As 2009 settles in, the basketball teams of Troup County will begin the key stretch of their schedules this week.

Troup and LaGrange high schools have yet to play a Region 2-AAA game this season, but that will change Tuesday when the Grangers (7-4) host unbeaten rival Shaw (12-0) in what could be an early indicator of how the region’s top seeds will play out.

The LaGrange girls will also be taking on the Raiders (1-6) at 6 :30 p.m.

Both Granger teams will then host Kendrick on Friday.

Troup heads to Columbus to face the Northside Patriots (5-2), which finished third in Region 2-AAA last season with a 14-8 overall record.

The Lady Tigers’ surprising 7-3 start will continue Tuesday against the Lady Patriots (5-4). The Troup girls won just three games last season.

Both Tiger teams will host Columbus on Friday.

The Callaway boys (5-3) have already dove into Region 5-AA play in December and will pick up from where they started Friday at Heard County.

The Lady Cavaliers will also travel to take on Heard County Friday.

The LaGrange Academy basketball teams will host Griffin Christian High on Friday before heading to Oak Mountain Saturday.

LaGrange Academy’s boys' team is 7-4 while the girls are 7-5.

Lafayette Christian's basketball teams will host Monroe Academy Tuesday and will travel to covenant Academy on Friday.