It’s that time of basketball season when it’s time to put up or shut up, or should I say go home, as the eight teams in District 1-AA, four boys teams and four girls team, will be tipping off regional play beginning Friday for the girls and Saturday for the boys.

The Elizabethton girls’ team will get a home game as a reward for winning the District 1-AA girls’ tournament at Sullivan South as the Lady Cyclones (29-0) will host Cumberland Gap (5-17) on Friday night with a 7 pm tipoff.

“I feel like the regional is going to be very tough once you get down to the top four teams left which after Friday night there will be four teams remaining,” said Lady Cyclone head coach Len Dugger. “I feel like we have three teams (District 1-AA) that are capable of being in the top four.

“I think Happy Valley has a tremendous opportunity to advance. Sullivan East has a tremendous chance to advance, and I hope that we do the things that we are supposed to do have that opportunity to advance,” Dugger added.

The Lady Warriors (23-9) secured third place and will be traveling to District 2-AA runner-up Chuckey-Doak (15-14) on Friday night at 7 pm.

Coach Larry Abel’s team has been playing solid as of late especially the youthful Lady Warriors that Abel has been going deep on the bench and calling upon.

The other girls’ games include Greeneville (21-7) visiting Sullivan East (25-9) and Unicoi Co. (13-20) traveling to Grainger as both of these games will be played Friday night at 7 pm.

On the boys’ side of the ledger, Elizabethton (17-12) was rolling right along during the season securing a number two-seed for the district tournament before running into a brick wall and finishing in fourth place.

With the finish, the Cyclones will take on upstart Cumberland Gap (17-9) who upset Greeneville for the championship in District 2-AA.

Elizabethton will make the trip on Saturday with a 7 pm tip.

Other District 1-AA teams who will see action Saturday include district champ Sullivan East (24-7) hosting West Greene (12-17). Sullivan South (13-16), who beat Elizabethton for third place, will be on the road to Greeneville (12-11).

Grainger Co. (23-8) will travel to Erwin to square off with Unicoi Co. (19-12).

All the winners will converge on Grainger High School beginning Monday with girls’ play and boys’ play resumes on Tuesday.

In the event that all four teams from District 1-AA win their contest on Friday or Saturday on the girls or boys side, then the games will come back to Sullivan South to wrap up play.

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Girls Regional Schedule

Friday’s Games, 7 pm

Cumberland Gap (5-17) at Elizabethton (29-0)

Happy Valley (23-9) at Chuckey-Doak (15-14)

Unicoi Co. (13-20) at Grainger (23-8)

Greeneville (21-7) at Sullivan East (25-9)

At Grainger

Monday, Feb. 29

Semifinal, 6 pm

Semifinal, 7:30 pm

Wednesday, March 2

Championship, TBA

Boys Regional Schedule

Saturday’s Games, 7 pm

West Greene (12-17) at Sullivan East (24-7)

Elizabethton (17-12) at Cumberland Gap (17-9)

Sullivan South (13-16) at Greeneville (12-11)

Grainger (23-8) at Unicoi Co. (19-12)

At Grainger

Tuesday, March 1

Semifinal, 6 pm

Semifinal, 7:45 pm

Thursday, March 3

Championship, TBA