Here are this week’s must-see prep basketball games in the Chattanooga area

Tournaments are right around the corner and several games over the next seven days will help shape the prep basketball postseason. Here are five of the most important girls’ and boys’ basketball games in the Chattanooga area this week:

GIRLS

› Heritage (18-5, 8-2) at Gilmer (13-8, 7-2), Tuesday, 6: It’s a huge week for one of the state’s most competitive regions and these two teams, which enter the week tied with Calhoun with two losses atop 7-AAA, meet twice (also Saturday at 4 at Heritage). If the Generals and Lady Bobcats split, Calhoun will likely be the tournament No. 1 seed. Getting that top spot would provide a much easier path to the region championship game for whichever team prevails.

› Silverdale Baptist (15-10, 5-1) at Notre Dame (18-7, 7-0), Tuesday at 6: The Lady Seahawks were only losing by four late when sophomore point guard Kinsley Owen fouled out as the Lady Fighting Irish pulled away for a 46-31 win at home in an early December region showdown. Notre Dame will look to lock down the regular season title and is riding a high after freshman Mimi Lee hit a game-winning 3-pointer against Boyd Buchanan last Thursday.

› Tyner (11-9, 5-1) at Sequatchie County (14-8, 7-0), Tuesday at 6: Lady Indians 6-foot senior forward Curtlyn Lee has been one of the area’s dominant post players, averaging 19 points, 9.5 rebounds and a block per game. Sequatchie won the first go-around with Tyner, 46-38, but will have to watch out for freshman Baleigh Gibss who scored 51 points and hit 11 3s in a win last week.

› Gilmer (13-8, 7-2) at Northwest Whitfield (13-6, 6-4), Friday, 7: While the Lady Bruins can’t win the Region 7-AAA regular season title, they can, if things shake out just right, move into the top three with a win over Gilmer. The Lady Bobcats face a brutal week with this game sandwiched around two games with Heritage. Gilmer has an earlier win over Northwest, 58-47, last month, but Tunnell Hill is a tough place to win.

› Cleveland (18-4) at Bradley Central (22-1), Saturday, 6: These archrivals both made the Class 4A Final Four last season and appear stronger than they were a year ago. The Bearettes are hunting their third straight state title and are led by the dynamic scoring duo of senior Harmonie Ware and junior Kimora Fields, while TaTianna Stovall is one of the top defenders in the state. The Lady Blue Raiders are led by Lady Vols signee Lauren Hurst while Laney Copeland, Ilianis Rodriguez and Ariyah Huffman are playmakers.

BOYS

› Calhoun (14-3, 8-1) at Adairsville (14-8, 9-1), Tuesday, 7:30: The regular season title – and the No. 1 tournament seed in Region 7-AAA – is on the line. Adairsville won the earlier meeting 71-54 at Calhoun in early January in a game the Yellow Jackets made just 19 of 71 shots and were missing starter Trey Perkins. In the earlier meeting, Calhoun had no answer for the Tiger high-scoring duo of Tre Winters and Xavious Nalls, who combined for 47 points and 15 rebounds.

› East Hamilton (15-3) at Soddy Daisy (10-6), Tuesday, 7:30: No boys’ basketball team in the area has made as big of a resurgence as the Hurricanes have this season under first-year head coach Howard Pride. East Hamilton’s only losses this year are respectable too as they have come to Tyner (by seven points), Walker Valley (by five) and Bradley Central (by 10). Meanwhile, the Trojans are also a much-improved team looking for a signature home win.

› Hamilton Heights (14-8) at Baylor (11-9), Friday, 6:30: The Red Raiders won this matchup last year with an impressive 81-56 runaway win over the Hawks in which Bolton Born scored a game-high 18 points. The Hawks are led by a new-look guard combination of BJ Bradford and Reid Conley, who combine for nearly eight 3-pointers per game.

› East Hamilton (15-3) at Red Bank (19-5), Friday, 7:30: These former district rivals will be looking to gain momentum heading into the postseason. Nick Fike is closing in on 200 career wins with the Lions, who hang their hats on playing tough man-to-man defense. After winning only seven games a year ago, the Hurricanes have bounced back in a major way with a complete attack inside and out.

› Trion (11-5, 7-1) at Manchester (14-2, 8-1), Saturday, 5: It’s a busy week for Trion with four games, and if things go well earlier in the week, this one will be for the Region 7-A Division II regular season championship. The Bulldogs won the teams’ first meeting 75-61 this past week, but winning this one on the road will be tough. Senior point guard Austin Cornett is one of the area’s best and will need another big game in his head-to-head matchup with Manchester star Dre McGhee.