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Playoff basketball is here. The varsity girls began play in the sub-regional round of the playoffs on Monday evening. On Tuesday it will be the boys turn.

Local teams from Charles Henderson, Goshen, Pike Liberal Arts, Pike County, Zion Chapel and Ariton are all gearing up for what they hope is a deep playoff run.

The Charles Henderson boys travel to Tallassee to take on the Tigers in a rematch of last season’s sub-regionals.

“We are excited to be in the playoffs again this season,” head coach Doug Branson said. “There are only 32 5A teams playing.”

The Tigers come into the game as the winner of the Area 4 Tournament. They have a record of 26-4.

“We have the opportunity to travel to Tallassee,” Branson said. “A very good team that is undefeated at home. They are led by number 4 Humphrey a talented scoring guard and Turner, a physical low post player that can score on the block.”

The Trojans knocked off the Tigers in last year’s sub-regional round 44-38.
“We played this same Tallassee team last year at our place,” Branson said. “We understand that it will not be easy, but we embrace the challenge.”

The Pike County Bulldogs, champions of Area 4, will host the Slocomb Red Tops on Tuesday night. Despite a strong season, everything starts over on Tuesday.

“The team played hard all season,” Branson said. “They played one of the toughest schedules around, finishing 19-6. However, it’s playoff time, everyone is 0-0.”

The Red Tops finished runner-up in Area 3. They come into the contest 17-8. They entered the area tournament as the three-seed. They fell to Opp in the area championship.

The Goshen Eagles fell in the area championship last Friday evening. After knocking off Samson in round one, the Eagles fell to Zion Chapel in the championship.

“I expect my boys to go out there and play hard and try their best,” head coach Daniell Powell said. “We have to learn to work hard every second and every possession. If we don’t play hard we can get beat on any given night.”

As the area runner-up, the Eagles will travel to take on area win Geneva County.

Geneva County won the Area 3 championship and come in 24-5.

“They are going to be long and very aggressive,” Powell said. “They are very athletic. It’s going to be a hard challenge.”

The Lady Eagles will also take on Geneva County in their first round matchup. The Lady Eagles fell to Samson in the area championship last week and will now take on a Geneva County team sporting a 23-5 record.

The Zion Chapel Rebels and Ariton Purple Cats also begin the playoffs on Tuesday. The rebels will host Daleville, while the Purple Cats will travel to take on Central-Coosa.

The AISA playoffs continue this week as well. After a first-round bye, the Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots and boys team head to Montgomery on Wednesday to play in the Elite 8. The varsity boys will take on top seeded Success Unlimited beginning at 1:30 p.m.

“The goal every year is to get to the Elite 8 and once you get there anything can happen,” head coach Allen Ponder said. “You throw records out the window.”

The Lady Patriots, coming off a first round bye will take on second seeded Morgan Academy beginning at 6 p.m.

Both games will be played at the Crampton Bowl Multiplex.