The Lithia Springs boys and girls, along with the Alexander girls, are the first high school basketball teams returning to action following Christmas.

Both Lithia Springs teams play today in the opening round of the Chattahoochee Holiday Classic.

Both games will feature a matchup of ranked teams. Due to the holidays, Gasports.com did not release new state ratings this week.

Franklin County, ranked No. 3 in Class AAA, should be a major challenge for the Lithia Springs Lady Lions. Although unranked, Lithia has lost only to No. 5 Douglas County (AAAA) and state-ranked Carrollton (AAA).

Tipoff for the girls game is set for 3:30 p.m.

In the boys matchup Lithia Springs, 5-2 and ranked No. 7 in the state, faces Lassiter at 5 p.m.

Although Lithia Springs has a huge win at Hillgrove, ranked No. 1 in the latest AAAA poll, the Lions have lost to unranked Carrollton and LaGrange.

Lassiter’s season has been slow due to some members being part of the school’s successful football team, which advanced deep into the playoffs.

Tempo will be a major factor. The Lions, sparked by their defense, want a faster tempo.

Alexander’s Lady Cougars face East Paulding for the second time. The Lady Raiders won a pre-season scrimmage, but today’s game should be more intense.

In the scrimmage, neither team pressed on defense and both used their reserves for much of the contest.

Elsewhere on the hardwood Monday, Douglas County’s boys and girls play in the Sweet South Tournament at Madison County High School, while the Alexander boys play in the Pickens County Tournament.

Wrestling tournaments resume Tuesday, with action at several sites including South Paulding High School.

Today

Basketball Tournaments

at Chattahoochee High

3:30 p.m. - Lithia Springs vs. Franklin Co. girls

5 p.m. - Lithia Springs vs. Lassiter boys

at Cass High School

3 p.m. - Alexander vs. East Paulding, girls

Monday

Basketball Tournaments

Sweet South at Madison Co.

10 a.m. - Douglas Co. vs Mt. Zion (Jonesboro) girls

11:30 a.m. - Douglas Co. vs. SW Dekalb boys

Pickens Holiday Tourney

at Pickens Co. High

7:30 p.m. - Alexander vs. Buford, boys

at Chattahoochee High

Lithia Springs in second-round play

Tuesday

Basketball

Lithia Springs, Douglas County, Alexander in tournament action.

Wrestling

Spartan Super Duals at South Paulding

Alexander, Lithia Springs in field

Fayette Co. Classic

Douglas County in field