AREA BASKETBALL: Athens faces tough draw

Published 6:30 am Saturday, February 4, 2017

After playing more than a dozen games over the past three months, several local teams had their postseason basketball fate come down to a coin flip this week.

Athens and East Limestone’s girls basketball teams finished in a tie for first place in their respective areas. After going through several tie-breaking procedures, the flip of a coin determined which would host the area tournament.

East Limestone won their coin toss and will host the 5A Area 16 Tournament while Athens lost and will travel to top-ranked Hazel Green for the 6A Area 16 Tournament.

It’s a tough draw for fourth-ranked Athens, which enters the postseason with a 28-2 record and 16-game winning streak. The Golden Eagles will play Florence at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Hazel Green High School in an elimination game.

In two previous games against Florence this season, Athens won by a combined 10 points. The winner will play the Hazel Green-Muscle Shoals winner Thursday in the area championship game.

The top two teams from each area tournament advance to the sub-regional playoff round. The area champion will host a sub-regional game with the chance to advance to one of four regional tournaments. Sub-regional games will be played Feb. 13-14 with regional tournaments taking place Feb. 15-23.

East Limestone’s girls team is one of four local teams hosting area tournaments next week. The Indians finished in a tie for first place with Lawrence County, but won their coin toss and will host the 5A Area 16 Tournament beginning Monday.

Other teams hosting area tournaments during the week include Tanner and West Limestone’s girls teams and West Limestone’s boys team.

See the full area tournament schedule listed below for more details.

Boys

7A Area 8 at Sparkman

Thursday, Feb. 9

Buckhorn vs. Bob Jones, 5:30 p.m.

Sparkman vs. James Clemens, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11

Championship game, 7 p.m.

6A Area 16 at Hazel Green

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Hazel Green vs. Athens, 6 p.m.

Florence vs. Muscle Shoals, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 10

Championship game, 7:30 p.m.

5A Area 16 at Russellville

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Brooks vs. East Limestone, 6 p.m.

Russellville vs. Lawrence County, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 10

Championship game, 7 p.m.

4A Area 16 at West Limestone

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Danville vs. Priceville, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9

West Limestone vs. Danville-Priceville, 7:30 p.m.

3A Area 15 at East Lawrence

Tuesday, Feb. 7

West Morgan vs. Elkmont, 6 p.m.

Clements vs. East Lawrence, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9

Championship game, 7:30 p.m.

2A Area 16 at Sheffield

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Tanner vs. Mars Hill, 6 p.m.

Sheffield vs. Hatton, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 10

Championship game, 7 p.m.

1A Area 16 at Decatur Heritage

Monday, Feb. 6

Decatur Heritage vs. Whitesburg, 6 p.m.

Lindsay Lane vs. Athens Bible, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 10

Championship game, 8 p.m.

Girls

7A Area 8 at Sparkman

Tuesday, Feb. 7

James Clemens vs. Sparkman, 6 p.m.

Bob Jones vs. Buckhorn, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11

Championship game, 5:30 p.m.

6A Area 16 at Hazel Green

Monday, Feb. 6

Hazel Green vs. Muscle Shoals, 6 p.m.

Florence vs. Athens, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 10

Championship game, 6 p.m.

5A Area 16 East Limestone

Monday, Feb. 6

Russellville vs. Lawrence County, 6 p.m.

East Limestone vs. Brooks, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9

Championship game, 7 p.m.

4A Area 16 at West Limestone

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Priceville vs. Danville, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9

West Limestone vs. Priceville-Danville winner, 6 p.m.

3A Area 15 at East Lawrence

Monday, Feb. 6

East Lawrence vs. Elkmont, 6 p.m.

West Morgan vs. Clements, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9

Championship game, 6 p.m.

2A Area 16 at Tanner

Monday, Feb. 6

Hatton vs. Mars Hill, 6 p.m.

Tanner vs. Sheffield, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9

Championship game, 7:30 p.m.

1A Area 15 at Decatur Heritage

Monday, Feb. 6

Athens Bible vs. Lindsay Lane, 6 p.m.

Decatur Heritage vs. Whitesburg, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 10

Championship game, 6 p.m.