We have the first batch to survive and advance! After an intriguing first round of games, the action is going to step up a notch. Here are five games between 6A and 5A that we’re looking forward to.

Tri-Cities at Hiram: Oh boy, get the popcorn ready for this one. If there are any teams who can disrupt the narrative that it’s Eagle’s Landing and Kell against the field, it’s one of these two teams. Tri-Cities is proven during this time of year, and they have one of the toughest backcourts in 5A. Hiram has been on a tear this season. The Hornets are no joke, and they can put teams in their dust in the blink of an eye. Both of these teams were preseason final four favorites. 

South Paulding at Lanier: Sneakily, these are two of the better teams in 6A right now. South Paulding has had a solid season and has won seven of their last eight. Their only loss in that stretch was by four to Alexander. Lanier has next-level talent at the forward spots and has been operating toward the top of the classification as of late. 

Riverwood at Lee County: When an Atlanta metro school has to go to Lee County, there’s always intrigue. When Scoot Henderson’s Kell team visited, they barely escaped by the skin of their teeth. It’s not an easy place to play in, and they will have that place abuzz for this one. The talent edge goes to Riverwood. They have a lot of firepower in their backcourt, but besting Lee County on the road is easier said than done.

Mays at Winder-Barrow: This is a great matchup for those who love guard play. Both teams have some of the better guards in 5A, and watching them go at it should be a show. These are the only two teams who have a legitimate shot of deterring the Eagle’s Landing bulldozer in this part of the bracket. 

Jones County at Tucker: Jones County has proven that they can beat high-level teams when they took down Grovetown earlier in the season, so Tucker should be on high alert. Jaylen Sanford is a player built for these situations. However, Tucker has been playing well recently. Josiah Lawson and company will be a tough out.