With only a week left in the Tennessee high school basketball regular season, some district races have been decided but others have tightened up. Some will need money to determine a champion.
A coin flip already came into play for the District 5-AAA boys.
The McMinn Central, East Hamilton, Bledsoe County and Bradley Central girls have clinched championships, as have the McMinn Central, Howard, Bledsoe County and Ooltewah boys. They just have to wait until their turn is called to play in their respective tournaments.
For the Silverdale Baptist Academy girls in District 5-A, patience will be a virtue. Because of weather cancellations on district nights, the Lady Seahawks had to play Arts & Sciences on Thursday and tonight and have another back-to-back series with Copper Basin on Monday and Tuesday. Should they win tonight at home after winning at CSAS on Thursday, they will be seeded No. 1 in the 5-A tournament.
Before the season, Silverdale senior guard Mariah Massengill said, "We've been co-champions before in our district, but I want more this year. I want to be first."
Tonight's win will give her that wish.
District 6-A is more complicated. Van Buren County, Whitwell and Sale Creek each has two district losses, with all three having split games against each other. After Monday's win over Whitwell, Van Buren coach Amy Russell said a point system will be used to determine seeding if needed.
The two area Class A boys' districts are a lot of the same. Boyd-Buchanan and CSAS are tied in 5-A heading into the final weekend, with the Patriots having tonight's game against Silverdale while the Bucs have games against Copper Basin and Grace Academy, which seems to have a solid lock on the No. 3 seed.
South Pittsburg's boys could have claimed the 6-A title had they defeated Sale Creek this past Tuesday, but the loss means the Pirates have to win out, ending with a home game against the same Panthers next Tuesday.
Baylor, GPS and McCallie have their own situations. Being the only two Division II-AA schools in Chattanooga in an eight-team region, the teams have to play each other twice and the Nashville schools once. Baylor's girls can still place second should they win their final three region games, while GPS is looking at having to travel in the Bruisers' first-round state playoff game, seeing the best they can finish is 3-5 in region play.
The Baylor and McCallie boys, who play Saturday evening at McCallie, can each place third, depending on outcomes of other games that still have to be played.