Class 3 District 2 tournaments highlight first week of postseason prep basketball

Southeast Missouri might not offer a more intriguing district boys basketball tournament than the one that begins Saturday at Scott City High School.

Classes 1-3 officially start postseason play this weekend, and the Rams are scheduled to host the Class 3 District 2 boys and girls tournaments for the second year in a row.

Defending champion Charleston leads the way in the boys tournament as the top seed, and will take on eighth-seeded Arcadia Valley at 4:15 p.m. Saturday.

Second-seeded Saxony Lutheran will face No. 7 Clearwater at 11:15 a.m., while third-seeded Woodland and sixth-seeded Kelly square off in a first-round matchup at 1:45 p.m.

Scott City, the fourth seed, and No. 5 East Prairie are scheduled to meet for the third time this season, wrapping up opening-round action at 6:45 p.m. The Rams won both of the prior meetings.

The Scott City-East Prairie winner will take on the Charleston-Arcadia Valley winner in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a semifinal between the Woodland-Kelly winner and the Saxony-Clearwater winner at 7:30 p.m. The championship is slated for 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Leading the way in the Class 3 District 2 girls tournament are the top-seeded Crusaders, who will begin tournament play against No. 8 Scott City at 10 a.m. Saturday. Fourth-seeded Charleston and fifth-seeded Kelly will meet at 3 p.m., and No. 3 Woodland and No. 6 Clearwater will meet at 12:30 p.m. The semifinals are scheduled for Monday evening, and the championship will begin at 6 p.m. before the boys final.

Bloomfield enters as the top seed in the Class 2 District 1 boys tournament at Campbell High School, while defending champion Scott County Central is seeded third. The Braves begin the tournament against No. 6 Bernie at 8:30 p.m. Monday. Chaffee is the seventh seed. In girls action, SCC leads the way as the top seed, with the Red Devils seeded second.

Defending champion Advance leads the field in the Class 1 District 2 boys tournament, which begins Saturday at Richland High School. Oran leads the way in the girls bracket.

Other tournaments from around the area include the Class 2 District 3 boys and girls tournaments at Bismarck High School, which feature Meadow Heights and St. Vincent, and the Class 1 District 3 boys tournament at Eminence High School, which features third-seeded Zalma, fifth-seeded Marquand and seventh-seeded Leopold.