2025-26 Boys Basketball

Week 5 Preview

There is just one gameday on the schedule this week, with all teams taking the floor Tuesday before Forsyth County Schools head into the Christmas and New Year’s break beginning Friday afternoon. While the lighter slate may feel like a pause in the action, Tuesday’s games carry added importance as teams look to close out the first portion of the season on a high note. With nearly two weeks away from game action ahead, coaches will be looking for strong execution and momentum, while players aim to finish the pre-break stretch with confidence before returning in January.

Little Mill remains the favorite in 7th grade, defeating their first seven opponents by 40.1 points per game. The Mustangs have played all their home games so their final three games of the season will be on the road. This week they travel down the road to play Otwell who sits at the opposite side of the standings in 11th place, looking for their first win of the season.

South Forsyth and Riverwatch sit two games back of Little Mill in the standings, but both have already suffered losses to the league leader. As a result, the gap is effectively larger than it appears, leaving Little Mill firmly in control as the season moves toward its conclusion. No other teams are closer than 3.5 games back.

Vickery Creek remains the only undefeated team in 8th-grade play after picking up a significant road win at Hendricks last week. This week, the Vipers face another major challenge as they return home to host South Forsyth. The Eagles dropped out of the unbeaten ranks with a close, low-scoring loss to Riverwatch in a defensive battle. That win moved the Panthers back into contention for the number one seed, as they now sit tied with South Forsyth for second place in the standings.

Lakeside and Hendricks remain in the race for a top seed and a first-round bye through four weeks of play. Lakeside’s only loss came to Hendricks at the start of the season, and they have since put together a five-game winning streak. However, they have not yet faced any of the top three teams in the standings. Hendricks, meanwhile, has suffered losses to DeSana and Vickery Creek, leaving both teams with work to do as the season approaches its final stretch.

Riverwatch has their bye this Tuesday, effectively giving them three weeks off from game action before play resumes on Thursday, January 8th. It’s a well-deserved break for the Panthers’ teams, both of which have posted strong records so far this season (7th grade: 5-2; 8th grade: 6-1).

South Forsyth (6-1) @ Vickery Creek (6-0)

Date: Tuesday, December 16 | Tipoff: 6:30 PM (approx.)

This might be the Game of the Year so far in 8th grade, as the top two teams in the standings clash in what promises to be a thrilling matchup. With Vickery Creek undefeated and South Forsyth eager to reclaim their spot at the top, fans can expect a fast-paced, high-stakes battle full of intensity and key plays on both ends of the floor. This is the kind of game that could shape the race for the number one seed heading into the second half of the season.

Over the past two weeks, Vickery Creek has secured crucial wins over Riverwatch and Hendricks, solidifying their claim to the top spot in the standings. The Vipers haven’t been flashy, but they’ve been remarkably consistent, posting the fourth-highest scoring average in the league (44.0 PPG) while holding opponents to the fourth-lowest scoring average (32.8 OPPG). A win in this matchup would give Vickery Creek tie-breaker advantages over the two teams currently tied for second—Riverwatch and South Forsyth—putting them in prime position as the race for the top seed heats up.

South Forsyth suffered their first loss in nearly two years last week in a pivotal matchup against Riverwatch. The Eagles were held 18 points below their season scoring average of 50 points, as Riverwatch managed to limit South Forsyth’s typically balanced attack. Thirteen different players have scored for the Eagles this season, but Riverwatch was able to make them one-dimensional, paving the way for a decisive victory.

South Forsyth will look to regain their championship form, but they will have to do it on the road at one of the toughest venues in the county. The Eagles currently rank third in scoring per game (47.4 PPG) and first in scoring average against (29.9 OPPG). A win for South Forsyth would put them back atop the standings heading into the winter break.

Tuesday’s matchup between South Forsyth and Vickery Creek shapes up to be a classic slugfest. With the top two teams in the 8th-grade standings colliding, every possession will be a battle, and defensive intensity will be at a premium. Vickery Creek looks to protect their unbeaten record and secure tie-breaker advantages, while South Forsyth will aim to rebound from their first loss and reassert themselves at the top. Expect a physical, hard-fought game where grit and execution could decide the winner.

8th-grade start times are approximate and listed an hour after the 7th-grade start times.