Clayton News Daily

Photo by Derrick Mahone Eagle’s Landing coach Clay Crump (left) and forward Eric Wortham will have to travel to Macon today to take on Central-Macon in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs.

If Jonesboro, Eagle’s Landing and Henry County are to advance to the boys basketball state quarterfinals, they must win on the road.

The path for North Clayton, Drew and Lovejoy might not be any easier, but the three teams get to play at home for the second round of the playoffs.

“It makes a big difference when you are at home,” North Clayton coach Martisse Troup said. “When you are at home, you get to keep your same routine.”

Jonesboro traveled to Brunswick a day early for their 7 p.m. matchup today.

Eagle’s Landing and Henry County, members of Region 4-AAA, will be in Macon for their second-round contests. It is less than an hour’s drive for both teams.

Drew will host Westover while Lovejoy avoided a road game when Liberty County upset Region 1-AAAA top seed Northside-Warner Robins in the first round.

As the top seed from Region 4-AAAA, North Clayton was guarenteed to host the second-round playoff game once they won the first-round game.

Jonesboro, a second seed from 4-AAAA, had to travel because Brunswick was the top seed from Region 2-AAAA.

If Jonesboro and Lovejoy win tonight, they will meet on Friday in the quarterfinals in at Fort Valley State University. Lovejoy won the only meeting between the two teams this season.

A win by Henry County and Drew tonight would pit the two Region 4-AAA teams against each other at Georgia College in Milledgeville on Friday. Eagle’s Landing is a state semifinalist from last season.

TODAY’S GAMES

Ware County at North Clayton, 6 p.m.

Westover at Drew, 6 p.m.

Eagle’s Landing at Central-Macon, 6 p.m.

Henry County at Howard, 6 p.m.

Jonesboro at Brunswick, 7 p.m.

Liberty County at Lovejoy, 6 p.m.