With the second half of the high school basketball season set to tip off tonight, several interesting boys games dot the landscape. None more so than Spalding (6-4 overall, 3-1 subregion) at Riverdale (8-6, 4-2). Both come into the contest separated by one place in the Region 4-AAAA Div B standings, Spalding in third and Riverdale in fourth.

Spalding won its last game 64-58 against Marion County in the Meriwether Holiday Tournament on Saturday in Greenville to snap a two-game losing streak. Riverdale, meanwhile, lost its last game 74-64 to Lithia Springs on December 22 to snap a two-game winning streak.

The teams have four common opponents — Eagle’s Landing, Locust Grove and Dutchtown as well as Woodland-Stockbridge. While both topped Locust Grove (SHS 69-28 and R73-46), Woodland (SHS 57-51 and RHS 59-44) and Dutchtown (SHS 75-64 and RHS 72-55), both also lost to Eagle’s Landing — Spalding 60-38 and Riverdale 57-51.

Spalding comes into the game averaging 63 ppg for while allowing 61 ppg against, similar to Riverdale which is scoring 64 ppg for while allowing 58 ppg against.

Another game of intrigue is Griffin at Jonesboro in a rematch of an opening-round state playoff game Griffin lost 52-40 last season. This time, however, Griffin (8-4, 3-2) comes into the game fifth in the Region 4-AAAA Div. B standings while Jonesboro (9-2, 4-0) sits atop the standings.

Griffin lost its last game, 63-58, to Upson-Lee in Barnesville at the Lamar County Christmas Tournament to snap a three-game winning streak, while the Cardinals have won four in a row and nine of their last 10, according to Ga.PrepCountry.com.

The teams share four common opponents in Woodland-Stockbridge, Dutchtown, Stockbridge and Locust Grove. While they both swept Locust Grove (GHS 62-39 and JHS 72-20), Woodland (GHS 50-22 and JHS 41-32) and Stockbidge (GHS 69-67 and JHS 66-36), they split with Dutchtown — Griffin losing 53-48 and Jonesboro winning 54-33.

Jonesboro is allowing a region-leading 43 ppg against while scoring a comparable 59 ppg for. Griffin is averaging 60, while allowing 53 ppg against.

The third local boys game of interest is GISA Class AA No. 4-co state ranked Griffin Christian 7-6 overall, 1-1 GISA Region 4-AA) at LaGrange Academy (5-3, 0-0). Griffin Christian was a state finalist in Class AAA last year, while LaGrange Academy was a state semifinalist in Class AA.

Griffin Christian snapped a two-game losing streak in its last outing, a 90-65 win against Trinity Christian on Saturday in The Heritage School Holiday Tournament in Newnan, while LaGrange Christian — which won its first five in a row — has lost its last three in a row, including a 71-70 setback against Lifeway Christian in it’s last outing on Dec. 18.