While we are doing our best this weekend to share the news about the most up to date happenings in high school basketball, and to keep with the regular release of the Box Scores Report here at Zone706, we will also be providing Live Game Coverage via the @AugBball social media timelines from the following games:

Thomson (2-0) at Lincoln County (0-0)

During a season laced with the rescheduling and cancelling of games, these two promising teams are just getting started. Even though Lincoln County has yet to be able to play a game, the Red Devils enter its opener with high expectations. GHSA observer Kyle Sandy, who publishes statewide rankings at Sandysspiel.com, had the Red Devils tabbed as a top 10 class 1A public school team in his preseason edition, although the team currently sits outside of his rankings. Nonetheless, we are optimistic about Lincoln County’s chances to exceed their impressive run of a season ago, when the Red Devils posted an 18-8 record and reached the second round of the state playoffs. 6-5 sophomore  Frankquon Sherman, a human highlight reel of an athlete, will return to show us what kind of dunks he has up his sleeve this season. And senior Caleb Willis, a 6-4 wing with a nice shooting stroke, will provide even more experience.

But no matter the rankings, or Sherman’s high flying act, or Willis’s ability to stretch the defense, Thomson probably should be considered the favorite tonight, whether based on history, or on the fact that the Bulldogs have at least been able to establish some rhythm in beating Aquinas twice.

Like Lincoln County, Thomson also brings to tonight’s game high expectations among area hoops observers. Fans throughout the CSRA have been buzzing about 6-3 freshman Lavonta Ivery since he was a middle schooler; and Ivery has done his part so far on the varsity level by leading the Bulldogs in scoring (15 ppg) in both of the team’s wins. If one freshman impact player is enough to make people excited about Thomson’s future, then two can only add to the anticipation in the form of fellow ninth grader Jakhious Jones, who will join the hoops team for his first game after fulfilling his duties as the varsity football team’s backup quarterback.

Bulloch County at Westminster 

Tonight will be our first look this season at Westminster, whose girls team is led in part by a promising eighth grader, Rania Curry.  We first noticed her excelling as a fifth grader in Will Avery’s Middle School Development coed basketball league years ago. Impact players for the boys include juniors Carter Hush and Benji Lynch, along with freshman newcomer Elijah Gilbert.

Be sure to follow along with the @AugBball social media accounts for in-game updates and video coverage of tonight’s games.