By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

The Callaway Cavaliers figured that by today, either their season would be over or they’d be preparing for a quarterfinal matchup in Dalton.

Instead, they’re gearing up for a game that was supposed to be played on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s scheduled Class AA state-tournament game between Callaway and Decatur was postponed early in the day because of concerns over a winter storm that was headed for the state.

The game will be played today, with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. at Callaway High.

If Callaway wins, it would play either Jefferson or Westminster Friday at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton.

The Cavaliers (19-7) come into today’s game on a hot streak.

They’ve won eight of nine games, and they won the Region 5-AA championship as well as a first-round game against Dawson County.

Decatur is also a hot team, though.

The Bulldogs (22-5) have won eight of their past 10 games, and they beat Chattooga by 15 points in a first-round state game.

“It’s going to be one of the toughest ballgames we’ve played all year, and we’ll have to play a complete game” said Greg Moultrie, Callaway’s first-year head coach. “We can’t have any lapses.”

In the first round against Dawson County, the Cavaliers watched a 15-point lead dwindle to two before they pulled away for a 59-50 victory.

Wins like that, Moultrie said, can only help a team as it heads deep into a state tournament where blowouts are rare.

“That builds confidence, and it takes away the panic,” he said. “We could have easily panicked last week, and we didn’t.”

If helps that the Cavaliers are a veteran team.

Nearly all of the players on the court tonight saw significant playing time a year ago when thee Cavaliers lost in the second round of state to Dade County.

It hasn’t always been a smooth ride this season, though.

The Cavaliers lost four of five games in January, but they have everything working now.

“We just want to keep peaking, and keep playing well together,” Moultrie said.