CLOCK STRIKES 12 FOR CLASS 3A-4A DISTRICT BASKETBALL

The strength of Southeast Missouri basketball may lie with the smaller schools this season, but several of the bigger schools in the area appear ready to make a run at Class 3A and 4A district tournament titles beginning Monday across the state.

Three area teams -- Jackson's boys, Charleston's boys and Perryville's girls -- earned No. 1 seeds in their respective districts. But in nearly every area district, there appears no clear-cut favorite.

A look at the local 3A and 4A district brackets:

Boys Class 4A, District 1

Jackson deservedly earned the top-seed in this district with a 19-5 record and appear to be head-and-shoulders above its district competition.

Only one other district club has a winning record -- fourth-seed Farmington -- but the 18-7 Knights were winless against district competition this season, including two losses to Jackson.

Tournament host and No. 2 seed Cape Central split its two games with Jackson, but the Tigers have struggled at home this season. Central, 10-14 overall, went just 2-6 at the Tiger Fieldhouse.

Poplar Bluff, the third seed, could be the dark horse in the tournament. The Mules (11-13) got bombed at home by Jackson earlier in the season and have struggled with consistency.

Fifth-seed Sikeston is a young team that could give Farmington some trouble, but shouldn't be a factor in the tourney.

The Knights and Bulldogs start boys action Monday at 7:30 p.m. The winner advances to play Jackson on Wednesday at 6 p.m., in a semifinal. Poplar Bluff and Central will battle in the other semifinal Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Tigers beat Bluff on the road earlier this season.

The championship game is slated for Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Girls Class 4A, District 1

In a bit of a surprise, Poplar Bluff got the No. 1 seed over No. 2 Jackson.

But the Lady Indians will take a higher state ranking into the district tournament, which begins Monday at the Tiger Fieldhouse.

Jackson, ranked third in Class 4A with a 21-2 record, lost to the Lady Mules in double overtime Feb. 7 in the championship game of the Charleston Tournament. Poplar Bluff, ranked fourth in 4A at 23-2, got ripped at home by Jackson early in the season and Thursday lost at eighth-ranked West Plains 69-41.

Jackson and Bluff appear headed for another collision in the district final, with the winner likely advancing through to the state semifinals.

Third-seed Cape Central (17-8) might have something to say about that. Jackson has already beaten the Lady Tigers three times this season, but all three games were reletively competitive. The two local rivals will meet again in a semifinal Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Farmington, winners of the Mineral Area Athletic Association Tournament, are the fourth seed with an 18-7 mark. The record looks impressive, but the Knightettes were trounced at Jackson this week 81-39.

Fifth-seed Sikeston doesn't have a prayer. Earlier this month, the Lady Bulldogs were handed an 82-6 loss by Jackson. Sikeston and Farmington start the girls tourney Monday at 6 p.m.

The district final is set for 6 p.m. Friday.

Boys Class 3A, District 1

Charleston got the No. 1 seed, but third-seed New Madrid might be the hottest team in this district hosted at Dexter.

New Madrid (15-9) knocked off Charleston this season and claimed the SEMO Conference title over the Blue Jays with a 6-0 league mark. An 0-6 start hurt the Eagles' opportunity for a higher seed, but they closed out the regular season by winning 15 of 18 games.

Charleston, ranked seventh in 3A, brings an eight-game win streak into the tourney and a 21-5 overall mark. The Blue Jays earned the top seed with a road win Feb. 6 over Doniphan, ranked ninth in the latest 3A poll.

Doniphan (23-2) lost only twice this season, earning the second seed. The Dons play New Madrid on Wednesday in a district semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Charleston plays in the other semifinal Wednesday at 6 p.m., against either fourth-seed Kennett or fifth-seed Dexter. The Indians and Bearcats start tourney action Monday at 7:30 p.m.

The title game is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Girls Class 3A, District 1

Top-seed Doniphan looks like a good bet to claim this district hosted at Dexter. The Lady Dons are 18-5 after a loss to Poplar Bluff Friday.

New Madrid got the No. 2 seed, but third-seed Kennett could make some noise if senior Brandi Jackson returns from an injury. Jackson, an all-state selection last year after averaging nearly 40 points per game, was on that pace again before an injury kept her out of action toward the end of this season.

Fourth-seed Charleston (8-15) plays fifth-seed Dexter Monday at 6 p.m. The winner advances to play Doniphan at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The girls final is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.

Boys Class 3A, District 2

Four letters might best describe this district being hosted at Park Hills Central -- W-E-A-K.

Arcadia Valley is the No. 1 seed, but the Tigers compiled only a .500 mark in the Mineral Area Athletic Association this season. Second-seed North County wasn't much better, going 6-4 in the MAAA.

Defending district champ Perryville (15-10) has a shot to pull out another district title and fourth-seed Park Hills looks dangerous after losing to Charleston in overtime Friday.

No. 5 Fredericktown (10-11), No. 6 Ste. Genevieve and No. 7 Potosi round out the rest of the field.

First-round games begin Tuesday with the district final slated for Friday at 8 p.m.

Girls Class 3A, District 2

District titles are nothing new to the Perryville girls program and the Lady Pirates appear in line to claim another.

Perryville (20-6) takes the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye into this district which begins Monday. The Lady Pirates open play in the semifinals Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., against the winner of Arcadia Valley-Fredericktown.

Second-seed Park Hills Central brings 20 wins into the tourney and, as the host school, could pose a stiff challenge to the Lady Pirates.

Other teams competing, in order of tournament seeds: North County, Arcadia Valley, Fredericktown, Ste. Genevieve and Potosi.

The girls title game is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m.