It’s already been a memorable season in Selma and Dallas County, and with four county teams ranked in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association poll of the year, the postseason could be special as well.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s area basketball tournaments begin around the state Monday, although no team in Dallas County takes the court until Tuesday. The tournaments are played on the home floor of the team that won each area’s regular season championship.

Every team that participates in its required area games is eligible for the area tournament. Teams that win the first round game of the area tournaments will automatically move on to sub-regional play. The team that wins the area tournament championship game will host a sub-regional game, while the loser will play on the road for that round.

Dallas County has four teams hosting area tournaments this year. Keith’s boys and girls are both hosting, as well as Dallas County’s boys and Selma’s girls. Below is a complete schedule on all of the week’s upcoming games, as well as a preview for each tournament.

Boys Areas
Class 1A, Area 5
Host: Keith High School
TUESDAY
1) Keith vs. 4) Akron, 8:30 p.m.
2) Sunshine vs. 3) Ellwood Christian, 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
PREVIEW
The focus here will be on the top two seeds, as No. 1 Sunshine and No. 2 Keith have been atop the ASWA rankings all season long. Keith won both of its regular season area games against Akron by exactly 30 points, but only beat the Rams by six in a neutral site tournament game at Stillman College in December. Sunshine had no problems with Ellwood Christian, beating the Eagles 87-51 and 90-56. Will the Bears or Tigers get caught looking ahead?

Class 4A, Area 3
Host: Thomasville High School
THURSDAY
1) Thomasville vs. 4) Clarke County, 6 p.m.
2) Monroe County vs. 3) Southside, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
PREVIEW
This area looks like it could be wide open. Monroe County and Southside split their regular season meetings this year, with games being decided by double digits. Thomasville swept Clarke County, but only won those meetings 38-32 and 53-42.

Class 5A, Area 6
Host: Dallas County High School
THURSDAY
1) Dallas County vs. 4) Demopolis, 7:30 p.m.
2) Sumter Central vs. 3) Wilcox Central, 6 p.m.
SATURDAY
Championship, 7 p.m.
PREVIEW
The Hornets haven’t lost at home during the last two regular seasons, a remarkable stretch that has translated into several very successful seasons. Dallas County will hope they can continue that trend this week when they face a Demopolis team with more firepower than typical No. 4 seeds. Dallas County and Demopolis played both of their meetings in January, with the Hornets winning by eight and eleven points. The Tigers have not lost an area game by more than 11 this season, despite having a 1-5 area record. Wilcox Central and Sumter Central split their two meetings, with each team winning by five points. Sumter Central is the only area team that was able to beat Dallas County this season.

Class 6A, Area 6
Host: Paul Bryant High School
THURSDAY
1) Paul Bryant vs. 4) Chilton County, 7:30 p.m.
2) Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa vs. 3) Selma, 6 p.m.
SATURDAY
Championship, 7 p.m.
PREVIEW
Selma upset Hillcrest in late January, giving the Saints some hope that they can do it again with their season on the line Thursday. The first game was also close, as Hillcrest beat the Saints 56-52 at home. Chilton County has not won an area game this season but played Paul Bryant close last week in a 49-47 defeat. Bryant went 3-1 against Hillcrest and Selma this year, but all four games were decided by 10 points or less.

Girls Areas
Class 1A, Area 5
Host: Keith High School
TUESDAY
1) Keith vs. 4) Ellwood Christian, 4 p.m.
2) Sunshine vs. 3) Akron, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
Championship, 6 p.m.
PREVIEW
Anything can happen in the postseason, but if Ellwood Christian can knock off Keith it would be quite a turnaround for the Lady Eagles. The Bears defeated the Eagles 98-5 and 68-35 in meetings earlier this season. Sunshine and Akron split their meetings this year, with Akron winning by four in November and Sunshine beating the Rams by two in January.

Class 4A, Area 3
Host: Clarke County High School
TUESDAY
1) Clarke County vs. 4) Thomasville, 6 p.m.
2) Monroe County vs. 3) Southside, 7:30 p.m.
THURSDAY
Championship, 5 p.m.
PREVIEW
Monroe County won both of its meetings with Southside this season. Clarke County swept Thomasville in the two meetings between the schools this season.

Class 5A, Area 6
Host: Demopolis High School
WEDNESDAY
1) Demopolis vs. 4) Dallas County, 7:30 p.m.
2) Sumter Central vs. 3) Wilcox Central, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY
Championship, 7 p.m.
PREVIEW
Demopolis rolled past Dallas County in two meetings this season, beating the Hornets 57-8 and 42-6. However, Dallas County is entering the postseason off of a win over Marengo County and a close loss to Billingsley. Sumter Central won both of its meetings with Wilcox Central this season.

Class 6A, Area 6
Host: Selma High School
WEDNESDAY
1) Selma vs. 4) Chilton County, 7 p.m.
2) Hillcrest vs. 3) Paul Bryant, 5 p.m.
FRIDAY
Championship, 7 p.m.
PREVIEW
Selma and Chilton County haven’t played since Dec. 9, so there’s a good chance both teams will look very different when they take the court Wednesday. Selma won both regular season meetings, which were played a week apart, 53-9 and 44-11.  Hillcrest won both of the meetings the Patriots had with Paul Bryant this season.