North Augusta, Laney, and Josey headline Tuesday's girls high school hoops previews

Tyliah Burns and North Augusta return from D.C. for a 4-game-in-5-day stretch that starts Tuesday.

Strom Thurmond (4-2) at North Augusta (5-1)

The Lady Yellow Jackets return home after a 3-game-in-3 day stretch, the last 2 against teams from Florida and New York with a combined record last season of 48-10. North Augusta, which has looked invincible in this area this season, split a pair of high profile matchups at the "She Got Game" tournament last weekend.



North Augusta will follow last week's busy schedule with this week's 4-game-in-5-nights sprint through the area. After Tuesday's home game against the Rebels, the Jackets travel to AC Flora Thursday, to Burke County Friday, and to Lakeside Saturday.

Laney (4-0, 1-0) at Glenn Hills (1-3, 0-1)

Laney's De'sha Benjamin

The Lady Wildcats are averaging 88 points per game. And the offensive statistics are staggering for Laney's "Lethal Weapon 3" like combination of guards:

De'sha Benjamin: 28 ppg, 9 rpg, 5 apg
Jhessyka Williams: 19 ppg, 8 rpg, 5 apg
Jaiden Hamilton: 18 ppg, 7 rgp, 5 apg

Rob Drew will provide live bonus coverage at the @AugBball Facebook page from Laney's game at Glenn Hills.

Josey (9-0) at Butler (1-3, 1-0)

I found it interesting and impressive that the Lady Eagles join the Glenn Hills boys and the Lady Wildcats of Laney, both ranked #1 in class AA by various media sites, as our area's only undefeated teams. So I asked coach Jawan Bailey how high are the spirits in Josey's locker room after such a sizzling start to the season.

"(They are) Surprisingly calm. I think the kids expected to start off well after a really good summer and pre-season," coach Bailey wrote in a message Monday. "They understand it’s more at stake than the undefeated start."

The Lady Eagles have been paced by junior twin sisters Tykedra Rolland (18 ppg) and Rhykeria Rolland (12 ppg), who led Josey in scoring when Rob Drew reported from the Eagles' win at Burke County.

Also, two state title hopefuls and long time rivals will meet again.

Cross Creek (4-2) at Grovetown (6-4)

It has been almost exactly one year since I made a big deal about these teams playing for the sixth time in 12 months. Even though multiple players from those rivalry games the past few years are playing college ball now, both programs are rebuilding nicely and look headed for interesting region, and maybe state playoff, runs.