The quest for state titles is here.
Eight of ten Chatham County high school squads will compete in the NCHSAA prep basketball state tournament that was set on Tuesday, February 25th.
In Siler City, the Chatham Charter boys are riding high after capturing the regular season and tournament titles out of the 1A Central Tar Heel Conference. The Knights (28-1) continue on a record-breaking season and were scheduled to take a No. 4 seed overall in the West into the playoffs where they will meet No. 28 seed Highland Tech (7-17) at 8 p.m.
A win would send Chatham Charter into the second round with a match-up on Friday, February 28 against the winner of No. 20 seed South Stokes (12-14) at No. 13 seed Cherokee (17-9).
The Chatham Charter girls are also coming off a record-setting campaign this winter. The Lady Knights (20-5) enter the tournament as the No. 5 seed in the East and will entertain No. 28 seed Gates County (10-13) at 6:30 pm on Tuesday evening before the boys game.
Chatham Charter would advance with a victory to host the winner of No. 21 seed Tarboro (14-12) at No. 12 seed Falls Lake (19-7) on Friday.
Also in 1A action in Bear Creek, the No. 13 seed Chatham Central boys will be entertaining a dangerous No. 20 seed in Northwest Halifax (16-8). The Bears (21-6) were co-champions of the Yadkin Valley Conference during the regular season before losing in the tournament finals to a buzz saw in North Rowan. Chatham Central would take on the winner of No. 4 West Columbus (20-4) and No. 29 Northampton County (7-13) on Friday night should the Bears advance.
Two more 1A contests will feature the girls teams of Chatham Central (14-12) and Woods Charter (11-6) both hitting the road in the East.
Chatham Central, No. 22 seeds, will head to No. 11 seed Clover Garden (25-4) in the opening round. A win pits the Lady Bears against the victor of No. 6 seed Princeton (19-3) and No. 27 Rocky Mount Prep (11-7).
Woods Charter, meanwhile, is making history with its first state playoff appearance ever for the girls program fresh off not fielding a team last season. The No. 23 seed Wolves will head to No. 10 Riverside-Martin (19-6) down in Williamston. A victory by Woods Charter pits the locals against the survivor of No. 7 seed Granville Central (13-13) and No. 26 seed Henderson Collegiate (11-12).
In 2A action, Jordan-Matthews pulled a stunner and captured the PAC 7 Conference tournament crown with a championship run ending in a 71-57 rout of High Point Andrews on Saturday afternoon in Randleman. The Jets (10-16) drew the No. 30 seed in the East and have earned a trip to battle No. 3 seed Farmville Central (24-2). The Jaguars are reigning 2A state champions after going 32-0 a year ago and boast N.C. State signee Terquavion Smith.
In Pittsboro, the Northwood boys and girls teams are fresh off taking the 3A Big Eight Conference championships before the snow storm of a week ago doused the opportunity for league tournament titles. Still, both squads are ready to rock and roll this week and were set for a pair of home games on Tuesday night.
The Northwood girls were slated to host No. 27 seed Southern Alamance (9-15). With a win the No. 6 seed Lady Chargers (20-5) would battle the victor of No. 14 seed Northside Jacksonville (17-7) and No. 19 Terry Sanford (17-6) on Friday night.
After the girls contest on Tuesday evening, the No. 3 seed Northwood boys were set to tangle with No. 30 seeded East Chapel Hill (11-14). The Chargers (23-2) won both regular season contests between the league foes including 68-40 at home back in January, and 59-56 at East Chapel Hill just two weeks ago.
The winner will take on the victor of No. 14 Northside Jacksonville (17-7) and No. 19 seed Terry Sanford (17-6) on Friday evening.
Second round state playoff games as well as the ensuing rounds following thereafter will be played at the higher seeds until the state championship finals.