It seems like basketball season just got here, but the high school portion of the season will be done by the time February is over.

This has been an interesting season for all teams in the Pike County area. The Goshen Eagles won four games this year, which is four more than the team had all of last year.

Head coach Jonathan Deveridge preached to his team all year to fight through the whole game. The Eagles never seemed to lack heart and they had several close losses in the 2008-09 campaign.

Staying over in Goshen, the Lady Eagles are hosting the 2A Sub-Regionals for the first time in two years and it should be an interesting night of basketball in Goshen tonight.

In Troy, it is more of the same for the Charles Henderson Lady Trojans. They will attempt to make it to the South Regional at Troy University for the fourth consecutive season tonight in Greenville.

The Trojans were not able to get out of the first round of the area tournament, but I am sure coach Carl Hollis will have his guys ready to get back to the playoffs next year.

Across the way, the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots and Lady Patriots open up play in the AISA Class 3A state tournament today at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

Both of these teams did not finish the area tournament how they would have liked, but they get a second chance at a tournament championship and this time it is for all the marbles.

And there is no way we can forget about the 20-7 Pike County Bulldogs. The ‘Dawgs are hosting a sub-regional game for the first time since the 2001-02 season. This should be a great game tomorrow night in Brundidge. I know coach Doug Holland will have the Bulldogs ready to square off with Geneva.

The high school season will be done by March, but that is when the Troy Trojans will just be getting started on their postseason run. Troy is sitting at 10-3 right now and is battling with Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee for the top spot in the Sun Belt East Division standings.

The Trojans could move one step closer to locking up a first-round bye through the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament with a win over Middle Tenn. tonight. The Trojans host the Blue Raiders tonight at Trojan Arena beginning a 7 p.m.

And if the Trojans do lock up one of the top-three spots in the conference they will not have to play a game until the tournament reaches Hot Springs, Ark. Mar. 7 and Mar. 9-10.

No matter what, the basketball season will be done soon and it will be time to focus on the spring sports. I just can’t believe it went by that fast, but it sure has been a fun ride.

Matt Nascone is the sports editor for The Messenger. He can be reached at 670-6315 or online at matt.nascone@troymessenger.com.