High School Hoops Big 3 Preview - Game of the Week Douglas County vs Alexander

As we come down the stretch of the regular season, we preview three of our top boys and girls games that will have some implications on the region standings, including our game of the week on the boy's side, Douglas County versus Alexander

Girls

1. M.L. King Lions vs Decatur Bulldogs – The Lions will look to win their seventh straight game when they take on Decatur, who looks to bounce back from their loss to Southwest Dekalb this past Tuesday. This is the second and final game of the season series between these two and they met last month, it was the Lions picking up 69-56 win so they will be looking to complete the series sweep. In addition to the Bulldogs trying to avoid the sweep, a win for them would create a two way tie between the two for third in the region standings. Currently King sits in third and Decatur fourth.

2. Upson-Lee Knights vs Jackson Red Devils – The Knights are having a phenomenal season as they look to improve to 19-0 when they take on Jackson in their final game of the regular season. The Knights defeated the Red Devils last month 74-65 and can complete the season series sweep on Friday. The Knights have already secured first place in the region standings so a loss for them would only be a blemish on their perfect season. However, a win for Jackson would allow them to hold onto the third place position heading into their final game of the season on Saturday.

3. Kell Longhorns vs Sprayberry Yellow Jackets – When these two met up in January, it would be the Yellow Jackets holding on for 70-66 win. The loss is Kell’s only region loss of the season, while Sprayberry remains unbeaten in region play so Friday’s tilt could see the two teams tied for first if the Longhorns can pick up the win. Both teams will have two region games remaining after Friday, with each facing opponents they already beaten convincingly, so Sprayberry will be in for a battle, but if they come away with the win, it will be looking pretty promising for them to lock up first place in the final regular season standings.

Boys

1. Douglas County Tigers vs Alexander Cougars – With only one region game remaining after Friday’s match up with Alexander and a three game lead over the second place Cougars, the Tigers have already secured the first place position in the region standings and a loss would not take that away from them. However, Alexander finds themselves with two more region games after they face Douglas County and only hold a one game lead over Paulding County In the standings. Although the Cougars swept Paulding County and would hold the tie breaker over them, their two remaining games will against opponents that are sure two give them battle down the stretch. South Paulding, who they barely got by with a 57-55 win and Rome, who they lost to 70-69 and only hold a one game lead over as well. A win for Alexander is almost a must have as a loss would put them in jeopardy of potentially not making the post season. When the Tigers and Cougars met last month, the Tigers picked up the 73-50 win.

2. Walton Raiders vs Harrison Hoyas – Although the Raiders hold a one game lead over North Paulding in the standings and their season series is complete with the Wolfpack, Walton split the series so a loss to Harrison would create a two way tie for first between the two teams. It’s safe to say that the Raiders need to pick up the win on Friday against Harrison and even then, the Raiders will not be out of the woods as they will still have a couple of region games to go after Friday, while North Paulding will be idle after they take on Marietta on Friday. So, Walton will truly be in control of where they land.

Norcross Blue Devils vs Berkmar Patriots – Norcross will solidify first place in the region standings if they can pick up the win over Berkmar on Friday. The Blue Devils are currently unbeaten in region play, while the Patriots trail them by a game in the standings and that one Berkamer loss came at the hands of Norcross when they defeated them 63-57 a couple of weeks ago. So if Berkmar can pick up the win, they would create a two way tie for first and each team will have one region game remaining after Friday, with Norcross having the more favorable match up as they will face Duluth on Wednesday. For Berkmar, they will take on Discovery, who they just picked up a 55-44 win over on Tuesday. A loss for Berkmar will have them heading into a Monday game with Discovery who will have revenge and upset on their mind as they were in Tuesday night’s match up with Berkmar all night and led them several times throughout the night.