Playoff Brackets Released

Sunday, February 21, 2010

On the outside looking in for one of the Yadkin Valley Conference's five automatic playoff berths, North Moore's boys' basketball team must have felt like it got the short end of the stick when the league tournament was reduced to four teams.

"No one wanted to see us in the tournament," said head coach Grant Smith, whose team played more than its share of close games during the regular season, as 12 of its 16 conference games were decided by eight points or less.

The Mustangs will get a chance to show their stuff in the postseason, however, after learning they were one of seven Yadkin Valley teams to be included in the 1A West state playoff bracket posted on the NCHSAA Web site Saturday afternoon.

A wild card, North Moore (6-16) will travel to Winston-Salem Prep (23-3), the top seed from the Northwest Conference, for the first round.

The top seed from the Southeastern 4A Conference, Pinecrest's boys (24-2) host Mid-South four-seed Jack Britt (13-14) in the first round of the 4A East tournament Monday at 7 p.m., while Union Pines' boys (13-12), the third seed from the Cape Fear Valley 3A Conference, will travel to Carolina Conference two-seed Northern Vance (15-7) Monday for a first-round match-up in the 3A East bracket.

Union Pines' girls' team (19-6) enters the 3A East bracket as the second-seed from the Cape Fear Valley. The Lady Vikings will host Carolina Conference three-seed Southern Vance (13-6) Monday in the first round.

The second-seed from the Yadkin Valley, North Moore's girls (18-6) host Northwest three-seed East Surry (18-5) Monday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the 1A East bracket, while Pinecrest's girls (10-14), the fourth seed from the Southeastern 4A, travel to Tri-Nine two-seed Athens Drive (22-4) in the first round of the 4A East bracket.

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RD28327 3 years, 2 months ago

Some sectional predictions ..... First with the ladies .....

Pinecrest. Looks like a long ride back to Southern Pines after a first round defeat at Raleigh Athens Drive.

North Moore. The Lady Mustangs will be at home in the first round, but East Surry will give them all they can handle, but I think NM will pull it out. The Lady Mustangs should have no problem with the winner of the Monroe-East Montgomery matchup in round two. Should NM make it to the sectional final, the season will most likely end with a loss on the road at Mt. Airy.

Union Pines. The Lady Vikings are definitely a favorite to win its sectional but Eastern Guilford (22-3) stands in the way. I think the Lady Vikings will take care of Southern Vance at home. The second round game could be interesting. UP will play the winner of the Ledford-Eastern Alamance matchup. If Ledford (#1 team from the Mid-Piedmont 3A conference) wins, UP is on the road in the second round. But if Eastern Alamance (#5 team from the Mid-State 3A conference) wins, UP plays a second round game at home. Then, if the Lady Vikings makes it to the sectional finals at the end of the week, this game will be at UP. In the 3A girls' bracket, Eastern Guilford is the #1 team from the Mid-State 3A conference, and, if the Lady Vikes winds up meeting Eastern Guilford in the sectional final, UP will be the home team due to seeding priority when it comes to equal seeds matching up. But, Eastern Guilford will have a couple of obstacles to overcome if they want to make it to the sectional final. EG takes on Western Harnett in the first round, and there is a possible matchup with Overhills in round two.

Now for the guys .....

North Moore. Looks like a trip to Winston-Salem Prep and a long ride back to Robbins. NM will definitely be outmatched in this contest.

Union Pines. I think the Vikings are capable of a road win at Northern Vance, and, should they win their first round game, then they better be ready for a possible road trip to Northern Guilford for round two which may be a very long night for the Vikes.

Pinecrest. It's been awhile since Pinecrest has hosted a home playoff game, and, should they get past former Mid-Southeatern conference foe Jack Britt, the Patriots will host the winner of the game between Wilmington Laney versus Knightdale. Should PC win a second round game, then the Patriots will most likely have to hit the road and take on undefeated Terry Sanford. The Bulldogs are looking for a chance to win a state championship in boys basketball in order to redeem themselves after the fiasco that happened at the end of the regular season in football and the early rounds of the 4A football playoffs. But, I think Pinecrest is looking to make a statement of its own and hopefully make it to the regionals in Greenville.

For all the complete high school basketball playoff brackets, check out www.nchsaa.org>