Daily Dive: Top 10 matchups headline weekend basketball schedule

The basketball action across the state of Georgia this weekend includes some of the most intriguing top 10 matchups of the regular season and serves as a tremendous measuring stick as teams journey on after a busy holiday schedule. Additionally, with the Week 8 rankings set to release on Tuesday, Jan. 13 the games highlighted in this post will be among the most consequential when it comes to the polls. On the boys side, Class A Div. I will have a battle for the top spot as No. 2 ranked Commerce travels to No. 1 ranked Putnam County.

The War Eagles defeated Towers 96-73 on Jan. 6 and will travel to McNair Friday night before their 2 p.m. home tipoff against Commerce. Carrying an 11-4 overall record, Region 4’s Putnam County is still undefeated within the classification. Region 8’s Commerce is 12-3 and is coming off their best win of the season—a 65-56 win over Rabun County. At 12-3 overall, Commerce is also unbeaten within Class A Div. I this season. The winner of Saturday’s matchup will almost certainly be the new No. 1 in Class A Div. I this week. Class A-3A Private No. 6 Darlington will visit No. 2 ranked Mount Vernon on Saturday. This matchup comes on the heels of Mount Vernon’s battle with No. 1 ranked Walker Friday night. Class 4A No. 4 ranked Westminster will take its perfect 14-0 record into its matchup with rival Lovett on Saturday. Lovett is ranked No. 9 in the A-3A Private poll and is coming off a close road 56-51 loss to Holy Innocents’ on Wednesday and Friday’s Region 5-2A home game against Therrell. Class 4A No. 1 ranked North Oconee will take on one of South Carolina’s top teams in Greenville (SC) and has an undefeated St. Pius team at No. 2 right behind them. Finally, Greenforest Christian and Woodward Academy will clash in a cross-classification tilt on Saturday.

On the girls side, Class 6A No. 3 ranked Newton will travel to Class 5A No. 1 ranked River Ridge on Saturday. Newton is 8-4 this season with its only instate loss coming to Class 6A No. 1 ranked North Paulding (63-53) on Nov. 28. River Ridge is 8-5 with three out-of-state losses and early defeats that came to Creekside and Archer in November. Class 3A No. 2 ranked Luella will play Stone Mountain Friday night before taking on Buford. The Wolves sit at 11-1 heading into Friday’s Region 8 matchup with Mill Creek and will have an opportunity to extend their winning streak to 12-straight this weekend. Buford’s only loss this season came to South Carolina powerhouse Westside—which is the No. 1 ranked team in the Palmetto State this season. Class 4A’s No. 9 ranked North Oconee (at 3A No. 4 Cherokee Bluff) and No. 8 ranked Warner Robins (at Northside-Warner Robins) both have difficult road games slated for Saturday. Finally, Class 6A No. 5 ranked Carrollton has an intriguing road trip to Class 5A No. 2 New Manchester. Carrollton has an opportunity to improve to 19-1 overall and win its 18th-straight game on Saturday. As for New Manchester, the Jaguars bounced back from a 51-42 loss to Campbell on Jan. 3 with a 72-37 road win over Villa Rica to improve to 4-0 in Region 5. The Jaguars will host South Paulding tonight before Saturday’s 3 p.m. tipoff with the Trojans.  

GAMES TO WATCH

Saturday, Jan. 10

BOYS

ADI #2 Commerce at ADI #1 Putnam County

PRI #6 Darlington at PRI #2 Mount Vernon

4A #4 Westminster at PRI #9 Lovett

Greenville (SC) at 4A #1 North Oconee

PRI #4 Greenforest Christian at 5A #4 Woodward Academy

GIRLS

6A #3 Newton at 5A #1 River Ridge

3A #2 Luella at 6A #4 Buford

4A #9 North Oconee at 3A #4 Cherokee Bluff

4A #8 Warner Robins at Northside-Warner Robins

6A #5 Carrollton at 5A #2 New Manchester

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