1A-2A DISTRICTS REV UP ENGINES

District tournaments for 1A and 2A schools get started tonight across the state. Talking with local coaches, most are looking forward to some highly competitive tournments on the local scene. A look at the hopes of area teams:

Boys Class 2A, District 2

The top-seeded Scott City Rams return to the district in Bloomfield where they won last year in what looks to be a highly competitive field.

"Seeds mean nothing in this district," Rams' coach Derek McCord said. "It's gong to come down to who plays well each night of the tournament."

The Rams (22-4), ranked sixth in the latest 2A poll, will start action Monday at 5:30 p.m., against the winner of the Chaffee-Puxico contest tonight at 7:30. Chaffee received the ninth seed in the 10-team field.

Returning all-stater Dustin Cauble leads the Rams, averaging 26 points a game. Senior Chris Sisk, at 6-foot-5, adds about 15 points a game.

The Rams will likely move on to the semifinals where the action should really begin to heat up. No. 4 seed Kelly (13-11) will battle fifth-seed Notre Dame on Tuesday to see which team will likely face the Rams.

The Bulldogs (8-16) suffered through a frustrating year, but Notre Dame coach Chris Janet has been encouraged by the way his team ended the regular season. Dirk Dirnberger (18.5 ppg, 11 reb.) and Nathan McGuire (17 ppg) provide the Bulldogs with a balanced 1-2 scoring punch.

Bernie (16-8) is the second seed in the competitive field. Third-seeded Woodland (17-9) has a tough assignment in its opening-round contest.

The Cardinals have to face tourney-host Bloomfield on Monday at 8:30 p.m. The Wildcats, which beat Woodland this Thursday in both teams' final regular-season game, will be a tough sixth-seeded team with a 14-10 record.

The finals will be played Friday at 8 p.m.

Girls Class 2A, District 2

The girls' bracket looks to be just as competitive as the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs (16-9) earned the top seed over several solid clubs.

Lady Bulldogs' coach Jerry Grim likes his team's seed, but knows several good clubs will be looking to knock off the top seed.

"It's wide open," Grim said describing the tourney field. "Any of the top four or five teams could come out on top."

No. 2 Scott City and third-seed Kelly will be major roadblocks on the way to the championship. The Lady Rams boast the best record in the district with a 19-5 mark.

Four first-round games will be held today, beginning with Notre Dame against No. 8 seed East Prairie at noon.

The championship will be held Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Boys Class 2A, District 3

The 9-13 St. Vincent Indians, seeded fifth, will travel to Crystal City for their opening-round game Monday at 6:30 p.m. against former Mineral Area Athletic Association foe Valley of Caladonia, seeded fourth.

The Indians, now a member of the Jefferson County Conference, will have the lower seed in their opening tournament matchup, but St. Vincent looks to have as good shot as any team of reaching the finals.

"We have a chance if we play to our potential and do things well," Indians' coach Bruce Valleroy said of his team which lost several close games early in the season.

For one thing, the Indians' opening-round opponent, Caladonia, has gone on a terrible slide since opening the season 9-1. Heading into the tourney, the Vikings sport a 10-12 mark.

If the Indians keep Caladonia losing, they would likely face tourney host, and top-seed, Crystal City (12-8) in the semis. Although the Hornets are the No. 1 seed, the Indians knocked off the Hornets in overtime Jan. 21 in Perryville and also finished ahead of them in the JeffCo Conference. St. Vincent won the small school division with a 3-1 mark while Crystal City finished with at 2-2.

The Indians are led by senior guard Jonathan Wengert, who averages 20.5 points per game on 48 percent shooting.

Teams on the other side of the district bracket that have a good shot of reaching the final are No. 2 seed Valley Park (10-10) and third seed West County (12-10).

The championship final is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Girls Class 2A, District 3

St. Vincent's girls struggled through a 7-17 season but will have a chance in the wide-open district bracket at Crystal City.

Only one team, top-seeded Valley of Caladonia, has a winning record in the district. The fourth-seeded Squaws open action Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., against No. 5 Crystal City.

But the Squaws may be without top-rebounder Fara Galati. The 5-foot-8 junior has a severely sprained ankle and has missed the last five regular season games. Galati averages 11 points and 10 rebounds a game.

Senior Becky Lorenz will try to pick up the slack if Galati can't go. Lorenz leads St. Vincent scorers with 13 points a game and grabs around seven boards a contest.

The finals will be played Friday at 6 p.m.

Boys Class 1A, District 2

The Scott County Central Braves will be the team to beat in its district starting at Oran Monday night.

The Braves (18-5) earned a bye to the semifinals where they will face either fourth-seed Delta (15-10) or No. 5 Oran (6-13).

No. 2 Richland could be a team to watch after going undefeated in its conference and finishing 16-4 overall. Third-seed Advance (14-9) might also make a run.

The district champ will be decided Thursday at 8 p.m.

Girls Class 1A, District 2

The top-seeded Delta Lady Bobcats have already reached the finals of its three-team district in Oran.

The Lady Bobcats (15-5) earned a bye to the championship game where they will meet the winner of Tuesday's matchup between second-seed Scott County Central and third-seed Oran.

The championship game will be played Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Boys Class 1A, District 3

Lesterville has the No. 1 seed in its district and will face tourney host Meadow Heights at 4 p.m. Monday, the first of four contests. The Panthers are the eighth seed.

Marquand (15-6) could make some noise from the No. 4 spot. The Tigers open play against fifth-seeded Leopold (7-14) at 5:30 p.m.

Third-seed South Iron faces Oak Ridge (6-13) at 7 p.m., and Valle of Ste. Genevieve, the second seed, should handle Bunker in the final game of the night.

The title game will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Girls Class 1A, District 3

Bunker earned the top seed in the four-team girls' bracket starting action on Wednesday night at Meadow Heights.

No. 4 seed Lesterville will face the top seed at 4 p.m., and No. 2 seed South Iron will battle third-seed Valle-Ste. Genevieve later in the evening at 7 p.m.

The finals are set for Friday at 6 p.m.