Thursday's Middle Georgia GHSA Tournament games

Class AAA

South Atlanta (Region 4, third, 24-6) vs. Central (Region 2, first, 27-2)

4:45 p.m., at Augusta

Following an injury-plagued end to the 2014-15 season, Central achieved a breakthrough this season with a region championship and undefeated home record. Sixth-ranked Central, which is the only Bibb County School District team left in either the boys or girls brackets, is the lowest-ranked team left on its side of the Class AAA Tournament draw according to the Score Atlanta rankings. The Chargers face second-ranked South Atlanta, a team that slipped to the No. 3 seed in its region after a 71-61 loss to Cedar Grove in the Region 4-AAA Tournament semifinals. South Atlanta is the only team in Georgia to defeat Class A Private School powerhouse Greenforest Christian.

Next: Morgan County/Laney winner, 4:45 p.m., Saturday, at Augusta

Class A Public

(Includes seeding rather than region tournament finish)

Treutlen (No. 1 seed, 25-3) vs. Hawkinsville (No. 8 seed, 17-9)

4:45 p.m., at Valdosta State

Treutlen has found itself on the winning end of a lot of runaway games this season, although Montgomery County provided a stiff challenge in a 75-69 victory in the Region 3-A Tournament championship game. The Vikings lost just once against Class A teams this season, a non-region loss to Calhoun County. Hawkinsville, which has won five of its past six games, edged Central-Talbotton 58-56 in the first round.

Next: Wilkinson County/Lincoln County winner, 4:45 p.m., Saturday, at Valdosta State

Wilkinson County (No. 5 seed, 23-6) vs. Lincoln County (No. 13 seed, 17-7)

8:15 p.m., at Valdosta State

A pair of Region 7-A teams from opposite sub-regions meet in the quarterfinals. Wilkinson County tied Treutlen for the top spot in the Class A Public School power ratings, but the Warriors slipped to the No. 5 seed by virtue of its Region 7-A Tournament championship game loss to Stratford. They breezed past Atkinson County 71-39 in the first round and are looking to make yet another appearance at the Macon Coliseum. Tattnall Square defeated Lincoln County 55-47 in the first round of the Region 7-A Tournament, but Lincoln County made it to Valdosta by defeating Randolph-Clay 87-79 in overtime on Saturday.

Next: Treutlen/Hawkinsville winner, 4:45 p.m., Saturday at Valdosta State.

Class A Private

Greenforest Christian (No. 1 seed, 27-2) vs. Tattnall Square (No. 9 seed, 18-9)

4:45 p.m., at Kennesaw State

Tattnall likely is in for one of the most interesting matchups in program history. Greenforest has five players who are taller than Tattnall's tallest player, including a 7-footer and another player who comes in at 6-10. Greenforest routed Stratford in last year's quarterfinals, and the only loss to an in-state team Greenforest suffered this season was to South Atlanta. Still, Tattnall seems to relish the underdog role, opening the Class A Private Tournament with a four-point win at Southwest Atlanta Christian after posting regular-season wins over Region 7-A Tournament finalists Stratford and Wilkinson County.

Next: North Cobb Christian/Stratford winner, 4:45 p.m., Saturday at Kennesaw State.

North Cobb Christian (No. 5 seed, 23-4) vs. Stratford (No. 4 seed, 20-5)

8:15 p.m., at Kennesaw State

North Cobb Christian would have been the No. 1 seed had it won its region tournament, but an 88-64 loss to St. Francis in the Region 6-A Tournament championship game knocked North Cobb Christian down to No. 5. North Cobb Christian beat Stratford 69-52 on Dec. 11, but an incomplete Stratford team was playing its third game in four days to start the season because of a late start caused by the football team's semifinal run. Stratford has won seven straight since losing 69-67 in overtime at Tattnall Square on Jan. 26.

Next: Greenforest Christian/Tattnall Square winner, 4:45 p.m., Saturday at Kennesaw State.

Girls

Class AAAA

Carrollton (Region 5, first, 25-5) vs. Veterans (Region 2, first, 25-4)

3 p.m., at Fort Valley State

Carrollton was 24-7 at this point last year, a game before breaking Veterans' heart in the semifinal that was all but a home game, and one Carrollton didn't lead until the final score. The Trojans - who have eight players back from that team - have won two straight comeback games, while the Warhawks haven't trailed much after the opening minutes in awhile. And Veterans is a senior-loaded team with a good memory, playing about 23 miles from home.

Next: Bainbridge/Wayne County winner, 3 p.m., Saturday, at Fort Valley State.

Class AAA

Johnson (Region 1, second, 24-6) vs. Peach County (Region 2, first, 25-2)

3 p.m., Augusta University

The Atomsmashers' lone region loss was to Beach, which plays Peach County region rival Kendrick in this round. Johnson's other losses have been to larger-class schools. Peach County will see balance with three players getting betwen 13.4 and 14.6 points a game, and four Atomsmashers getting at least four rebounds a game. Both teams have some depth, but the Trojans will need balance as Johnson focuses on stopping Nausia Woolfolk.

Next: Morgan County/Laney winner, 3 p.m., Saturday, at Augusta University.

Class A Public

(Includes seeding rather than region tournament finish)

Turner County (Region 2, No. 1, 28-0) vs. Telfair County (Region 2, No. 8, 18-9)

3 p.m., at Valdosta State

Turner County has had two wins by single digits, over Fitzgerald and Clinch County. The Rebels have cracked 70 points five times and held 10 opponents -- bigger schools and playoff teams among them -- to 30 points or less. By that standard, Telfair County's 61-46 and 64-38 losses to Turner County are fairly respectable.

Next: Treutlen/Wheeler County winner, 3 p.m., Saturday, at Valdosta State.

Treutlen (Region 3, No. 5, 17-8) vs. Wheeler County (Region 3, No. 4, 20-6)

6:30 p.m., at Valdosta State

Treutlen won both regular-season matchups by 10 points, holding Wheeler County to two points in the first quarter of the second meeting. Wheeler County has an edge in transition and rebounding, thanks in large part to 6-4 junior Lakaitli Wright, who averages a double-double.

Next: Turner County/Telfair County winner, 3 p.m., Saturday, at Valdosta State.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 10:01 PM with the headline "Thursday's Middle Georgia GHSA Tournament games ."