NORTH FORSYTH AT OSBORNE
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
Records, rankings, seedings: North is 24-4, ranked No. 6 in Class AAAAAA and the No. 2 seed from Region 6; Osborne is 25-2, ranked No. 2 and the No. 1 seed from Region 4.
Coaches: Eric Herrick North Forsyth; Melanie Samuel, Osborne.
Stats: North – 56.0 PPG; 39.9 PAPG; Osborne – 61.0 PPG, 44.9 PAPG.
Playoff history: North – 8 appearances; Osborne – 12 appearances.
What to know: One of the more surprising developments in Class AAAAAA girls’ basketball this season was Osborne supplanting McEachern, the defending state champions, at the top of Region 4. The Lady Cardinals swept the Lady Indians’ in their three meetings this season, including in the region championship, behind the trio of Nikira Goings (21.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG), Maya Benham (12.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG) and Zutorya Cook (12.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.9 APG). Goings (23 points) and Benham (18) led Osborne to a 61-52 victory over Campbell in the first round. North, meanwhile, is back in the second round for the third straight season and shooting the ball well. The Lady Raiders made 12 3-pointers in their 61-33 victory over Etowah in the first round. When North gets 12 points from the likes of freshman guard Amber Jones, like it did Wednesday, it’s dangerous against any team.
What’s next: The winner faces the Colquitt County-Parkview winner.