Two local teams will be looking to advance to the state tournament for a second straight season and six others will be trying to get in position to get there for the first time in decades – or, in some cases, the first time – as postseason play gets underway.
Brighton, Covington and Munford begin district tournament play this week and Rosemark has already begun region tournament play. Here’s a breakdown of each tournament:
BOYS
District 15-AA
The favorite
Covington lost just one district game all year and is the only league team ranked in the state’s top 10. The Chargers finished the season at the number eight spot in the final Class AA poll.
The contenders
Fayette-Ware kept Covington from finishing with a perfect league record when it beat the Chargers 74-67 on Feb. 7. Haywood and Bolivar also have the ability to pull off an upset or two.
What’s next?
Covington plays Ripley on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in a semifinal game at Bolivar High School. The winner moves on to the title game Monday at 7:30 p.m. The top four teams advance to the Region 8-AA quarterfinals next week.
District 13-AAA
The favorite
Dyer County had to pull out a couple of close district games this season, but the Choctaws ended up perfect in league play and would have to be considered the favorite.
The contenders
Brighton and Munford are both relatively young teams. The Cardinals finished second in the standings and Munford came in at third.
What’s next?
The Cardinals and Cougars face off in a semifinal game Saturday night at approximately 7:45 in Newbern. The winner will likely play Dyer County for the district title next Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. The top four teams from the tournament advance to the Region 7-AAA quarterfinals.
DII-A West
The favorite
Lausanne, which is ranked number one in the final DII-A Associated Press Poll and led by D-I recruit Moussa Cisse, should end up on top. The Lynx, which have not lost to a league team all year, are the number one seed out of District 6.
The contenders
Tipton-Rosemark won the region tournament last season. If the Rebels are going to do it again and position themselves for another trip to state they will have to do so as a number three seed. First Assembly Christian School, the top seed out of District 5, and Evangelical Christian School have a chance to challenge for the region title.
What’s next?
Rosemark beat Fayette Academy Monday and Northpoint on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals. Rosemark plays FACS Friday at 5:30 p.m. at USJ. The title and consolation games are Saturday at USJ. The top four teams move on to the sub-state round where higher seeds will host. The top four from that tournament round advance to the state tournament in Nashville.
GIRLS
District 15-AA
The favorite
Considering the Covington Lady Chargers dominated the district competition this year and are the ninth-ranked team in the state, it would be a massive surprise if they are not hoisting the district tourney title trophy in a few days. It’s the first step toward making the state tournament for a second straight season.
The contenders
Fayette-Ware’s only two district losses this season came against Covington, but upsetting the Lady Chargers is a tall order. Covington beat them by an average of 25 points this season.
What’s next?
Covington plays Bolivar in a semifinal game Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Bolivar High School. The title game is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Assuming Covington wins the title it would host a Region 8-AA quarterfinal game on Feb. 28. The region semifinals and finals will be hosted by Wooddale High School.
District 13-AAA
The favorite
Dyer County and Hardin County finished tied atop the district standings, but the Lady Choctaws earned the top seed on a tiebreaker.
The contenders
This tournament is pretty wide open. Brighton beat Hardin County and Dyer County during the regular season. Munford beat Brighton once, nearly did it again in the rematch and lost to Hardin County and Dyer County by a combined eight points late in the season.
What’s next?
Munford, the fourth-seed, hosts Liberty in a play-in game today at 6 p.m. The winner moves into a semifinal game against Dyer County on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Newbern. Hardin County and Brighton play the second semifinal game after that. The title game is Monday at 7:30 p.m. The top four teams advance to the Region 7-AAA tournament.
DII-A-West
The favorite
Trinity Christian Academy will be the heavy favorite to win the DII-West region tournament. The Lady Lions are ranked number one in the state, are 26-1 and have won 23 straight games.
The contenders
Rosemark finished fourth in the region tournament last season and lost in the first round of the sub-state. The Lady Rebels have a chance to finish higher this season, which would improve their chances of making the program’s first state tournament. Northpoint and Harding Academy are also teams to watch.
What’s next?
Rosemark, the second seed out of District 5, takes on Harding, the first seed out of District 6, in a semifinal game Friday at 7 p.m. at USJ. The Lady Rebels beat St. George’s Tuesday in a second round game. The title game is at 7 p.m. on Saturday and the consolation game is the same day at 4 p.m. The top four move on to the sub-state round next week.
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