After Super Bowl, save some room for county basketball action

Happy Super Bowl Sunday.

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Or, if you're in the advertising business, happy Big Game Sunday. I don't think the NFL has yet claimed the rights to Sunday, but the time might be coming.

If you want out of the house to watch Tom Brady and Co., there are a couple of places to watch in Columbia County. Of course, you'll find many more in Augusta.

You might just decide to stay in and watch the game with friends, as I will. It's a good option, but after the chicken wings are all gone, I hope by Tuesday, there should be a decent menu of high school basketball games as Columbia County schools wrap up the regular season and prepare for region play.

Here are some choices:

Greenbrier at Lakeside, Tuesday

Greenbrier's girls should probably roll during the first game, and that's probably how Lady Wolfpack coach Garrett Black would like to finish the regular season. Black's team suffered its first loss in 50 games Tuesday night, and then followed it with a Friday game against the Academy of Richmond County.

The Musketeers pushed the Wolfpack the distance Jan. 15, but lost by six on their home floor. Friday's game took place after the deadline for this column, so you probably know what happened. Whatever the result, Black would prefer to enjoy a stress-free win Tuesday.

I'd say the boys game should be more competitive, because the season series is knotted at two. But the average margin of victory during those games was 15 points.

There wasn't one game that skewed the numbers. The Wolfpack opened the season by beating the Panthers by 28. Lakeside responded with a 20-point win the next time the teams met.

You know the game could be one-sided, but show up anyway to find out which side it favors.

The Wolfpack won by five points when the teams met last Jan. 15. Maybe this one will be similar.

Lakeside at Evans, Friday

Lakeside's boys, under second-year coach Ryan Morningstar, have hung with Evans during two games this season, but come up short in both games.

The Panthers, though, have proved they can win big games this season, despite opening with four consecutive losses. Lakeside bounced back from a 15-point loss to Washington-Wilkes to beat the Tigers two weeks later in overtime. And Morningstar's team beat Greenbrier twice in December.

A win Friday would make for a nice end to Morningstar's sophomore season, and would give him three times more wins than last year.

But the Panthers haven't played great of late, and Evans coach Kevin Kenny will have his team ready to play at home.

Other votes:

Greenbrier at Lakeside wrestling, Tuesday, 5 p.m.

Columbia County JV basketball tournament at Evans High School, Saturday.

Enjoy the Big Game.