Five teams in The Times’ coverage area have their sights set on Birmingham — and that journey starts this week.
Cullman (boys), Good Hope (boys), Good Hope (girls) and West Point (girls) will compete in the Northwest Regional Tournament at Wallace State, while Cold Springs (girls) will attempt to repeat as champions of the Central Regional Tournament — held at Bill Harris Arena — following a run to the Class 2A state title game last season.
See opening-round matchups for local teams below.
Northwest Regional Tournament
Class 6A No. 7 Cullman (22-8) vs. Muscle Shoals (16-5), Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
Class 5A No. 6 West Point (24-5) vs. No. 1 Jasper (27-4), Friday at 9 a.m.
Class 4A No. 1 Good Hope (29-2) vs. No. 3 Deshler (25-6), Monday at 9 a.m.
Class 4A Good Hope (20-10) vs. Deshler (20-11), Monday at 10:30 a.m.
Central Regional Tournament
Class 2A No. 4 Cold Springs (25-4) vs. Vincent (15-10), Thursday at 6 p.m.
Class 2A No. 3 Locust Fork vs. Cornerstone, Thursday at 3 p.m.
Championship: Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Defending state champions Hoover (7A boys and girls), Buckhorn (6A boys), Hazel Green (6A girls), Pleasant Grove (5A girls), Mars Hill Bible (2A girls) and Covenant Christian (1A boys) return to Wallace State this season.
A total of 16 boys teams are ranked, including Nos. 1 Covenant Christian (1A), Mars Hill Bible (2A), Fairfield (5A) and Buckhorn (6A). Nos. 1 Bob Jones (7A), Hazel Green (6A), Jasper (5A), Good Hope (4A), Lauderdale County (3A) and Mars Hill Bible (2A) highlight a group of 20 ranked girls squads.
Admission for all regional tournaments is $10 per day. Parking is $5 per day.
Regional champions will advance to the state tournament, which is set for Feb. 26 through March 2 at the BJCC.
See a complete Northwest Regional Tournament schedule below.
Varsity Boys
Class 1A
Shoals Christian vs. Lynn, Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
No. 1 Covenant Christian vs. No. 4 Marion County, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Championship: Monday at 4:45 p.m.
Class 2A
Decatur Heritage vs. No. 7 Tanner, Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
No. 1 Mars Hill Bible vs. No. 3 Red Bay, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Championship: Tuesday at 5:45 p.m.
Class 3A
Winfield vs. Danville, Friday at 4:30 p.m.
No. 8 Carbon Hill vs. No. 4 Midfield, Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Championship: Wednesday at 2:15 p.m.
Class 4A
Good Hope vs. Deshler, Monday at 10:30 a.m.
West Morgan vs. Haleyville, Monday at 1:30 p.m.
Championship: Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.
Class 5A
No. 9 Ramsay vs. Russellville, Friday at 10:30 a.m.
No. 6 Madison Academy vs. No. 1 Fairfield, Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Championship: Wednesday at 10:45 a.m.
Class 6A
No. 7 Cullman vs. Muscle Shoals, Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
No. 1 Buckhorn vs. No. 4 Clay-Chalkville, Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
Championship: Tuesday at 10:45 a.m.
Class 7A
James Clemens vs. No. 8 Thompson, Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
No. 3 Hoover vs. No. 2 Austin, Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
Championship: Tuesday at 2:15 p.m.
Varsity Girls
Class 1A
Meek vs. Belgreen, Wednesday at 3 p.m.
No. 5 Shoals Christian vs. No. 7 Marion County, Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Championship: Monday at 3 p.m.
Class 2A
No. 2 Decatur Heritage vs. Whitesburg Christian, Thursday at 3 p.m.
No. 1 Mars Hill Bible vs. No. 6 Sulligent, Thursday at 6 p.m.
Championship: Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Class 3A
No. 4 Clements vs. Childersburg, Friday at 3 p.m.
No. 1 Lauderdale County vs. No. 7 Midfield, Friday at 6 p.m.
Championship: Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Class 4A
No. 1 Good Hope vs. No. 3 Deshler, Monday at 9 a.m.
No. 6 Priceville vs. Hamilton, Monday at noon
Championship: Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Class 5A
No. 1 Jasper vs. No. 6 West Point, Friday at 9 a.m.
Ramsay vs. No. 2 Pleasant Grove, Friday at noon
Championship: Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Class 6A
No. 8 Hartselle vs. Muscle Shoals, Thursday at 9 a.m.
No. 1 Hazel Green vs. No. 2 Clay-Chalkville, Thursday at noon
Championship: Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Class 7A
No. 1 Bob Jones vs. No. 3 Vestavia Hills, Wednesday at 9 a.m.
No. 4 Hoover vs. James Clemens, Wednesday at noon
Championship: Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.