An earlier-than-expected dose of inclement winter weather in northwest Georgia caused the postponement of three area region basketball tournaments Monday. That forced the area's largest region to shorten its tournament and in the process end some teams' seasons.

The Region 6-A tournament, scheduled to start today at Trion and Darlington, has been reduced from eight to four teams each for boys and girls and will, weather permitting, begin Thursday. At Trion, where school was let out early Monday when a small front of icy mix rolled in, the girls' team -- which was the No. 6 seed from the west subregion -- was trying to come to grips with suddenly having its season end.

"The athletic directors got together and decided to shorten the tournament due to safety concerns," Trion AD and boys' coach Lanny Thomas said. "It's tough to have eight teams end their season this way, and I know for our girls it was devastating to find out they've played their final game."

Trion will host the boys' competition and Darlington the girls' side Thursday, with the tournament moving entirely to Darlington for semifinals and finals.

The 7-AA tournament at Calhoun has been moved back a day, according to school AD Hal Lamb. The tournament already had an off day scheduled for Thursday and as of now will run today through Saturday. The 7-AAAA tournament at Cass likewise has been moved back a day.

The GHSA on Monday announced it has postponed the start of the state basketball tournament one day to accommodate this week's region tournaments, which now have until Monday to finish. As of Monday the state tournament's first round will begin next Wednesday with girls' play and follow with boys' play Thursday, with the second round still slated for next Friday-Saturday.

The GHSA also announced the state traditional wrestling tournament, slated to run this Thursday-Saturday at the Gwinnett Arena in Duluth, will now be a Friday-Saturday event but will remain a full double-elimination tournament. Semifinals will be moved from Friday to Saturday and the tournament will conclude with the championship round at 5:30 p.m.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.