Teams preparing for postseason play

More than a few Region 3-AAA coaches were confused about the location of their region tournament this season. Past years have seen centrally located Burke County serve as the host team, but this season the tournament will be at Cross Creek High School.

//

"Nobody really seems to know the full story," Harlem boys basketball coach Kim Chambers said. "It was supposed to be at Burke County on Saturday, but when they had the realignment the proposal never went through. So then they reverted back to the old by-laws. No one really knows who made the decision, but it went back to Cross Creek."

Regardless of the location, Harlem's boys and girls basketball teams will suit up this week to try to stay alive in postseason play. The Lady Bulldogs will take on St. Vincent's at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Harlem's boys earned the No. 5 seed and will face Benedictine at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Benedictine boys and Harlem have yet to play this season, but Benedictine handed No. 1 seeded Burke County its first loss of the season earlier this year.

"It's going to be a challenge for us. Benedictine's pretty good," Chambers said. "I've heard they're scary because they will methodically work you and work you. They don't care if the final score is 26-24. They're going to hold the ball for one shot, and they're not going to get into a racehorse game."

Harlem will need two wins in the region tournament to secure one of four state playoff bids. Chambers said the Bulldogs might have to play without starting point guard DeMarcus Morris, who became sick sometime after Tuesday's game.

Morris, Harlem's leading scorer, poured in 28 of the Bulldogs' 38 points in a 52-38 loss to Glenn Hills.

On the same night, Harlem's girls picked up a subregion victory with a 44-42 win over Glenn Hills. Harlem trailed 37-33 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs outscored Glenn Hills 11-5 in the fourth quarter with sophomore Nicole Wells (16 points) leading the way.