By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

Every team is even now.

The Region 2-AAA-champion LaGrange Grangers are 28-0, while the West Laurens Raiders are 10-17 after finishing fourth in Region 3-AAA.

Records mean nothing this time of year, though.

When the Grangers and Raiders tee it up Friday at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the Class AAA state tournament, both teams will be 0-0, something LaGrange coach Mike Pauley is beating into his players’ heads this week.

“Their record’s the same as our’s,” Pauley said. “What matters is how you’re playing now.”

The Callaway Cavaliers will also be at home Friday night, although they don’t know who they’ll play.

The Cavaliers, who won the Region 5-AA tournament championship Monday night, will play the fourth-place team from Region 8-AA.

The Region 8-AA tournament wraps up tonight.

LaGrange High’s girls’ team, meanwhile, will be on the road Saturday against Baldwin.

Tip time is 6 p.m.

The Lady Grangers (18-9) are the third seed from Region 2-AAA, and Baldwin (18-9) is the No. 2 seed from Region 3-AAA after falling to Washington County in the region title game.

LaGrange beat Shaw on Friday to sew up the region’s No. 3 seed.

As for the Grangers, there is no team in Class AAA that’s any hotter.

They went 25-0 in the regular season before winning two games to claim the Region 2-AAA tournament title.

Both of the tournament games were close, hard-fought games, which Pauley was glad to see.

He said the semifinal victory over Carver and the finals victory over Kendrick “had a state-tournament feel. Every game from here on out’s going to be a possession game.”

The Grangers begin their state journey as the state’s top-ranked Class AAA team.

The boys’ teams from Callaway and LaGrange would be at home again for the second round of state on Tuesday if they win, while the Lady Grangers would likely be on the road for Round 2.

In GISA basketball, the LaGrange Academy Warriors will face Robert Toombs Academy in the Class AA semifinals on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.

In the other semifinal, Arlington and Bulloch Academy will face off.

The championship game is Saturday at 5 p.m. in Milledgeville.

The Warriors have won two games at state to reach this point, including a memorable four-overtime game against Sherwood Christian in the second round.

LaGrange Academy coach Matt Dalrymple said Robert Toombs will have a size advantage, but he still likes his team’s chances.

“I feel like if we shoot it well and rebound well, we’ve got a shot to play with them,” Dalrymple said.