IT'S TIME TO DO OR DIE IN PREP HOOPS; 4A,DISTRICT 1 BOYS ARE A COMPLEX GROUP TO FIGURE

When the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament begins Monday at Sikeston High School, it's anybody's guess as to which team will win. By Thursday, there will be an answer.

But for now, it's too close to make a prediction. The five teams in this district have simply beat up on each other this year.

How bizarre has it been?

Poplar Bluff, the top seed and one of the hottest teams in all of Southeast Missouri with 10 straight wins, has lost to the bottom two seeds -- Farmington in the first game of the year and Jackson. The Mules (13-10), however, beat second-seeded Sikeston (14-10) twice. Sikeston is arguably the best all-around team among the five with solid players at each of the five starting positions.

Jackson (13-12), at No. 4, is the only team in the district to have knocked off the Mules this century. The Indians, though, split two games with fifth-seed Farmington and lost to No. 3 Cape Central.

Central (8-16), with 6-foot-5 post player Ross Conner and with the outside threat of Eric Wessel, is always a threat and Farmington has the best record of the five, going 18-4 this season. Wessel scored a career-high 35 points Friday night, making 10 3-pointers.

Central held Jackson to just 25 points in a game earlier this year and edged out Farmington early in the season. The Tigers are coming off a heartbreaking, yet encouraging double-overtime loss at St. Louis University High School on Friday night.

"Everybody's pretty even," said Cape Central coach Brett Reutzel. "I say that with some caution also. Some teams have a lot of weapons. Some are bigger than others and some are quicker. In this case, it's probably who plays the best that week and who gets hot and who makes the least mistakes. Bluff is obviously the hottest team right now. They don't have a dominant player but they're so deep and here they come. Farmington has Ron Lashley, who in my opinion is the best player. Jackson has a good guard tandem and a good post player and you look at Sikeston and think what don't they have."

Jackson and Farmington are at a disadvantage. None of the teams in the district have been too consistent this season and a championship for the Indians or Knights will require three straight wins. The other teams will require just a two-game winning streak. Jackson and Farmington will kick off district play at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The winner of the Jackson-Farmington game will play Poplar Bluff at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Following that contest, Central and Sikeston will square off in the other semifinal game. The championship game will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Although there is no dominant 4A team in the region this year, the winner of District 1 has a good chance of advancing to the state quarterfinals as District 2 is arguably the weakest district in the state.

CLASS 3A, DISTRICT 1

The 3A District 1 is likely the most talented and competitive district in the region this year and perhaps one of the toughest in the state. The five schools in this district have a combined record of 88-31.

Dexter, ranked No. 1 in 3A with a 24-1 record, is the favorite and the top seed.

However, No. 3 Doniphan (19-6) recently handed the Bearcats their first loss of the season and fifth-seeded Kennett (14-8) took Dexter into overtime recently.

New Madrid, an athletic team which plays good defense, is the second seed at 17-6.

Fourth-seeded Charleston (14-10) has been inconsistent this year but is one of the most talented teams in the area.

Charleston and Kennett will compete in a play-in game at 7:30 p.m. Monday. On Tuesday, Dexter will play the winner of the that game at 6, followed by Doniphan vs. New Madrid at 7:30. The championship game will be at 7:30 Friday night.

CLASS 3A, DISTRICT 2

In the 3A District 2, Fredericktown got the fourth seed and Perryville was seeded seventh.

Arcadia Valley is the top seed, followed by North County and Park Hills Central. Potosi was seeded fifth and Ste. Genevieve got the sixth seed.

First-round action begins with Fredericktown and Potosi at 5 p.m. Monday. Park Hills Central and Ste. Gen. will follow and North County and Perryville will play the nightcap.

Semifinal games are slated for 6 and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and the championship game will be played at 7:30 Friday.

DISTRICT SEEDINGS

CLASS 4A, DISTRICT 1

(At Sikeston)

Boys

1. Poplar Bluff

2. Sikeston

3. Cape Central

4. Jackson

5. Farmington

Girls

1. Poplar Bluff

2. Cape Central

3. Jackson

4. Farmington

5. Sikeston

CLASS 3A, DISTRICT 1

(At Kennett)

Boys

1. Dexter

2. New Madrid

3. Doniphan

4. Charleston

5. Kennett

Girls

1. Doniphan

2. New Madrid

3. Dexter

4. Kennett

5. Charleston

CLASS 3A, DISTRICT 2

(At Park Hills Central)

Boys

1. Arcadia Valley

2. North County

3. Park Hills Central

4. Fredericktown

5. Potosi

6. Ste. Genevieve

7. Perryville

Girls

1. Park Hills Central

2. Fredericktown

3. North County

4. Perryville

5. Arcadia Valley

6. Potosi

7. Ste. Genevieve