Three local boys’ squads stormed into the second round of the GHSA state basketball tournament with convincing wins Wednesday night.

Region 5-AAAA champion Sandy Creek obliterated North Oconee 84-38 in first-round action. The Patriots, as a #1 seed, get another home game in the second round and will host Bainbridge Saturday afternoon.

McIntosh, fresh of its Region 4-AAAAA championship, dispatched Carver 100-69 to move on to the second round. The Chiefs will host Gainesville Saturday evening.

The Fayette County Tigers pulled off a huge upset Wednesday on the road, going in as the fourth seed from Region 5-AAAA and beating Region 8-AAAA champion Buford 69-62. They will travel to Monroe for a second-round game Saturday.

The Whitewater Lady Wildcats fell 63-38 to Buford in their first-round game Wednesday.

Each state tournament bracket is a 32-team field except in Class A, which is divided into Public and Private. Our Lady of Mercy begins playoff action this weekend in the A Private bracket, as the girls host ELCA Friday and the boys host St. Anne-Pacelli Saturday.