THOMASTON — The Griffin Bears and Lady Bears basketball teams both played road warriors Tuesday night, getting close wins over the Upson-Lee Knights and Lady Knights in Region 4-AAAA Division B action. The Lady Bears put an end to a two-game losing streak while the Bears have won two games in a row as they head into their big matchup with crosstown rival Spalding High on Friday.

Griffin 69, Upson-Lee 65 (boys): Kelvin Waldon scored 21 points and also had 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks to lead the Griffin Bears to the hard-fought 69-65 victory over Upson-Lee Tuesday night. With the loss, the last-place Knights of Upson-Lee fall to 6-6 overall and 2-4 in region play while the Bears improve to 10-5, 4-3 — good enough for fourth place in the six-team subregion standings.

Last year, the Bears won 10 games total which marked the most wins the Bears have had in the last five years. The Bears have 9 more games left in the regular season and maybe more in the Region 4-AAAA Tournament to surpass that 10-win total.

In what was a tight game all night, Griffin only led by one point at the half, 28-27. Waldon had some help from teammates Tae Mayes (14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal) and Jaquez Parks (11 pts, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks) to help the Bears seal their second-straight victory.

The Bears are back in action Friday in a big game against region and crosstown rival Spalding at The House at 7:30 p.m. Spalding currently sits one spot behind Griffin at 6-6, 3-3.

Griffin 42, Upson-Lee 34 (girls):Aurelia Mangham scored 11 points to lead the balanced Griffin Lady Bears to the 42-34 win over the last-place Upson-Lee Lady Knights Tuesday evening on the road, halting their two-game losing streak.

With the win, the Lady Bears improve to 7-8 overall and 4-3 in region play and move into a third-place tie with North Clayton in the subregion standings. Upson-Lee falls to 3-10, 2-5.

Shacoria Jones scored 10 points and had an assist and Xandria Hosely chipped in 8 points and 11 rebounds to help get the victory for Griffin, which hosts crosstown and region rival Spalding (8-6, 2-4) at The House Friday evening at 6 p.m. The game was originally set for 7 p.m., but since Spalding doesn’t field a JV girls team this season that means an extra game is deleted. Now the Griffin-Spalding JV boys will play at 4:30 p.m. Friday, followed by the Griffin-Spalding varsity girls at 6, then the Griffin-Spalding varsity boys at 7:30.