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PREP BASKETBALL: Newton squads are area's last teams standing after three days of region tourney action
Armani Harris
Newton's Armani Harris soars in for the two-handed slam after catching the lob pass from Tre Clark. Harris had a team-high 22 points the eighth-ranked Rams' 60-51 win over Rockdale Wednesday night in Region 8-AAAAAAA tournament action. -photo by Anthony Banks

LOGANVILLE, Ga. — As far as local teams still in basketball season, Newton stands alone. 

Both the Lady Rams and the Newton boys’ squad punched their tickets to the Class AAAAAAA state tournament Wednesday night by winning their first round games in the Region 8-AAAAAAA tournament. 

The Newton Lady Rams defeated South Gwinnett for the third time this season, snagging the latest matchup in a 55-29 rout where Jada Franklin led with 12 points and Ashanti Wright chipped in with 11. 

Meanwhile, the No. 8 Newton boys squad snuck past Rockdale, 60-51 with Armani Harris leading the way with 22 points. The Rams got some meaningful minutes, however, from reserves Doug Moore and Max Calloway who each provided support with eight points a piece. 

Tre Clark had 13, joining Harris as the only two Newton players to reach double figures. 

Meanwhile, over in Augusta, the Alcovy Lady Tigers fell in another close, first round Region 3-AAAAAA tournament loss, this time getting edged 33-28 by Lakeside on Tuesday, and the boys were defeated by tournament host Greenbrier, 61-46. 

Eastside couldn’t knock off Druid Hills for a third time this season, as the boys squad suffered a 65-53 setback to the Red Devils Tuesday in the first round of the Region 4-AAAA tournament. 

And No. 3 seed Social Circle boys saw its solid season come to an end after losing to No. 6 seed Rabun County 65-53 Monday in the first round of the Region 8-AA tournament. 

The Newton boys will meet Shiloh on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and the winner of that game will face the winner of the 8:30 p.m. Grayson-Archer game in Saturday’s region championship matchup which is slated for a 7 p.m. tip-off. 

On the girls side, Newton will face top-seeded Grayson Friday at 7 p.m. The winner of that game will take on either Archer or Rockdale Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for the Region 8-AAAAAAA crown.