COVINGTON, Ga. — As the regular season comes to an end, all area basketball teams prepare for their respective region tournaments. 

Each team, however, is entering the postseason facing different situations. 

Alcovy 

The Alcovy Tigers’ regular season finished with a 91-73 win over the Heritage Patriots on Feb. 8. As a result, the Tigers enter the Region 3-AAAAAA tournament as the fourth seed with a 7-14 overall record and a 4-6 record in region play. 

In its latest win, Ben Hodges scored 41 points which didn’t include a 3-pointer in the outing. Additionally, numerous substitutions and individual contributions were made throughout the night by the other four Tiger starters and bench players. 

Head coach Mack Hardwick believes his team is much better than their record shows. 

“Our overall record is not indicative of the type of basketball our team can play,” Hardwick said. “The first half of our year was about building chemistry.”

Hardwick continued to stress that he believes his team seems to be hitting their stride at the right time. 

Maxpreps’ standings would seem to suggest a rematch against Heritage for Alcovy in round one of the region tournament. The Tigers are 2-0 against the Patriots this season. 

The 2022 tournament will be from Feb. 15-18 at Lakeside (Evans). 

Eastside

The 2021-22 season has been an up and down one for the Eagles. At the time of publication, they were in fourth place of Region 8-AAAAA with a 13-10 overall record as well as an 8-5 record in region play. 

Eastside’s latest win came in thrilling fashion when they downed Clarke Central on the road 37-35 thanks to a last-second layup by Raje Benton. 

Head coach Dorrian Randolph has noticed a constant progression with his players and feels confident in their ability to perform in the region tournament next week. 

“These last four or five games, [the players] have been playing better team ball,” Randolph said. “We’re just trying to get the guys to buy in to that. And they’re doing it and it’s starting to show.” 

Region 8-AAAAA’s tournament will take place from Feb. 14-19 at Jackson County High School. 

Newton 

The Rams boys’ basketball team has had a historic season, and they will be looking to continue with a strong push into the region tournament.

Newton enter postseason play at 21-4 overall after a regular season finale win over South Gwinnett on Feb. 10, keeping the Rams a perfect 8-0 in region play. 

Despite the success on the court, head coach Charlemagne Gibbons knows there is still more work to be done for this team to win it all.

“[We need] consistency with the mental approach to the game,” Gibbons said. “I would love to see us put a 32-minute concentration together as a unit. If we do those things in the state tournament then we have a chance to be right there in the end.”

The region tournament is not the first big stage the Rams have played on this year, as the team traveled to New Orleans earlier in the year and won the 2022 Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic’s National Bracket.

One big difference between the two tournaments is the fact that Newton will host the region tournament from Feb. 12-17. 

Based on the standings in Maxpreps, Newton will enter the bracket as the No. 1 seed.