Region 4-AA has potential for surprises
When the GHSA Region 4-AA tournament gets going Monday at Northeast with a pair of games, expect a week of major battles.
Crawford County and Macon County's boys are both ranked in the latest ScoreAtlanta statewide poll at No. 3 and No. 10, while Putnam County's girls were No. 6.
But Monticello and Lamar County on the boys side and final-round host Bleckley County and perhaps Macon County and Lamar County on the girls side are worth keeping an eye on.
All of those teams, except Lamar County's boys, have winning overall records.
Crawford County lost in last year's Class AA championship game, and its lone losses this season have been to Class AA Manchester (63-61), Class AAAAA Northside (98-80) and Lamar County, a 77-76 road loss on Friday to break a 12-game winning streak.
Second-place Macon County lost to the Eagles by seven and nine points this season. Monticello (16-9, 8-4 Region 4-AA) hasn't fared well against the top two teams, going 0-4 by an average of 17.5 points per loss.
Lamar County finished in fourth, behind Monticello and went 1-3 against the Eagles and Bulldogs, with the losses coming by an average of 9.3 points.
Putnam County and Bleckley County were responsible for each other's lone region loss in girls play, Putnam County winning 51-38 and Bleckley County winning 58-49.
Ebony Hargrove and Rykia Pennamon team for 28.6 points for Putnam County, which is on an eight-game winning streak.
Lamar County has had a competitive game with both of the favorites, Macon County pushed Putnam County to overtime before losing 50-45 on Jan. 30, and both of Lamar County's losses to Bleckley County were by 11 points.
Games are at Northeast on Monday and Lamar County on Tuesday, with the semifinals Friday and Saturday at Bleckley County.
GHSA Region 4-AA Tournaments
Boys
Monday
At Northeast
Game 1: (7) Northeast vs. (6) Putnam County, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
At Lamar County
Game 2: (5) Bleckley County vs. (4) Lamar County, 5:30 p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. (3) Monticello, 8:30 p.m.
Friday
At Bleckley County
Game 4: Game 3 winner vs. (2) Macon County, 5:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. (1) Crawford County, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
At Bleckley County
Third-place game, 5:30 p.m.
Championship, 8:30 p.m.
Girls
Monday
At Northeast
Game 1: (7) Crawford County vs. (6) Northeast, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
At Lamar County
Game 2: (5) Monticello vs. (4) Macon County, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. (3) Lamar County, 7 p.m.
Friday
At Bleckley County
Game 4: Game 3 winner vs. (2) Putnam County, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. (1) Bleckley County, 7 p.m.
Saturday
At Bleckley County
Third-place game, 4 p.m.
Championship, 7 p.m.
This story was originally published February 7, 2016 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Region 4-AA has potential for surprises ."