Area high school basketball teams begin region grind

Aiken High’s Malasia Jamison (12) goes up for a shot against Strom Thurmond. Welcome to the middle third of the high school basketball season. Region play tips off Friday for the area’s Class AAAA schools, while Region 4-A is already well underway. For the local Class AA schools, the race to a region title begins Tuesday. Of course, the work toward a championship, be it region, state, holiday tournament or anything between, began for many as soon as last season ended. Non-region play was full of both triumphs and troubles for all, and now is the time to start applying those lessons learned now that every game counts toward the postseason. Here’s what the local hoops scene looks like heading…