STATE PREVIEW: Butler looks to complete miracle turnaround

There is an amazing story in Region 3-AAA. The Butler Bulldogs (no, not the Indiana school that has been to the past two national championship games in hoops. But yes, the same school name and nickname!) were winless in 2009, but are in position to win a subregion championship tonight with a win over No. 6 Burke County.An upset win over the Bears would force a three-way tie at the top spot of the region with Washington County. Although WaCo defeated Butler earlier this season, the win over Burke County would give the Bulldogs the tiebreaker edge and, therefore, the subregion title. …No. 6 Brooks County and No. 5 Fitzgerald play tonight in a winner-take-all game in Region 1-AA. The two traditional powers have combined for 24 region titles. The Purple Hurricanes have won the past two against Brooks County and five of the past six. … Lowndes and Tift County square off in Region 1-AAAAA for a spot in the playoffs. With the other three spots virtually taken by Colquitt County, Valdosta and Coffee, the winner of this game will likely clinch the fourth and final spot. The Vikings, who will be traveling to Tifton tonight, have won 14 of 16 despite being upset 10-7 last year. … Marion County, No. 5 in the state’s smallest classification, will host Brookstone for a chance to clinch the Region 4-A title. However, with a win over the Eagles, Brookstone with force a tie at the top of the region standings and will get the edge over Marion County with the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Eagles would win their second region title in a row with a victory. … Class AAAA No. 4 Northside-Warner Robins clinched the Region 1-AAAA title Thursday night with a 38-12 whitewashing off Northside-Columbus. It’s the Eagles’ 12th region title of any type and 10th since 1998. They have won region titles in six of the past seven seasons.