Despite a two-and-a-half week respite from scholastic endeavors, the recent break was anything but relaxing for a number of north Fulton hoops squads. Several local coaches took advantage of holiday tournaments to give their teams one last warmup for the region schedule.

“You just hope that these games help you get ready for the region gauntlet,” said Milton boy’s head coach, David Boyd.

“One of your goals in playing national tournaments is to play teams that are better than what you would play at home. But our region is so good, I’m not sure if that’s true.”

Boyd’s Eagles, ranked No. 1 in GHSA Class-AAAAA, went 3-1 at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. from Dec. 19-23 to earn a fifth-place finish. The tournament featured eight highly-regarded teams on the national level.

Junior Julian Royal made the All-Tournament team, while averaging 18 points per game. The Eagles jumped right back into region play with a big game at Walton last night.

The boy’s team from Centennial and the girl’s team from Chattahoochee collected hardware for their efforts over the break.

The Knights went 5-1 in a pair of tournaments in the Carolinas, including a title in Charleston, S.C. at the Roundball Classic from Dec. 28-30. Senior point guard Devonta White led the way, scoring 22 points in the finals and hitting the game-winner in a 55-54 overtime finals victory over St. Johns (D.C.).

The No. 4-ranked Knights returned to Region 6AAAAA play with a trip to Campbell last night.

The Lady Cougars of Chattahoochee won their host tournament – the Hooch Holiday Classic – punctuated by a 56-52 victory over Roswell in the finals on Dec. 29. Along the way, ‘Hooch took out Franklin County, a high-ranking team from Class-AAA. Chattahoochee hosted Northview last night in a Region 7AAAAA tilt.

Speaking of the Lady Titans, they advanced to the finals of the St. Pius Christmas Classic before falling to Cardinal Dougherty (Penn.), 50-47. Sydney Wallace led Northview with 26 points per game during the tournament.

“We’re as prepared as we can get, but I’m not sure you can be too prepared because our region is as good as any in the state,” said Northview head coach Russell Harrell.

The Mt. Pisgah boys and St. Francis girls are a pair of teams with new coaches to keep an eye on during region play.

Head coach Douglas Byrd and the Pats are coming off a 29-point demolition of Class-A power Athens Christian on Saturday. Aisha Gaddis and the Lady Knights have already matched last season’s win total of seven, and had won five of seven prior to last night’s game versus Greenforest Christian.