BASKETBALL: GHSA playoff/GIAA Final Four outlook

The state basketball playoffs get into full swing for the Heart of Georgia this week as the GHSA launches its state tournaments with first- and second-round games, and the GIAA’s wraps up with the crowning of new champions.

Here’s a look at upcoming matchups for local teams, and the full road that lies ahead for each from their spot in the brackets…

GHSA High A girls…

The back-to-back region 2-High A champion East Laurens Lady Falcons (23-4, 13-2 region 2-High A) will start their playoff run in prime position, as the No. 3 overall seed in the High A bracket, which guarantees them home-court in all three rounds leading up to the last two, which are played at neutral sites.

No. 30 seed Dade County (9-20, 4-10 region 7-High A) will be their guest for the opening round Tuesday night.

Meanwhile Dublin’s girls, seeded 27th with a record of 13-15 (7-9 region 2-High A), will start a little ways down in the same quadrant with an opening round matchup with only twice-beaten region 1 champ Bacon County in Alma.

Both matchups are set for a 6 p.m. tipoff.

GHSA High A boys…

Both Dublin and East Laurens are set for 6 p.m. first-round home games Wednesday, after drawing the 11th and 13th respective seeds in the bracket.

Following their run from well outside playoff contention to a spot in the field with last week’s region tournament win streak, the Irish (8-21, 4-14 region 2-High A) will return to the Jaroy Stuckey Court to host No. 22 Jasper County (11-13, 5-4 region 4-High A).

Despite an earlier-than-hoped-for exit from the region tournament, the Falcons (20-6, 10-4 region 2-High A) still snagged a spot in the top 16, and will welcome 20th seed Bremen (12-12, 4-9 region 6-High A) to East Dublin.

GHSA AAA girls…

The West Laurens Lady Raiders (13-14, 10-9 region 4-AAA) will have their hands full Tuesday night as they travel to take on region 5-AAA champion Luella (22-4, 14-0 region), down a key member of their starting five in guard Maddie Ridgway who was lost for the season with an injury in their region tournament opener last Tuesday.

GIAA AA Girls Semifinals…

Trinity’s Lady Crusaders (19-9, 6-4 region 2-AA) are in the state semis for the fourth time in five seasons, but will have to rise to a challenge from No. 3 seed Southwest Georgia Academy in the 3 p.m. game Thursday, at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Gressette Gym in TIfton, if they hope to make a second-straight appearance in the state finals at Columbus State.

The Warriors (23-3, 5-1 region 3-AA), like Trinity, didn’t have an easy time in the quarterfinal round, defeating Central Fellowship by a mere two points to advance. Top seed Brentwood will play region rival Gatewood for a third time in the other semifinal, tipping off later in the evening at 6 p.m.

Both winners will collide at 3 p.m. Saturday inside the Lumpkin Center at Columbus State Univeristy.