Jumping thru hoops
- Updated: January 23, 2017
Here’s a quick, capsule look at the area basketball races as they relate to teams in and around Calhoun County, click the tab for standings
Area standings, games to play – Sheet1-2
By East Alabama Sports Today
Class 1A, Area 10 Girls: Third-ranked Spring Garden has two area games remaining. Expect the Lady Panthers to remain unbeaten and host the area tournament. Regional competition should come from seventh-ranked Skyline (Area 14) and second-ranked Decatur Heritage (Area 15).
Class 1A, Area 10 Boys: Top ranked Sacred Heart will host the Area 10 tourney and should cruise into the Pete at JSU. Several teams will compete for regional slots including No. 9 Spring Garden (Area 10), No. 3 Coosa Christian (Area 11) and Area 14 representatives No. 4 Skyline and No. 7 Cedar Bluff.
Class 3A, Area 9 Girls & Boys: Unbeaten Weaver will host the boys and the girls will be determined by a coin toss (Weaver, Wellborn).
Class 3A, Area 10 Girls: Pleasant Valley could secure the role of area host with a win over Glencoe on Tuesday. A loss to the Lady Jackets means all three teams finish at 2-2.
Class 3A, Area 10 Boys: Barring a Pleasant Valley upset of Glencoe on Tuesday it will be a two-way tie between Piedmont and Glencoe at 3-1. The Dawgs and the Jackets have split their regular season area games. The top regional representation for the girls belongs to Area 14 with No. 3 Plainview and No. 6 Pisgah. Area 13’s Geraldine (No. 8) and New Hope (No. 9), along with 14’s Plainview (No. 4), are the top prospects to make a showing for the boys at Jax State.
Class 4A, Area 8 Girls: The eighth-ranked Anniston Lady Bulldogs should get by Handley on Wednesday and serve as area tourney host.
Class 4A, Area 12 Girls: Both fifth-ranked Hokes Bluff and No. 4 Cherokee County have a date left with White Plains. Barring an upset it will be the Lady Eagles receiving a talented group at the Bluff. Expect a challenge at regional from Area 14’s Madison Academy (No. 2) and Madison County (No. 6).
Class 4A, Area 8 Boys: No. 7 Anniston and Saks split in their area contests. It’s simply wait and see how things shake out. The Bulldogs are at Handley Wednesday, while the Wildcats host Munford on Thursday and travel to Handley Friday.
Class 4A, Area 12 Boys: No. 3 Cherokee County suffered a big blow with the season ending loss of all-state guard Quartez Henderson. The resilient Warriors are 4-1 in area play with a home game looming with White Plains Friday. The 10th-ranked Wildcats need wins over Cherokee County and a dangerous Hokes Bluff squad to finish with a clean area slate and secure the coveted host slot. Top-ranked Madison Academy from Area 14 will be the target team at the Northeast Regional.
Class 5A, Area 10 Girls: Discounting an upset by Lincoln it should be the No. 9 Talladega Lady Tigers serving as the unbeaten hosts.
Class 5A, Area 13 Girls: No one will catch the Lady Pirates. All area tournament roads lead to Boaz. Talladega is the only ranked team in the entire region. Unranked Crossville (Area 14) is receiving consideration from voters.
Class 5A, Area 10 Boys: With two games to play the Vols are in the driver’s seat. Central-Clay has dates with Heflin (Thursday) and Lincoln (Jan. 30).
Class 5A, Area 13 Boys: No. 9 Douglas and No. 10 Alexandria have the voter’s attention but neither will host the area tournament. The Blue Devils of Etowah have that honor regardless of the outcome of their game against Alexandria Tuesday. The trip to Birmingham is wide open for local teams. Outside of No. 5 Guntersville (Area 14) there are few viable contenders.
Class 6A, Area 13 Girls: No. 9 Southside-Gadsden should sweep its remaining games with Oxford (Tuesday) and Pell City (Friday) and lock in as hosts for Area 13.
Perhaps the best bracket at JSU will be the Class 6A girls. Potential teams include top 10 representation from all four participating areas. Area 10 includes No. 2 Ramsay and No. 3 Homewood. Area 12 features No. 7 Clay-Chalkville and Center Point, which is receiving poll consideration. Area 13 has Southside-Gadsden and Area 14 has No. 10 Brewer.
Class 6A, Area 13 Boys: Southside-Gadsden is 2-0 with those victories won by a combined total margin of three points. Oxford, 1-1 in Area 13, will have its shot at the Panthers on Tuesday, fresh of its Calhoun County Tournament title, while Pell City gets its turn Friday.
Whoever, makes it to J’ville can expect stiff opposition from the likes of No. 9 Ramsay (Area 10), No. 6 Clay-Chalkville (Area 12) or the Wildcats of Fort Payne (Area 14). The Cats aren’t in the top 10 but they are playing well enough to be drawing voter consideration.
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