Red-hot rivalries ready this week
A flu-like virus has hit Columbia County lately, but area sports fans better shake off the bug this week or they'll miss some of the best prep action of the year.
There are swimming and diving titles on the line Thursday at the CSRA Championships, and Saturday at Lakeside High School, the Panthers will show off their muscles at the Region 3-AAAA wrestling duals.
Then there's hoops. The prep basketball slate is full of intriguing region matchups, but the hottest ticket may be the Lakeside vs. Greenbrier contests Saturday at Lakeside.
The Region 3-AAAA battles begin with the 5 p.m. girls' game, and after notching a big win over Butler last week, the Lady Wolfpack should be ready. Lakeside, meanwhile, scored an equally-impressive region win at Baldwin last week, but the Lady Panthers will be tested this Friday against Hephzibah and will then have to recapture their intensity against a bitter rival.
In the nightcap, the Lakeside-Greenbrier boys' game will be highlighted by the area's top two high school point producers - Lakeside junior Matt Scott and Greenbrier senior Eric Marshall.
When the Pack and Panthers met on Jan. 10 at the Brierpatch, the dynamic duo combined for 67 points, and Greenbrier eked out a 72-68 win.
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Expect more fireworks this weekend at Lakeside.
"I love playing against Eric," Scott said. "I think it brings me up to another level, because he is probably the best player in the area. To get better myself, I have to play against people like that."
Upcoming action
Thursday
Swimming: CSRA Championships (Augusta Aquatics Center), 6 p.m.
Friday
Basketball: Evans at Stephenson, 5:30 p.m. (girls) and 7 p.m.; Hephzibah at Lakeside, 5 p.m. (girls) and 6:30 p.m.; Thomson at Greenbrier, 7 p.m. (girls) and 8:30 p.m.; John Milledge Academy at Augusta Prep, 6 p.m. (girls) and 7:30 p.m.; Jefferson County at Harlem, 7 p.m. (girls) and 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Basketball: Greenbrier at Lakeside, 5 p.m. (girls) and 6:30 p.m.; Washington County at Harlem, 5 p.m. (girls) and 6:30 p.m.; Cedar Grove at Evans, 2:30 p.m. (girls) and 4 p.m.
Swimming: Augusta Prep at Georgia Independent Schools Association state championships (Gainesville), TBA.