This is the final week of the regular season for our county high school basketball teams and the region tournaments will start next week.
The question is: Who has a shot to do some damage in the tournament, either by taking the region title or one of the four spots to get a berth in the state tournament?
The answer, because as everyone knows anything can and usually does happen in the tournament, is everyone.
Region 4-AAAAA
There are only seven teams in the region and the top four will go to the state tournament. Currently, Mundys Mill and East Coweta are on top of the region standings for the boys but Fayette County and Starrs Mill have proven they can play with anybody.
The Tigers have taken Mundys Mill (19-3) to the limit twice and would love nothing more than a rematch for the region title. With scoring threats like Stephen Pleasant and Jordan Windisch and solid play from the likes of Sidney McFadden and Channing Welch, Fayette County is in every game.
Starrs Mill has lost a number of close games, but Coach Dave Edinger has been grooming his team all season long for tournament play. He feels the team is starting to play well together and gets better every time they take the court. Mark Harris has been a fairly consistent scoring threat and now players like Vinnie LeDonne and Nick Plotner are getting in on the action.
For a team like Starrs Mill to win it all they have to play united as a team and scrap from tipoff to the buzzer. It appears they are willing to do this and they could be a surprise in the tournament.
Starrs Mill and Fayette Countys girls teams should both be in contention for a trip to the state tournament.
The Lady Panthers are a scrappy team that is able to set the tempo for many of their games. They play decent defense, rebound well and have a solid threat in the post from Katreesa Rollins.
The Lady Tigers are led in scoring by Richea Harris and Kristin Bunch, but they too are a hard-fighting team that can hang with the best of them.
Though Newnan (19-2) looks like the region champ, the next three spots are wide open.
Region 4-AAAA
Sandy Creeks boys (18-3) are unbeaten thus far in region play but with a 12-team region split into two sub-regions, nothing is certain.
The Patriots get great play on a nightly basis from Aaron Carruthers, Charles Belton and Kevin Lott but every player contributes for the team that hasnt lost yet in 2005.
McIntosh and Whitewater are both long shots for a top four finish in the region tournament but anything is possible.
The Chiefs have won three of their last four games and have been getting great play from transfer Dwayne Irvin, who will be an X factor in the tourney.
Whitewater may be a year away from being a serious contender but with Jay Bright leading a scoring charge and Stephen Sargent racking up triple-doubles, Whitewater could shock somebody. Unfortunately, for them to make the state tourney, that somebody may have to be one of the top 10 teams in the state.
The Sandy Creek Lady Patriots, like their male counterparts, are unbeaten thus far in region play. Coach Jim Waller has taken a group of veteran players and meshed them with several freshmen to make a serious contender.
Mary Fields has stepped up as a team leader and players like Tracey Paschal, Lindsay Paschal and Morganne Campbell have played good all around games this season.
McIntosh and Whitewater are both likely a year or two away from serious contention but a good game for four quarters could surprise somebody.
Region 5-A
Our Lady of Mercy and Landmark Christians boys and girls basketball teams both have a good shot at taking one of the top four spots in the region tournament.
The Lady Bobcats have received consistent performances from Uzi Moh and Lydia Blackshear, while Landmarks boys have been led by Justin Holland, a recent signee for Liberty University.
W.D. Mohammed out of Atlanta will be a tough opponent on the girls side, while Alpharettas St. Francis appears to be the dominant team on the boys side.
Region tournaments will start the week of Feb. 7. The region 4-AAAAA tournament will take place at Mundys Mill High School, while the region 4-AAAA tournament will be held at Lithia Springs and the region 5-A tournament will take place at Whitefield Academy.
The Citizens Web site, www.thecitizennews.com, will have updates on tournament action every day.