Hoops rivals will face off

This week's high school basketball action features rematches, grudge matches and a probable mismatch.

Play tips off Tuesday, as Evans and Harlem meet for the third time this season. Harlem has not yet bested Evans, but this time the Bulldogs and Lady Dogs have the home-court advantage. The Evans girls have posted a pair of double-digit wins over Harlem, while the Knights have escaped with two narrow victories.

After the grudge match in Columbia County, Harlem and Evans will embark on region rumbles - Harlem plays Region 3-AAA games Friday at Lucy Laney, and Evans travels Saturday to play Region 4-AAAA games at Jonesboro.

The prep schedule is highlighted by a battle between Greenbrier and Lakeside on Saturday at the Brierpatch. The county rivals have met once this season, in the Columbia County Christmas Tournament finals, where the Wolfpack and Lady Panthers eventually earned titles in the holiday event.

This time the teams will vie for position in Region 3-AAAA. The girls' game begins at 6 p.m., and the boys follow at 7:30.

Lakeside and Greenbrier, however, each have other business to take care of first. Lakeside travels Tuesday to play Thomson, then will play Friday at Burke County, where the Panthers and Lady Panthers will attempt to avenge two early-season losses against the region foes. Greenbrier, meanwhile, entertains region visitors from T.W. Josey (Tuesday) and Butler (Friday).

Augusta Christian Schools and Augusta Preparatory Day School square off Tuesday at Prep's Boardman Gymnasium in a Georgia Independent School Association contest.

The GISA Region 4-AAA rivals have not played this season, but in past years, both AC squads have had the upper hand - the Lady Lions beat Augusta Prep three times during the 2000-01 campaign, while the Lions have not lost to the Cavaliers since Prep moved up to Class AAA in 1998.

The Augusta Christian boys should be able to continue that dominance, especially when considering common opponent Briarwood Academy: in earlier action this season, AC trounced Briarwood 89-17, and the Buccaneers topped the Cavs 46-35.

The Lions face tougher region tests later in the week, with Friday's home game against Brentwood School and a road game Saturday at Pinewood Christian Academy.

While the Lions-Cavaliers contest appears to be one-sided, the girls game between AC and Prep pits two evenly-matched teams.

High School Basketball Schedule

Tuesday

Evans at Harlem, 6 p.m.; Lakeside at Thomson, 5:30 p.m.; Josey at Greenbrier, 5 p.m.; Augusta Christian at Augusta Prep, 6:30 p.m.

Friday

Augusta Prep at John Milledge Academy, 6 p.m.; Harlem at Laney, 7 p.m.; Lakeside at Burke County, 7 p.m.; Butler at Greenbrier, 7 p.m.; Brentwood at Augusta Christian, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday

Evans at Jonesboro, 4 p.m.; Lakeside at Greenbrier, 6 p.m.; Augusta Christian at Pinewood Christian Academy, 5:30 p.m.