With the Region 1-AAAAAA Playoffs in the book, we focus our attention to the 2016 GHSA Basketball State Tournament which tip-off on Tuesday. The Tift County Blue Devils took home region titles for both the boys and the girls and will be hosting first round games in Tifton. It was the end of the road for both the Valdosta Boys and Lee County Girls as they failed to win their play-in games that would have guaranteed a spot in state.
Boys Basketball
The Blue Devils successfully retained their region title after putting on a defensive showcase against the host Lee Co. Trojans. They begin their quest for a state title with Region 4-AAAAAA fourth place finisher Hillgrove. The Hawks have battled their way into state but will it be enough against one of Georgia’s best teams?
Lee County was able to secure themselves at least one more game in their home gym. They welcome in the Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs Tuesday night, and will be looking for a better performance than their first round exit a year ago.
The Colquitt Co. Packers will be hitting the road to duel with Region 4-AAAAAA runner-up North Cobb. The Warriors have had a strong campaign but will be tested by Moultrie’s finest.
Lastly, fourth place Lowndes has a date with a familiar foe. Coming off another impressive season, McEachern looks poised for a deep tournament run. Can the Vikings avenge the football loss to the dreaded Indians?
Girls Basketball
After a nail-bitter against Valdosta in the semifinals, the Lady Blue Devils were able to handle Colquitt County in the region championship. Just like the guys, their first test as #1 seed will be against Hillgrove. The Lady Hawks aren’t as strong as they have been in the recent past, Tift should have little problems.
The same holds true for the Lady Packers, who were able to pull off an upset of Lowndes and will be hosting the North Cobb Lady Warriors. This game between two evenly matched teams should be one of the better matchups of the first round.
The Lowndes girls have a tough opponent in round one. The Harrison Hoya’s girls basketball team finished runners-up with their only losses coming to two of the top three teams in the state. It shall be interesting to see what the Vikettes have in store.
Who did Harrison lose to in their region championship? The McEachern Indians of course and this is who Valdosta will be looking forward to Tuesday night. This won’t be much of a contest, but this is the big dance and stranger things have happened. We won’t count the Lady Wildcats out just yet.
Region Tournament Results
Boys
Tuesday
Play-In Game: (4) Lowndes 64, (5) Valdosta 56
Thursday
(2) Lee County 58, (3) Colquitt County 47
(1) Tift County 86, (4) Lowndes 54
Friday
Championship Game: (1) Tift Co. 51, (2) Lee Co. 37
Third Place Game: (3) Colquitt Co. 60, (4) Lowndes 49
Girls
Tuesday
Play-In Game: (4) Valdosta 56, (5) Lee County 44
Thursday
(3) Colquitt County 71, (2) Lowndes 61
(1) Tift County 51, (4) Valdosta 48
Friday
Championship Game: (1) Tift Co. 45, (3) Colquitt Co. 33
Third Place Game: (2) Lowndes 60, (4) Valdosta 52
In the Game / South Georgia
Web Only / Recap
2016 Region 1-AAAAAA Playoffs
Tift Co. Leaves Devilish Footprints in Leesburg
by Lambert Bales
photo courtesy of My Blue Devils Facebook page
