TIFTON — Boys basketball teams of Tift County High and Tiftarea Academy begin their state tournament journeys Wednesday. Tiftarea will be home against Westfield at 6 p.m. and Tift goes to Walton for a 5 p.m. start.

For those unable to be there in person, both games are scheduled to stream on NFHS Network.

The Panthers earned a home game after finishing seventh in the GIAA Class 3A power rankings. This could almost be a makeup game. Tiftarea was scheduled to face Westfield at the Chuladome earlier this year, but the Panthers canceled as they still were out of school because of snow.

Westfield did host the Panthers earlier in the year, Tiftarea winning 69-46 in Perry December 12.

The Hornets bring a 9-16 record against TA’s 11-9.

Elijah Smith has been Tiftarea’s leading scorer overall. Ben Smith, Andrew Connell and J.R. Walker are equally capable of lighting up a scoreboard. Whit Jordan and Fletcher Walker provide stout defense inside.

Wednesday’s winner will take on St. Andrew’s Saturday at Tattnall Square Academy. St. Andrew’s (28-3) is the No. 2 overall seed and has a first-round bye.

Up in Marietta, Walton will put its 20-5 mark against the Blue Devils’ 18-9. Walton’s record would look even flashier if Wheeler wasn’t around. The Wildcats, perhaps the favorite in this year’s 6A tournament, have handed Walton three of its losses. The other two were to Archer and Etowah.

Tift is in as the No. 3 out of Region 1 after its second buzzer-beater of the year over Colquitt County. J.J. Lamar did the honors this time, burying the Packers 42-40 after they took a 40-39 lead with 18 seconds left.

Lamar has been the Blue Devils’ top scorer in 2024-25. He’s averaging 12 points per game overall, but has been even better since Christmas. Since region began, Lamar is averaging 14.7 per contest. He’s had 23+ in three games with a season high of 29 in the semifinals against Lowndes.

Kaden Lawson and Cordell Nelson make for plenty of height in the middle and both can score.  The remainder of Tift’s points come from an array of players, with Quae Bell being the most prolific scorer.

If Tift survives the Raiders, they would either go on the road to Westlake or host Mill Creek.