High school basketball schedules are returning to normal after last week's winter storm, and better weather has been welcomed by coaches across the state.
Region tournaments are a month away, and the mindset has shifted from mid-season form to late-season playoff run.
Here are some of the top Class AAA games to keep an eye on this weekend.
Boys
-- No. 4 Islands (12-4, 7-0 in Region 3) at Savannah (9-8, 3-4): The Sharks have two players scoring more than 20 points per game and are poised to make a run late into the season. Justin Cave and Trae Broadax both average around 20 points per game. Cave, a 6-foot-2 senior, had a breakout performance Dec. 6 , scoring 31 points in the victory against Jenkins. Broadax, 6-4 sophomore, scored 36 points against Savannah in the second game of the season. ( Friday , 8 p.m. )
-- No. 2 Westside-Macon (11-3, 5-1 in Region 5) vs. Bartow, Fla. (10-6, 1-0): The Seminoles will travel to Charlotte High School to take place in the Wally Keller Classic. Westside has only played two games since Dec. 30, a 71-63 victory against Southwest-Macon and a 72-49 victory against Rutland. ( Friday , 5:40 p.m. )
-- Monroe Area (5-9, 0-1) at No. 1 Morgan County (11-3, 3-0 in Region 8): The Morgan County Bulldogs have won three consecutive games since their 57-48 loss to Class AAAAA Cedar Shoals in the Sweet South Classic. It was the Bulldogs' second loss to Cedar Shoals this season. ( Friday , 8:30 p.m. )
Class AAA boys rankings
1. Morgan County (10-3)
2. Westside-Macon (10-3)
3. Greater Atlanta Christian (11-4)
4. Islands (11-4)
5. Central-Macon (11-3)
6. Liberty County (9-5)
7. Jenkins (11-6)
8. Cedar Grove (5-4)
9. Pace Academy (5-7)
10. Monroe (10-6)
Girls
-- No. 1 Johnson-Savannah (15-1, 7-0 in Region 3) at Groves (1-11, 1-5): The top-ranked Atomsmashers should have little trouble defeating the Groves Rebels. Johnson has three players averaging in double figures -- Alexis Pierce, a 5-9 senior, is averaging 17.5 points per game; Olivia Owens, a 5-8 senior, is averaging 15.5 points per game, and Sy'Marieona Williams, a 5-4 junior, is averaging 14.5 points per game. ( Friday , 6 p.m. )
-- No. 2 Beach (14-1, 6-1) at Windsor Forest (3-10, 2-4): The Lady Bulldogs are looking to carry the momentum from the last few games into this matchup. Beach has won six consecutive games since its Dec. 13 loss to top-ranked Johnson. Judasia Hills is averaging 13 points per game. (Friday 6:30 p.m.)
-- No. 4 Hart County (15-2, 3-0 in Region 8) at No. 6 Franklin County (12-4, 2-0 in Region 8): This will be a battle between two top-ranked teams from Region 8. Both are fighting for the region's top spot. Since losing to Greenville, S.C., on Dec. 30, Hart County has won three consecutive games -- 79-48 against East Jackson, 56-53 against Morgan County and 45-40 against Jackson County. (Friday, 7 p.m.)
Class AAA girls rankings
1. Johnson-Savannah (14-1)
2. Beach (13-1)
3. Greater Atlanta Christian (11-4)
4. Hart County (14-2)
5. Ringgold (11-4)
6. Franklin County (11-4)
7. Calhoun (13-3)
8. Monroe (11-3)
9. Redan (10-2)
10. Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe (12-4)
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