From the Sports Desk

with Carey Phillips: 8/10/00

Following is a look at the roads Smoky Mountain and Blue Ridge would have to follow to claim a state championship.

The Western Athletic Conference will send two teams to the state 3-A playoffs, which open Oct. 31. SM reached the post season a year ago.

The WAC champion will be home in the first round against the third seed from the Western Foothills Conference. The WAC runner-up will open the playoffs on the road against the Mountain Athletic Conference winner.

The WFC is comprised of East Lincoln, Foard, Hickory, Mooresville, North Iredell, St. Stephens, South Caldwell and South Iredell. MAC 3-A schools are Asheville, East Henderson, North Buncombe, Roberson and West Henderson.

If the WAC champ reaches the second round on Nov. 2 it would be on the road to face the WFC winner or the MAC runner-up. The WAC's second seed would be home in the second round. The opponent would be the Mountain Valley Conference champion or the second seed from the WFC.

MVC 3-A schools are Ashe County, North Surry and Wilkes Central.

The WAC teams could face each other in the Nov. 4 quarterfinals. The bracket including the runner-up is slated to be home. However, if two teams from the same conference meet in the postseason, the champion will have the homecourt advantage.

Should a WAC team reach the Nov. 7 quarterfinals, it would play at home. The opponent would come from the South Piedmont, Southwestern or Tri-County Conference.

SPC schools are Brown, Central Cabarrus, Concord, East Rowan, Harding, Northwest Cabarrus, Piedmont, Sun Valley and West Rowan. The SWC is comprised of Burns, East Rutherford, Forestview, Kings Mountain, North Gaston, R-S Central and South Point. The TCC includes High Point Andrews, Asheboro, Central Davidson, North Davidson, Ragsdale, Trinity and West Stokes.

The state championship match is set for 5 p.m. Nov. 11 at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of N.C. State.

Turning to the 1-A bracket, the Smoky Mountain Conference East will have three teams in the state playoffs.

The champion will be home in the first round against the third seed from the SMC West. The runner-up will travel to play its counterpart from the SMC West.

The third seed will also be on the road to meet the SMC West winner.

SMC West schools include Andrews, Hayesville, Hiwassee Dam, Murphy, Nantahala, Robbinsville and Swain.

If the SMC East winner makes it to the second round, it would travel to play the Southern Piedmont Conference winner or the fourth seed from the Northwest Conference. The other SMC East teams could play in round two with the third seed being home.

SPC 1-A schools are Cherryville and Maiden. The NWC includes Alleghany, Elkin, East Wilkes, Mt. Airy, North Stokes and Starmount.

The remaining SMC East teams could play each other in the third round. The bracket including the champion will be home.

If an SMC East team makes the semifinals, it would be on the road. The opponent would be from the Yadkin Valley, Northwest or Central Tar Heel Conference.

YVC schools are Albemarle, East Montgomery, South Davidson, South Stanly, Thomasville and West Davidson. The NWC includes Alleghany, Elkin, East Surry, East Wilkes, Mt. Airy, North Stokes and Starmount. The CTH is comprised of Chatham Central, Cummings, Durham School of the Arts, Graham, Jordan-Matthews, North Moore and River Mill Charter.

The state championship match will be held at noon Nov. 11 at Reynolds Coliseum.

Back to Sports: 08/10/00.