Basketball schedules shuffled
Tharptown, which is in the running for the regular season area title, had its final two area contests postponed this week. | Scot Beard/FCT
While the week long vacation given to area students by the snow and icy roads is a dream for those kids, the delay is a nightmare for local basketball coaches.
With area tournaments scheduled to begin Feb. 7 for girls teams and Feb. 8 for boys teams and the Franklin County Tournament scheduled for next week, there is little time to reschedule area games.
All area games must be played according to Alabama High School Athletic Association guidelines:
“In order to qualify for the area tournament, each team in the area must play each area opponent two regular season games prior to the seeding meeting. All area games must be played. Failure to play all area games could result in fines, probation, and/or disqualification from the area tournament.”
Many of the teams in the area were scheduled to complete their area games this week, but the snow forced coaches to reschedule.
Red Bay and Phil Campbell would have completed area play Tuesday if the snow had not closed down school. Now they have to reschedule.
Red Bay will travel to Sulligent Monday afternoon with B-Team games beginning at 3 p.m.
Phil Campbell has not rescheduled its game against Lamar County, but varsity boys coach Will Copeland said the delay could work to the Bobcats’ advantage.
“We have a good chance of finishing second (in the area standings),” Copeland said. “If it is scheduled for the end of January it will give us extra time to prepare.”
The Tharptown and Belgreen boys are battling for the right to host the area tournament, and that battle has been put on hold.
Belgreen had its final area game — at Hackleburg — scheduled for Friday night. Road conditions were good Friday, but schools were closed in Marion County and policy in that county states if schools are closed there can be no school functions.
Tharptown was scheduled to play Phillips Friday night, but the same policy forced a delay in that game as well. The Wildcats also have to reschedule a game against Vina that was postponed Tuesday.
Games against Hackleburg and Phillips likely will not be played until the final week of January or the first week of February since Franklin County and Marion County are holding their county tournaments next week.
Russellville’s game against Muscle Shoals Friday night was also postponed.
Another problem facing coaches is the long layoff between games. For example, the Belgreen varsity girls last played Jan. 7 against Tharptown and will not take the court again until Friday during the county tournament.
While the Lady Bulldogs wrapped up the regular season area title against Belgreen, they did not want a two-week break between games to allow rust to settle in, as practice has been limited.
