By Justin Fedich and Daniel Evans | The Selma Times-Journal

The regular season came to a close Friday, which means next week is when teams in Dallas County will begin their postseason journeys. There are numerous teams in Dallas County with serious chances to make it far in their respective tournaments.

This year, two teams finished ranked in the top 10 of the Alabama Sports Writers Association Poll, and both those teams —Keith boys and Keith girls —earned the right to host their area tournaments.

From experienced teams that have been far in the postseason in the past to young teams that have shown significant improvement throughout the season, it figures to be an excitiing basketball postseason in Dallas County.

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.

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

Monday

2) Ellwood Christian vs. 3) Isabella, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday

Championship, Ellwood/Isabella vs. 1) Keith, 6:30 p.m.

Preview

Since this is only a three-team area, Keith is guaranteed a spot in the sub-regional round of the 1A playoffs. The Bears, ranked No. 3 in the state, won every area game by 33 points or more this season. Ellwood Christian defeated Isabella by almost the same score in the two meetings between the teams. Ellwood won those games 61-29 and 61-32.

 

Class 4A, area 3

Host: Monroe County

Tuesday

1) Monroe County vs. 4) Clarke County, 6:30 p.m.

2) Thomasville vs. 3) Southside, 5 p.m.

Thursday

Championship game, 6 p.m.

Preview

Monroe County will host the class 4A, area 3 tournament after finishing the regular season with a 5-1 area record. Monroe won its last four area games after losing to Thomasville in early January. Monroe won its last game against Clarke County by 28 points. Southside and Thomasville split their regular season meetings, with Southside winning the last game 60-47.

 

Class 5A, area 6

Host: Sumter Central

Tuesday

1) Sumter Central vs. 4) Demopolis, 7 p.m.

2) Wilcox Central vs. 3) Dallas County, 5 p.m.

Thursday

Championship game, TBA

Preview

Dallas County, Wilcox Central and Demopolis finished in a three-way tie in class 5A, area 6 after all three schools split games with each other while Sumter Central swept the area with a 6-0 record. By virtue of a coin flip, the Hornets earned the No. 3 seed to match up with Wilcox Central in the first round. Dallas County lost to Wilcox Central 53-40 on Dec. 18, but turned around on Jan. 12 to put 82 points on the Jaguars in a 16-point victory.

 

Class 6A, area 6

Host: Paul Bryant

Tuesday

1) Paul Bryant vs. 4) Chilton County, 7:30 p.m.

2) Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa vs. 3) Selma, 6 p.m.

Thursday

Championship game, 7:30 p.m.

Preview

At 2-4, the Selma Saints clinched the No. 3 seed in the class 6A, area 6 tournament and will play the No. 2 seed Hillcrest Patriots at Paul Bryant. The Saints struggled against Hillcrest in both meetings this season. Selma lost 47-38 on Dec. 15 and then dropped to Hillcrest by a 23-point margin on Jan. 19. Hillcrest is the only team to defeat Paul Bryant in area play this season, as Paul Bryant has only lost one area game all season.

 

Girls Areas

Class 1A, area 5

Host: Keith High School

Monday

2) Isabella vs. 3) Ellwood Christian, 5 p.m.

Wednesday

Isabella/Ellwood vs. 1) Keith, 5 p.m.

Preview

Keith was the dominant team in class 1A, area 5. The defending 1A champions are automatically in the sub-regional round, but can guarantee a home game in that round by winning the area title. Isabella defeated Ellwood Christian in both matchups, with the second game being much closer than the first. Isabella defeated Ellwood by 30 on Jan. 11, but only by seven on Jan. 23.

 

Class 4A, area 3

Host: Clarke County

Monday

1) Clarke County vs. 4) Monroe County, 5 p.m.

2) Southside vs. 3) Thomasville, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday

Championship game, 5 p.m.

Preview

Clarke County went undefeated in area play this season and plays Monroe County, a team it defeated by 23 on Jan. 26, in the first round. Southside defeated Thomasville in the two regular season meetings between those teams, but those wins came by a total of seven points.

 

Class 5A, area 6

Host: Demopolis

Monday

1) Demopolis vs. 4) Dallas County, 7 p.m.

2) Sumter Central vs. 3) Wilcox Central, 5 p.m.

Wednesday

Championship game, 6 p.m.

Preview

The Dallas County Hornets finished the season on a win streak, but still went winless in the area. As the No. 4 seed, Dallas County will match up with Demopolis in the first round of the class 5A , area 6 tournament at Demopolis. The Tigers only lost one area game all season and beat the Hornets by an average of 40.5 points in the teams’ two games this season.

 

Class 6A, area 6

Host: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa

Tuesday

1) Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa vs. 4) Chilton County, 6 p.m.

2) Selma vs. 3) Paul Bryant, 7:30 p.m.

Friday

Championship game, 7 p.m.

Preview

The Selma Saints lost a coin flip to host the class 6A, area 6 tournament and will instead travel to Hillcrest as the No. 2 seed. The Saints only lost one area game all season, and they will face Paul Bryant in the first round. The Stampede finished 2-4 in the area and lost to Selma both times, falling 60-46 on Jan. 5 and 56-42 on Jan. 15.