By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

It’s a big-time challenge for the LaGrange Lady Grangers.

LaGrange, after Saturday’s home win over Marist in the opening round of the Class AAAA state tournament, will be on the road on Wednesday, and the task is a monumental one.

Cross Creek, which is ranked first in the Atlanta Journal Constitution poll, will host LaGrange in a second-round matchup.

Also this week, the Callaway Cavaliers will travel to Washington County on Thursday for a second-round game in the Class AA state tournament.

The LaGrange Grangers, meanwhile, will be at home on Thursday against Richmond Academy in the second round of the Class AAAA state tournament.

In the GISA state tournament, LaGrange Academy will play First Presbyterian Christian in a first-round game on Wednesday.

Cross Creek (24-4), the Region 3-AAAA champion, has won 18 consecutive games, and it beat Americus-Sumter 60-51 in a first-round game on Friday.

Cross Creek has won 18 consecutive games, and it hasn’t lost since Dec. 17.

LaGrange, the number two seed from Region 5-AAAA, has also been playing well.

The Lady Grangers are 17-11, and they’ve won nine of their past 11 games, and that includes Friday’s hard-fought win over Marist.

LaGranged trailed much of the way, but it took the lead late on a 3-pointer by Zaria Russell.

Callaway, which beat Coosa 62-60 on Friday night on a last-second shot by Braylon Sanders, will head to Sandersville on Thursday to play Washington County.

Washington County (14-9), which won the Region 3-AA tournament, beat Albany 61-56 in its first-round game on Saturday.

Callaway earned its state invitation by finishing second in the Region 5-AA tournament.

Against Coosa, the Cavaliers were down by seven in the final minutes, but they staged a late rally to keep their season alive.

The LaGrange Grangers will be at home this week, and their opponent will be will a strong Richmond Academy team.

Richmond Academy (23-5) was the top team during the regular season in Region 3-AAAA, but it lost in the region-championship game in overtime to Baldwin.

Richmond Academy beat Shaw 63-58 in the opening round of the state tournament.

LaGrange (25-3), which won the Region 5-AAAA championship, blasted West Hall 80-62 in its state opener.

“We feel like we’re sitting in a good position, but this next game is going to be extra tough,” LaGrange head coach Mark Veal said. “We’ll just have to bring it. We’re in a tough bracket, but we’ll come out and do our best and give it all we’ve got.”

On the GISA level, LaGrange Academy’s first-round opponent will be First Presbyterian, which which won the Class AA state championship last season.

LaGrange Academy finished fourth in Region 1-AA, and First Presbyterian is the champion of Region 2-AA.

The game will be played at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Bradwell Institute in Hinesville.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

WEDNESDAY

LaGrange High girls at Cross Creek (Augusta)

LaGrange Academy boys vs. First Presbyterian (in Hinesville), 7 p.m.

THURSDAY

Richmond Academy boys at LaGrange High

Callaway boys at Washington County