Basketball: Boys begin district tournaments Tuesday

Rutherford opens the District 1-5A tournament not only as the host, but the heavy favorite to advance as boys basketball enters the postseason phase this week.

The Rams, 19-4, have lost to only one Panhandle opponent this winter and are hoping a strengthened schedule pays off in a deep playoff run. Rutherford dominated District 1-5A this season, but familiarity and comfort always can be drawbacks in February.

One key for Rutherford, which advanced to the Final Four in 2010 and came up one victory short last season is that a district title could ensure a long stretch of home games in the regional leading directly to Lakeland.

Bay (10-14) and Arnold (8-17) have been rebuilding with young teams and meet in the play-in game on Tuesday. The winner must face Rutherford on Friday in order to reach the championship game.

Mosley has shown marked improvement this season, although a record of 12-13 might not indicate so. The Dolphins were able to remain viable when key members of the rotation were lost to injury, and now back at full strength aren’t a walkover for any 2-6A opponent in a very balanced district.

The same could be said for Bozeman, which opens its District 4-1A tournament in Blountstown against Franklin County on Tuesday. The Bucks are one of the most improved teams in the entire state considering they already are 14-11 after winning two games all of last season.

West Gadsden left the rest of 4-1A in shambles this season and is expected to dominate the district tourney, but Bozeman could wind up securing just the second regional berth in school history. The Bucks tied with South Walton for the second seed, but lost out in a tiebreaker.

Marianna hosts three-school District 1-4A, with Pensacola Catholic already ensured a region berth with a bye into the championship game.

Chipley (20-3) and Holmes County are the top two seeds in 2-1A at Freeport and expected by many to advance. Cottondale earned the No. 1 seed in 3-1A and Graceville is No. 2, that showcase at Ponce de Leon and Poplar Springs hosts 1-1A. Malone is the top seed in the latter district and Paxton No. 2.

All championship games are 7 p.m. Saturday with the finalists of each district moving on to first-round regional matchups.

Admission price for district tournaments, as established by the Florida High School Athletics Association, is $6.

District 2-6A, at Fort Walton Beach

• Tuesday: Mosley vs. Fort Walton Beach 7 p.m.
• Friday: Choctawhatchee vs. Crestview 5:30 p.m., Niceville vs. Mosley-Fort Walton Beach winner 7 p.m.
• Saturday: Championship 7 p.m.

District 1-5A, at Rutherford

• Tuesday: Arnold vs. Bay 6 p.m.
• Friday: Gulf Breeze vs. West Florida Tech 5:30 p.m., Rutherford vs. Bay-Arnold winner 7 p.m.
• Saturday: Championship game 7 p.m.

District 1-4A at Marianna

• Friday: Marianna vs. Walton 7 p.m.
• Saturday: Pensacola Catholi vs. Marianna-Walton winner, championship 7 p.m.

District 1-1A at Poplar Springs (Tuesday games on site)

• Tuesday: Poplar Springs at Central 7 p.m., Laurel Hill at Bethlehem 7 p.m.
• Friday: Paxton vs. Poplar Springs-Central winner 6 p.m., Malone vs. Laurel Hill-Bethlehem winner 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday: Championship 7 p.m.

District 2-1A at Freeport

• Tuesday: Baker vs. Jay 6 p.m., Freeport vs. Northview 7:30 p.m.
• Friday: Chipley vs. Jay-Baker winner 6 p.m., Holmes County vs. Freeport-Northview winner 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday: Championship 7 p.m.

District 3-1A at Ponce de Leon

• Tuesday: Vernon vs. Wewahitchka 4:30 p.m., Sneads vs. Altha 6 p.m., Graceville vs. Ponce de Leon 7:30 p.m.
• Friday: Sneads-Altha winner vs. Graceville-Ponce de Leon winner 6 p.m., Cottondale vs. Vernon-Wewahitchka winner 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday: Championship 7 p.m.  

District 4-1A at Blountstown

• Tuesday: Blountstown vs. Port St. Joe 4:30, Bozeman vs. Franklin County 6 p.m., South Walton vs. Liberty County 7:30 p.m.
• Friday: West Gadsden vs. Blountstown-Port St. Joe winner 6 p.m., Bozeman-Franklin County winner vs. South Walton-Liberty County winner 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday: Championship 7 p.m.