A key district 12AAA contest pits the top two dawgs in the district Hunter's Lane and Overton.

Overton won the first meeting and has the inside track and the Lane would love nothing more than knocking them off their perch.

Both teams possess depth and have solid and talented backcourts.

Which match-up will prove to be the difference:

Mookie Betts (Overton) vs. Antwan Vanlier (Hunter's Lane)

Justin Perry (Overton) vs. DeMarco Starling (Hunter's Lane)

Dez Johnson (Overton) vs. Robbin Perry (Hunter's Lane)

My suggestion is head over to Overton and see for yourself. Now thats good advise.

A huge battle in 16AAA with two of the hottest teams in West Tennessee.

The Spartans come off a huge win against district rival Melrose and would love nothing more than making Central the next victim of The Station.

Central fell to the Spartans earlier this season and are riding high as well after sweeping Melrose, including a big win last Friday.

Masceo Harmon (Memphis Central) is playing the absolute best basketball of his career and is now in the conversation for who's the top point guard in the senior class that remains unsigned.

Harmon will have the daunting challenge of guarding the one they call Joe. Joe Jackson (White Station) was at his best in the clutch against Melrose and now focuses his attention on leading the Spartans back to the place that gives out the gold balls.

 

This my friends is the homestretch and this is a game most of the Knoxville area has been waiting for all season. The two-time defending Class AA state champions have clinched their district, in unbeaten fashion, and are gearing up, as usual, for a long March run.

Just down Broadway, Knoxville Central is sporting a 20-4 record and is also gearing up for a potential state tourney appearance of their own.

The guard match-ups will undoubtedly decide the outcome of this potential barnburner as the Falcons give you Auburn signee Jalen Steele (Fulton) and Lipscomb signee Robert Boyd (Fulton).

Central counters with exciting junior Dre Matheiu (Knoxville Central) and senior marksman Brett Wade (Knoxville Central).

Make it a point to slip over to Fulton for this Thursday night showdown in K-Town.

 

Overcoming adversity has been the calling card for the Bulldogs of Bearden this season. Injuries claimed starters from the outset, yet their persevered.

Rico White (Bearden) is finally healthy while Jaeland Lawson (Bearden) battles some back trouble. Dion Fair (Bearden) seems to have his wind back and Ty Greene (Bearden) has been a model of consistency.

What it all boils down to is the state's top ranked squad sporting a 19-0 record and awaiting the Panthers arrival at the Doghouse.

Tyler Hood (Lenoir City) has played some of his best basketball since the start of the year and the Panthers seem to have survived the early season expectations and settled down to hoop.

A game of contrasts as the plan will be to stop Hood so Dylan Powers (Lenoir City) and Jordan Hall (Lenoir City) will need to be lights out from deep. While Bearden will rely on their athleticism and depth to speed the Panthers up and get them out of their comfort zone.

Still housebound this is one I wish I could attend.

One of the most anticipated match-ups in the Bluff City takes place tuesday night as Ridgeway and district foe Southwind tangle in the first of two regular season clashes.

Ridgeway, fresh off another dismantling of defending AAA state champion White Station, is riding high and sporting an unblemished 11-0 mark.

Tarik Black (Ridgeway) is the glue but the outstanding perimeter play of sophomore sensation and picture boy Cameron Golden (Ridgeway), and the senior duo of Marterrace Brock (Ridgeway) and Kris Brewer (Ridgeway) provide the scoring. Depth is always one of the Roadrunners strengths and this year Coach Henning has another solid group from which to choose.

Over at Southwind things are running smoothly, a 14-1 record and a deep squad that is ready to thrust itself into the Memphis limelight and join the Melrose, Ridgeway and White Station status for city supremacy.

Darrian Gray (Southwind) has been huge for Southwind and has made himself into a prospect coaches need to take a look at. Gray leads a nice collection of perimeter talent including Nick Mason (Southwind), Montez Fifer (Southwind), Walter Davis (Southwind) and running the show point guard Denzel Hardy (Southwind).

Southwind will look to one of the state top Class of 2013 phenoms in Johnathan "J3" Williams (Southwind), who has the size and emerging skill level at 6'7 to become one of the best the city has seen.

District 15AAA initial bragging rights are on the line and both squads have something to prove to the state and the city about where they belong, this will be a good one.