HOOPS PREVIEW: Region seeding on the line in AAAAA games

Teams are positioning themselves for various region tournaments, and this weekend will be crucial for several teams hoping to improve seeding. Luella will host Region 2-AAAAA leader Westlake as the Lions look to force a tie for the fourth seed. … North Cobb will face Hillgrove as both teams sit 7-2 in Region 4-AAAAA. The Warriors have won nine of their last 10 but dropped a 48-42 decision to Hillgrove back in December. Hillgrove has won four straight. … Marietta hosts Etowah, looking to keep pace with Region 5-AAAAA leader Wheeler. … Milton is starting to run away with Region 6-AAAAA, but Centennial pays a visit to the Eagles, looking for a big statement and hoping to catch Milton looking ahead to Saturday. … Saturday will see the Savannah boys head to Johnson in a matchup of the top two teams in 3-AAAAA. … The game everyone will be excited for, though, is the Wheeler/Milton tilt in Marietta. Milton is the No. 1 team in the latest Score basketball poll. Wheeler meanwhile is coming off of a narrow victory over Walton and will be looking to bump off a team favored by many to win the 2012 state title. … In girls action, Stephenson will host Newton as both teams look to add another Region 2-AAAAA victory to their totals. … No. 1 McEachern travels to face an always-dangerous Campbell squad while No. 3 Parkview travels to Berkmar, a team capable of handing the Panthers their first loss of the year. … No. 2 Norcross will be without Diamond DeShields when Mountain View pays a visit, though the Bears are just 9-9 on the season. … South Gwinnett and Central Gwinnett will be battling for region tournament positioning Friday night. … Saturday finds Alpharetta hosting Berkmar and Kennesaw Mountain traveling to Marietta in non-region play.