With football season almost wrapped up, except for those select few who’ll continue into the postseason, the time has come to look forward to what is sure to be another exciting season of the intense style of high school basketball that is a trademark of Selma-Dallas County and the Black Belt as a whole.

Some of you may already know that I gave high praise for the last season, my first in Selma-Dallas County, of high school basketball.

The intensity and passion that local teams brought to each game, especially those against local rivals, was nothing like I had ever seen before.

Seeing fans pack into gyms and create standing-room only crowds added to the intensity and atmosphere of games that were already exciting to begin with.

With all of that in mind, it should be no surprise that I can hardly wait for the start of the 2012-2013 high school basketball season.

The alignments and regions of some local programs may have changed, but I fully expect the passion and tradition that comes with Black Belt hoops to fully remain intact.

Here’s a brief reminder for those who may have forgotten the quality of high school teams that Selma and Dallas County boast.

Last season, Dallas County had four of its seven high schools win their area — Keith’s and Selma High’s girls, and Selma and Dallas County High’s boys teams.

That doesn’t even include the Ellwood Christian Academy boys, now a member of the Alabama High School Athletic Association, which made it to the Alabama Independent School Association Final Four in Montgomery last season before making their move to the AHSAA.

I fully expect a number of local girls and boys teams to make runs at area titles and advance even further in the regionals this year.

The talent is no doubt here for another exciting high school basketball season, as a number of college prospects are littered throughout the county’s seven high school programs.

So, while I’m enjoying the current high school football season and hope all local teams that make the playoffs advance as far as possible, I absolutely can’t wait until all of our local programs make their return to the hardwood.