Sports briefs

Prep hoops underway

Basketball teams from Greenbrier and Harlem high schools got an early start on the 2002-03 season last week in the Harlem Tipoff Classic, and this week the rest of Columbia County's prep teams will take the court.

On Tuesday, the Lakeside girls and boys open at Harlem, Augusta Prep's squads play host to Pinewood Christian Academy, while Augusta Christian is at home for games against North Cobb Christian. All the games feature a 6 p.m. tipoff for the girls, with the boys following at 7:30 p.m.

At Evans, the Knights and Lady Knights open the season on the road, taking on Aquinas Friday. The girls play at 6 p.m. and the boys play at 7:30. On Saturday, Evans travels to Douglass High School for the first-ever meeting with the Region 7-AAAAA opponent.

In other action Friday, Greenbrier plays at Cross Creek (7 and 8:30 p.m. starts), and Harlem is at Butler (7 and 8:30 p.m. starts). Saturday's game schedule features Jefferson County at Greenbrier (5 and 6:30 p.m. starts), and Hephzibah at Harlem (5 and 6:30 p.m. starts).

Augusta Christian and Augusta Prep both will play in basketball tournaments Friday and Saturday. AC travels to the Charlotte Christian Tournament, while Prep plays at the Oak Mountain Tournament (game times TBA).

Softball tryout

The Grease Lightning 18-and-under, a traveling fastpitch softball team, will hold tryouts for the 2003 season. Tryouts will be 2 p.m. at Patriots Park on Sunday, Nov. 24. Players need to bring a glove and shoes; bats and balls will be provided, but players may bring their own bat. For more information contact Dean Glover (868-4350) or Rick McMurtrey (860-8557).