Thursday's top HS basketball game to see (2/28)

No. 1 Humboldt (24-6) vs. No. 4 Lake County (7-22) (Region 7-A boys’ championship)

Time: 7 p.m. at Humboldt

Previous meetings: Humboldt won two of three (Lake County won 55-50; Humboldt won 83-72, 64-59 (Dist.))

Next opponent: Both advance to sectionals to play TCA or MAHS

Players to watch: Humboldt guard Stephen Turner; Lake County guard Zay Coleman

What to know: These two met in last year’s region championship game. Lake County might have just seven wins, but the Falcons are playing well in the postseason. Lake County reached the state semifinals last season, but returned just two starters in Zay Coleman and Devon Jones. Humboldt is on a six-game winning streak. The Vikings are a young team with just one senior on the roster, but they are playing like veterans thus far in the postseason. Both teams are quick and athletic, so there is no advantage for either team in that category.

 

No. 2 TCA (26-5) vs. No. 2 Memphis Academy of Health Sciences (20-8) (Region 8-A boys’ championship)

Time: 6:30 p.m. at TCA

Previous meetings: First meeting

Next opponent: Both advance to sectionals to play either Humboldt or Lake County

Players to watch: TCA’s Kyle Akin; MAHS’ Kelvin Pruitt

What to know: The Lions are coming off the biggest win in program history, knocking off the No. 1 team in the state Booker T. Washington. But TCA must now refocus quickly and be ready to try and beat MAHS in the championship to host a sectional game next Monday. The Lions have won six of their last seven games with the loss coming in the district championship. MAHS has beaten Middleton by nine and Riverside by four to get to this spot in the region tournament. MAHS is 4-3 in its last seven games with the three losses coming against Booker T. Washington by 19, 15 and six points.

 

No. 1 Liberty (26-7) vs. No. 2 South Side (24-3) (Region 7-AA boys’ championship)

Time: 7 p.m. at Dyersburg

Previous meetings: Liberty has won two of the three meetings (Liberty won 69-63, 65-59 (Dist.); South Side won 72-71

Next opponent: Both advance to sectionals to play either Sheffield or Mitchell

Players to watch: Liberty guard Kendell Walker; South Side guard AJ Merriweather

What to know: Nothing like a city rivalry to be played in a region championship game. South Side’s three seniors have not fared well against Liberty during their high school careers. AJ Merriweather and Wray Fuller are the two starting seniors and they are 1-12 all-time against Liberty. The Hawks have won 10 of their last 11 games with the loss coming against Liberty in the district championship. The Crusaders have won 13 of their last 14 games.