The basketball season is now officially in the 2017 half of the ’16-17 season, and for some teams, there’s no sign of slowing down.
Let’s take a peek to see how all eleven local programs are doing for both boys and girls (in order of highest classification to lowest).
Habersham Central (Region 8-AAAAAA)
Boys: 1-13 (0-0)
The Raiders finally got that first “W” but are still looking for more. We’ll really see how much they’ve improved when they begin region play this week.
Girls: 12-3 (0-0)
The Lady Raiders are red-hot coming out of the break, going 12-3 in their first 15 games. Lainey Gosnell and company will open region play this week as the girls look to make state for the first time in four years! Hab Central has been ranked in the top 10 this season.
White County (Region 7-AAAA)
Boys: 10-6 (1-0)
The Warriors have gotten off to a quick 1-0 start in region play, but they wish they could have back a pair of close losses to undefeated Tallulah Falls and rivals Dawson County. White Co has been able to take down its other rivals, Lumpkin County, as well as Habersham Central twice.
Girls: 5-10 (0-1)
Aside from a couple of wins over Tallulah Falls and a victory over rivals Lumpkin, the season hasn’t quite taken off just yet. The girls, however, are fresh off a win over TFS that could help jump-start them into the new year as region play will begin picking up.
Stephens County (Region 8-AAAA)
Boys: 10-3 (0-1)
It’s not the start the boys wanted in region play, but the 10-3 overall mark has the Indians as the #10-ranked team in the state. They’ve had some impressive wins over Habersham Central (twice), Rabun County and Dawson County.
Girls: 1-13 (0-1)
The Lady Indians haven’t been so fortunate this season, dropping a pair to Hab Central and two others to Dawson and Rabun. The girls are still searching for an identity as we roll into 2017.
Dawson County (Region 7-AAA)
Boys: 8-7 (2-1)
The Tigers are looking good early on in region play, which should help propel them to a top-four spot in a bid for the state playoffs. They’ve split with Rabun County, and fell to Stephens County. However, the impressive part of the slate are the wins over White County and Lumpkin, as well as Rabun, who are all state playoff contenders.
Girls: 5-10 (2-1)
The Lady Tigers got off to an extremely rough start, but have begun to turn things around as of late. The 2-1 start in region play may be evidence that the girls are coming together and finding who they are as a team after the powerhouse era of Dawson County basketball is forced to pen a new chapter. Wins over White, Lumpkin and Stephens bode well for the girls, and four of the 10 losses have been to state-ranked teams in Habersham Central (twice) and Rabun County (twice).
Lumpkin County (Region 7-AAA)
Boys: 9-6 (1-2)
The Indians suffered a tough loss to Dawson County that has them down 1-2 in the region, but Lumpkin has found success with an almost all-new group this year, and have solid wins over Towns County (twice) and Rabun County.
Girls: 5-10 (1-2)
This might be the best Lumpkin girls team we’ve seen in quite awhile. This is largely due to the experienced group the Lady Indians put on the court. Still some work to be done to claim a spot as one of the best in the region.
Union County (Region 7-AAA)
Boys: 6-8 (1-2)
The Panthers have eight losses – four of which have come at the hands of rivals Towns and Rabun. To make state or contend for a region championship, they’ll need to find consistently – and quickly, as the calendar year turns to 2017.
Girls: 6-6 (1-2)
The Lady Panthers took two from rivals Towns County, but losses to former region-mates Rabun shows that Union isn’t as powerful as it has been in years past. That’s not to say they can’t make state. This program is one of the most consistent in North Georgia in making the playoffs, and this team has the pieces to do so once again.
Rabun County (Region 8-AA)
Boys: 7-7 (1-1)
The Wildcats got a slow start because of some of the top players still playing in the football state playoffs, so you’ll have to excuse early losses to Dawson County and Lumpkin. Losing to Stephens though was a true litmus test, and they’ll face off again January 3 to start the new year. Rabun appears to be solid top to bottom and will contend for a region title and another deep state playoff run.
Girls: 13-1 (2-0)
The Lady Cats are incredible – what else can you say? The win streak has reached 11, and there’s no sign of that streak ending. Savanna Scott and company are #3 in the state and this could be the year that Rabun gets over the Elite 8 hump – one they’ve yet to surpass despite four trips that deep into the playoffs.
Banks County (Region 8-AA)
Boys: 9-4 (1-0)
The Leopards are coming on strong as we turn into 2017. The team had some holdover pieces from the last couple of years, but have had to change their approach somewhat. They are a tough group, led by senior Kahmal Wiley and junior Dylan Orr, among others. The recent surge has Banks as the #10 team in the state.
Girls: 9-4 (1-0)
The girls team often mirrors the boys, so it’s no strange thing to have identical records. Under first-year head coach Steve Shedd, the Lady Leopards are a strong 9-4 and off to a great start in their new region. The girls are the #8-ranked team in the state.
Commerce (Region 8-A)
Boys: 2-8 (0-3)
The Tigers are winless in region play, but the two wins marks improvement for a team that didn’t win a single game last year. Definitely a step in the right direction.
Girls: 2-9 (1-2)
Commerce has a shot to turn things around in the second half, and a win within the region helps. However, nine losses overall leaves little room for error if the girls want to be high in the power rankings to earn a spot in the state playoffs.
Towns County (Region 8-A)
Boys: 9-4 (2-1)
The Indians were slowed down with a pair of losses to Lumpkin, despite beating the other Indians earlier in the season. A loss to Tallulah Falls also hurts, but this team was ranked as high as #5 in the state at one point and still continues to be a team to beat in region 8-A. Things only get harder from here on, however, as region play really heats up.
Girls: 0-10 (0-2)
The Lady Indians are still in search of that elusive first win.
Tallulah Falls (Region 8-A)
Boys: 13-0 (5-0)
No, that’s not a typo. 13-0 and PERFECT! How good are these guys?!? See for yourself in the most recent road win at White County. The Indians have beaten the Warriors twice and a tough Towns County team. They are so dangerous from long range and in the paint. They have depth, albeit this has to be the year as almost all of the playmakers are seniors.
Girls: 6-8 (3-1)
The girls may not be as perfect as the boys, but a 3-1 region mark is very impressive, indeed. A pair of losses to White County has kept the Lady Indians humble, but they’re in a great spot as we go into 2017 to perhaps secure a playoff spot.
