Area tournaments begin this week to kick start state playoffs

By Staff
Scot Beard
Basketball fans in Franklin County will get a taste of county rivalries as area basketball tournaments begin this week.
Both the 1A and 2A boys tournaments will pit county squads against each other during the opening round of the tournaments.
In the Class 1A, Area 15 Boys Tournament, which will be played at Phillips High School, fourth-seeded Tharptown will play fifth-seeded Vina in the tournament's opening game. The game will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Tharptown won the season series against Vina, compiling a 2-0 record against the Red Devils in area play. The Wildcats also defeated Vina during the first round of the county tournament.
The Class 2A, Area 14 Tournament at Mars Hill Bible School will feature fourth-seeded Phil Campbell taking on fifth-seeded Red Bay at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the tournament's first game.
The Bobcats lost to Red Bay at home in early January before rebounding to defeat the Tigers during the Franklin County Tournament. Phil Campbell won at Red Bay a week later to give the Bobcats a 2-1 series lead.
The girls tournaments begin Monday, but there are no games between county rivals. However, if the local teams playing Monday win, they will advance to play county rivals Thursday.
Sixth-seeded Vina will play Speake at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Belgreen High School. The winner of that game will advance to play No.-2 seed Tharptown.
The 2A, Area 14 Girls Tournament will open with fourth-seeded Phil Campbell playing fifth-seeded Cherokee. The Lady Bobcats won the season series, beating Cherokee twice during area play.
The winner of that game will advance to play tournament host Red Bay.