Win over Greene critical for desirable playoff berth

The confusing playoff system for Region 8AA is too much trouble for anyone to have to understand but after getting explanations from at least three sources, The News-Reporter, may have it figured out enough to give its readers a pretty good idea of where the Washington-Wilkes Tigers might be headed over the next three weeks.

The complicated system between the to sub-regions will send the required four teams into the first round of the state playoffs but not until after the convoluted region playoffs which take the place of the regular season's final game. However, before any of that happens, the W-W Tigers have got to suit up against the Greene County Tigers for

game that is more important than that region playoff. Here's why.

W-W and Greene County are tied for second place in Region 8AA South with no chance of advancing to first place. The winner of this Friday's game will enter the region playoffs as a No. 2 team while the loser will enter as a No. 3 team.

In Region 8AA North, Banks County and Dawson County are in the same situation.

On the region playoff weekend, the No. 1 teams from the south (Morgan County) and the north (Fannin County) will play each other at Fannin County. The winner of that game will enter the state playoffs as the No. 1 seed from Region 8AA. The loser will enter as the No. 2 seed.

At the same time, W-W will be playing against either Banks County or Dawson County, while Greene County will be playing against the other. The winners of those two games will enter the state playoffs as the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds from Region 8AA.

Now, jumping ahead to the state playoffs just to set the stage, the No. 4 seed from Region 8AA will be playing against the No. 1 seed from Region 6AA, which figures to be the super-powerhouse undefeated and top-ranked Buford Wolves - a situation to be avoided at all costs. Of all the combinations of who-beats-who-and-advanceswhere in the Region 8AA playoff, there is only one way that the W-W Tigers can avoid being that No. 4 seed going into the state playoffs. They MUST beat Greene County this weekend so that they are No. 2 in the south. Then, they MUST beat whoever they play next week or they're out anyway.

So, in order for the Tigers to enjoy any post-season play, they have to win at least their region playoff game. In order for them to enter the state playoffs in a favorable position without having to play Buford, they have to win against Greene as well.

An added bonus to beating Greene County is that, in that event, W-W would host the region playoff game on November 9. Otherwise, they'll be playing way out of town.

Okay, we think we got all that straight.

As far as injured Tigers go and their chances for playing against Greene County:

l Ty McGill "re-agrivated" his thigh and is iffy for Friday night.

l Eric Scott has begun to run on his ankle but, as of Monday, had not done any planting or cutting.

l Tyrece Ashmore's ankle should be good to go against Greene.

l Dede Stewart should be healed up and ready.

l Teverrius Jones' mashed hand is not as bad as originally thought and he should be available for action, according to Head Coach Russell Morgan.

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