themselves as one of the area’s consistent powerhouse programs.
Who: Butler (12-2, 4-0) at Westside (12-3, 3-1) (boys)
When: Friday, Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m. at Westside
Why: When it all comes down to it, the Region 4-AA race may be a three-team pursuit between Butler, Thomson and Westside. Butler and Thomson are currently undefeated in region play. Westside’s only region blemish is against an undefeated Thomson bunch. Therefore, Friday’s clash between Butler and Westside will have major region championship implications. And that’s saying something, given Butler breaking in a new coach and Westside breaking in basically a brand new starting five. It’s a tremendous testimony of the strength of these programs to see them playing at such a high level with so much “new” around them.
Who: Cross Creek (9-7, 1-0) at Richmond Academy (11-3, 0-1)
When: Saturday, Jan. 13, 3 p.m. at Richmond Academy *This game was rescheduled from Tuesday’s cancellation
Why: The intrigue in this matchup comes from the fact that Richmond Academy is one of the area’s surprise teams so far. The Musketeers lost their only 4-AAA region game played so far to Morgan County last Friday. It was the third loss in ARC’s previous four games, stretching to just before Christmas. But before that, Richmond got off to a 10-0 start. And it’s been a while since that’s happened. Meanwhile, don’t let Cross Creek’s record fool you. The Razorbacks’ 9-7 mark comes in part due its typical gauntlet non-region schedule. But Cross Creek is plenty talented enough to make a serious push for yet another region crown.
Who: Morgan County (9-7, 1-1) at Hephzibah (10-2, 1-0)
When: Friday, Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m. at Hephzibah
Why: The Rebels haven’t seen 10 wins this early in a season in years. That automatically makes this an intriguing matchup as one of the more impressive programs in Class AAA comes into town. Hephzibah’s senior “big three” of Tybraun Wilcox and Ashton and Traeon Brown have pushed the success. The only losses so far came in December in a one-point defeat to Warren County and a 54-41 loss to an improved Laney squad just after Christmas. Though Morgan County has struggled a bit out of the gate this season, the Bulldogs are still one of the more recognizable “brands” in this area in Georgia’s high school basketball scene, so a win against Morgan County will still be a big feather in coach Billterrenice Streetman’s cap.
What: Class AAAAA Wrestling Duals
When: Girls Area Duals Meet, Friday, Jan. 12, 5 p.m., Boys Area Duals Meet Saturday, Jan. 13th, noon. Both meets at Greenbrier Middle School.
Why: It’s definitely a big deal for these meets to be local, particularly for the increasingly growing sport that is high school girls wrestling. In fact, girls wrestling is one of the fastest growing high school sports, not just in Georgia but in the country. Last year, Greenbrier’s girls wrestling team one the first girls area dual meet and placed third in the Georgia High School Association’s first-ever girls state duals wrestling tournament. Now, the Lady Wolfpack have a chance to defend their crown in their own home gym.
