Better get there early.

It’s becoming the best show in town, and it starts Saturday night at 6:30.

That’s when the Effingham County girls basketball team tips off against McIntosh in the Class AAAAA state playoffs second round, followed by the ECHS boys against Starr’s Mill.

The gym Wednesday night was at capacity — outstanding for a weeknight and for a night when a lot of churches have night meetings. In fact, there were preachers who wrapped up church business and dashed to the gym to catch some of the action.

There were more than 1,500 folks in the ECHS gym last Saturday night for the Region 3-AAAAA boys championship game (if you haven’t seen it, visit www.ghsa.tv and find a replay of the game) and this Saturday night’s crowd may be as big if not bigger.

It’s been a banner year for hoops in the county. The South Effingham girls are having the best season in program history and are fun to watch too, though they’re on the road this weekend. They’ve been ranked for several weeks now. It’s a far cry from the win totals they posted just a few years ago.

The South Effingham boys posted double-digit wins, their most in several seasons.

And at ECHS, the girls are 23-5 and the boys are ranked No. 2 in the state. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s predictions have powerhouse Miller Grove winning the Class AAAAA boys title — beating ECHS in the finals to do so.

So if you have an inclination to be at the Effingham County gym Saturday night, you might want to be in a seat before the girls tip off. Or, you might be able to watch it online via ghsa.tv.