Tuesday's top HS basketball games to see (2/26)

No. 1 Union City (27-3) vs. No. 4 Lake County (16-10) (Region 7-A girls’ championship)

Time: 7 p.m. at Union City

Previous meetings: Union City swept two meetings (65-41; 51-42)

Next opponent: Both advance to play Region 8-A teams in sectionals on Saturday

Players to watch: Union City post Tori Reedy; Lake County post Shamon Pearson

What to know: Union City was the No. 1 ranked team for most of the season in Class A, and the Lady Tornadoes are now one game away from the state tournament. This game will decide if they play at home or on the road. Union City upset Lake County last year in the region championship, and now the Lady Falcons will try to do the same. The Lady Falcons are playing in their sixth region championship in the last eight years.

 

No. 1 Booker T. Washington (25-3) vs. No. 2 TCA (25-5) (Region 8-A boys’ semifinal)

Time: 7:30 p.m. at TCA

Previous meetings: Booker T. Washington won 46-42 in last year’s championship game

Next opponent: Winner advances to the championship to play the Riverside-MAHS winner

Players to watch:  BTW’s Zarmarlus Griffin; TCA guard William Hall

What to know: These two teams have been ranked in the Class A poll all season and Booker T. Washington finished at No. 1. Zarmarlus Girffin is one of three Class A Mr. Basketball finalists. The Warriors are on a 19-game winning streak and haven’t lost since a Christmas break tournament. TCA has won five of its last six games, and the Lions are coming off of a big win over Westwood.

 

No. 1 Riverside (18-11) vs. No. 2 Memphis Academy of Health Sciences (19-8) (Region 8-A boys’ semifinal)

Time: 6 p.m. at TCA

Previous meetings: First meeting

Next opponent: Winner advances to play the BTW-TCA winner

Players to watch: MAHS’s Kelvin Pruitt; Riverside’s Dylan Scott

What to know: The Panthers found a way to get hot at just the right time. Riverside has won four straight in postseason play after ending the season 1-5 in its last six games. Riverside will have to again bring its best game if the Panthers want a shot at reaching the region championship. MAHS has won 14 of its last 17 games, including an 11-game winning streak, with the three losses coming against Booker T. Washington.

 

No. 1 Liberty (25-7) vs. No. 3 Bolivar (18-11) (Region 7-AA boys’ semifinal)

Time: 7:30 p.m. at Dyersburg

Previous meetings: Split two regular season meetings (Bolivar won 81-68; Liberty won 68-56)

Next opponent: Winner advances to the championship game to play the Haywood-South Side winner

Players to watch: Liberty post Tyler Taylor; Bolivar guard Chris Woods

What to know: One of the biggest rivalries in the state of Tennessee will play in a win-or-go-home game in the region semifinals. These two teams have won six of the last nine Class AA state championships. Liberty is playing well, winning 12 of its last 13 games, including the district championship. Bolivar is 4-4 in its last eight games, but Rick Rudesill will have the Tigers ready to play in a big game.

 

No. 1 Haywood (24-8) vs. No. 2 South Side (23-3) (Region 7-AA boys’ semifinal)

Time: 6 p.m. at Dyersburg

Previous meetings: South Side won 71-65 in Feb. 2011

Next opponent: Winner advances to the region championship to play the Liberty-Bolivar winner

Players to watch: Haywood post Sadarius Delk; South Side post Malik Hicks

What to know: These two teams haven’t met in two years, but there is history between these two programs. South Side and Haywood played in the highest scoring game ever in the state tournament (211 points). This time the season is on the line as well as a trip to sectionals for the winner. The Hawks have won nine of their last 10 games with the loss coming in the district championship to Liberty. The Tomcats are playing like an experienced bunch with an 11-game winning streak.