ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 17, 1997 TAG: 9702190031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
REGIONAL SPOTS are on the line in three districts.
Talk around Timesland this week was supposed to be about high school basketball tournaments.
Before the tournaments begin, however, there is unfinished business that includes three key playoff games tonight and the completion of regular-season games in several places before tournament pairings can be determined.
The two biggest games will be playoffs in Daleville (Blue Ridge District) and Bassett (Piedmont District).
At Lord Botetourt, Salem goes for its fourth consecutive victory of the season over William Byrd at 7:30 p.m. The winner will need to beat either the runner-up from the Dogwood District or the Seminole District in the Region III tournament at the Salem Civic Center next week to advance to the Group AA tournament.
At Bassett, Martinsville battles Magna Vista at 7 p.m. They've split two games and the winner will need to win only a home game against a team from the Southwest or the Highlands districts next week in the Region IV tournament to earn a trip to the state tournament.
The other playoff sends Patrick Henry against William Fleming in a Roanoke Valley District boys' contest at Franklin County starting at 7 p.m. These teams split regular-season games.
While the winner will qualify for the Group AAA Northwest Region tournament next week, it is the Roanoke Valley District tournament opening Tuesday that actually determines which team will get the most favorable seeding. The tournament winner will get a first-round regional game at home; the runner-up team will play on the road.
One playoff was avoided when George Wythe closed the season by beating Rural Retreat on Saturday. Holston upset Chilhowie, so the Maroons are Hogoheegee District regular-season champions and have qualified for a Region C berth.
The Seminole District tournament opens today with Staunton River at home against Rustburg at 7 p.m. Liberty got a bye after winning the regular-season title.
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