GIRLS
Hillgrove at Lambert
When, where: Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., at The Horn in Suwanee.
Records, rankings, seedings: Hillgrove is 17-0, unranked in Class 7A and the No. 2 seed from Region 3-7A; Lambert is 25-2, ranked No. 3 and the No. 1 seed from Region 5.
What to know: There is history between these two teams. They met during the regular season, on Dec. 29, in the Deep South Classic, a game Lambert won 53-50. How typical of the Lady Longhorns; they’ve lived all season on the edge and thrived nonetheless. Lambert’s first-round victory Friday was the most recent thriller. The Lady Longhorns edged Central Gwinnett, 58-51, in overtime to reach the second round of the state playoffs for the second time in program history. It was the first varsity head coaching victory for Carolyn Whitney, Lambert’s assistant coach who has taken over after Jaime Fisher gave birth to her son last Tuesday.
Up next: The winner faces the Cherokee-Collins Hill winner.
North Forsyth at McEachern
When, where: Thursday, 6 p.m., at Lovinggood Gym in Powder Springs.
Records, rankings, seedings: North is 21-7, ranked No. 10 in Class 7A and the No. 2 seed from Region 5-7A; McEachern is 22-6, ranked No. 1 and the No. 1 seed from Region 3.
What to know: The Lady Raiders put on quite a defensive clinic in their first-round victory against Parkview on Friday, holding the Lady Panthers to just seven points at halftime and 26 percent shooting for the game. North eventually found its rhythm on offense, led by Amber Jones’ 12 points on four 3-pointers. Now they face the juggernaut of all juggernauts, the three-time defending state champion Lady Indians, led by Georgia signee Quannecia Morrison. Of McEachern’s six losses, only one has been to a team in Georgia – a 57-53 loss to Norcross in its very first game of the season.
Up next: The winner faces the Mill Creek-Wheeler winner.
Pinecrest Academy at Landmark Christian
When, where: Wednesday, 6 p.m., at the Brick House in Fairburn.
Records, rankings, seedings: Pinecrest is 20-6, unranked in Class 1A and the No. 9 seed; Landmark is 22-4, ranked No. 9 and the No. 8 seed.
What to know: Pinecrest Academy cruised to their first-ever state playoff victory as a GHSA member last Friday, 74-38 against Savannah Country Day led by Margaret Metz’s 31 points and 13 rebounds. Regina Metz added 20 points. But the Lady Paladins’ fortunes against Landmark Christian will likely depend on how well forward Maddie Lynch can defend Landmark’s inside duo of Elizabeth Gibbs (16.1 ppg) and Paige Aronhalt (14.1 ppg). Joy Stucker (12 ppg) gives Landmark three players who account for 81.5 percent of the team’s scoring.
Up next: The winner faces the Paideia-St. Francis winner.
BOYS
Lambert at McEachern
When, where: Thursday, 7:30 p.m., at Lovinggood Gym in Powder Springs.
Records, rankings, seedings: Lambert is 24-4, unranked in Class 7A and the No. 2 seed from Region 5-7A; McEachern is 27-0, ranked No. 2 and the No. 1 seed from Region 3.
What to know: The Longhorns have senior point guard Andrew Melms to thank for Friday’s 72-70 victory against Meadowcreek in the first round. Melms hit an off-balance jumper at the buzzer to lift Lambert into the second round for the fourth straight season. But that’s been the ceiling for the Longhorns, and they’ll have a tough test trying to break through against an undefeated McEachern team that is No. 6 in MaxPreps’ Xcellent 25 Basketball Rankings. The Indians are led by a young group: sophomores Babatunde (6-foot-8) and Issac Okoro (6-foot-5) are already two of the top 2019 prospects in Georgia, while freshman Sharife Cooper starts at point guard.
Up next: The winner faces the Mountain View-Wheeler winner.