By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

HOGANSVILLE – The Callaway Cavaliers are playing their best basketball at just the right time.

After opening their Region 5-AA schedule with three straight losses, the Cavaliers have been rolling, and they’ll look to keep the good times going with a win over Spencer in the semifinals of the region tournament today at Heard County.

The winner will advance to the region-championship game on Saturday, which will also be played at Heard County.

Callaway has won seven of its previous eight games against region opponents, and that includes an 85-79 win at Spencer on Feb. 3.

Callaway lost to Spencer 76-74 on Jan. 14, and its only loss to a region foe since then came on Jan. 20 when it fell to Heard County.

“I feel like we’re executing better, just doing the right things,” said Callaway guard Tamarcus Smith, who led his team with 21 points in Tuesday’s 74-30 win over Lamar County that locked up an invitation to the state tournament.

In today’s other semifinal, top-seeded Heard County will play fourth-seeded Temple with a berth in the championship game on the line.

Also today, there will be two girls’ semifinal games in the Region 5-AA tournament at Heard County.

One of those games involves second-seeded Callaway, which will play third-seeded Temple.

In the other semifinal, top-seeded Heard County will play fourth-seeded Jordan.

The Lady Cavaliers went 7-3 in region play in the regular season to finish second, and they’ve beaten Temple twice, although both games were close.

Callaway beat Temple 35-31 on Jan. 17, and it won the rematch 33-28 on Jan. 31.

In the Region 5-AAAA tournament, the scene shifts to Sandy Creek today for the girls’ semifinal games, and LaGrange and Troup are two of the four participants.

LaGrange, which beat Central-Carroll on Tuesday in a first-round game, will play second-seeded Chapel Hill.

Troup, which beat Cartersville in its first-round game, will take on top-seeded Sandy Creek.

LaGrange splits its two regular-season games with Chapel Hill, while Troup has lost twice to Sandy Creek.

The Region 5-AAAA boys’ semifinal games will be played at LaGrange High on Friday.

It will be second-seeded Sandy Creek playing third-seeded Cartersville, and top-seeded LaGrange taking on fourth-seeded Troup.

TOURNAMENT GAMES

TODAY

REGION 5-AA

AT HEARD COUNTY

4 p.m. – Callaway girls vs. Temple

5:30 p.m. – Callaway boys vs. Spencer

7 p.m. – Heard County girls vs. Jordan

8:30 p.m. – Heard County boys vs. Temple

REGION 5-AAAA

AT SANDY CREEK

6 p.m. – LaGrange girls vs. Chapel Hill

7:30 p.m. – Troup girls vs. Sandy Creek