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By Sonny Jones

Today is the day that Bladen County high school basketball teams have been working toward. The N.C. High School Athletic Association is expected to release the playoff brackets this afternoon.

It’s possible that Bladen County will host three first-round games Tuesday, although several things would have to fall in place. The Ratings Percentage Index will determine it. Sixteen teams will host a first-round game.

There will be at least one home game. Either the East Bladen or West Bladen boys will be the Southeastern Athletic Conference regular season champion and guaranteed to be among the top 10 seeds in Class 2-A East. The Bladen teams shared the regular season title, split their two season meetings, didn’t play in the conference tournament and neither won the conference tournament.

So, if it comes down to RPI, then East Bladen likely will get the nod based on a .570129 RPI following its loss to St. Pauls in the tournament finals compared to West Bladen’s .565521 RPI following its loss to the Bulldogs in the tournament semifinals.

As of early Saturday morning, St. Pauls moved to No. 11 in the rankings after its tournament title with East Bladen at No. 12 and West Bladen at No. 14. St. Pauls likely will host a first-round game based on RPI. Whether West Bladen or East Bladen, whichever is not declared the SAC top representative, hosts a game Tuesday is a bit more uncertain. It seems that neither would be among the top 16 seeds if not the conference champion.

The East Bladen girls appear likely to host a first-round game after winning the Southeastern tournament. The Eagles, with a .596300 RPI and No. 12 ranking as of early Saturday morning, will drop a couple spots in the seeding because of lower ranked conference champions, but should be among the top 16.

Confused? It’s probably easier to wait until this afternoon when the pairings are released, but it’s fun trying to guess. However it turns out, the three Bladen teams are solidly in the postseason tournament. It’s just a matter of where they land.

TWITTER POLL

Here’s today’s poll on the NHL’s outdoor game in Raleigh. I’ve opted to stay warm and watch on TV, but it’s going to be a great event. Tune in for a few moments if you have a chance.

Which team wins the NHL’s outdoor game in Raleigh?

— Bladen Online (@BladenOnline) February 18, 2023

Friday’s results: Which team wins the SAC-7 basketball tournament?
• Boys: East Bladen 12, St. Pauls 8 (St. Pauls won 41-38 in overtime)
• Girls: East Bladen 12, St. Pauls 6 (East Bladen won 56-49)

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

• 2001 — Dale Earnhardt, the greatest stock car star of his era, is killed in a crash on the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500 as he tries to protect Michael Waltrip’s victory.

POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY

• SOCCER: Arsenal at Aston Villa, 7:30 p.m., USA

• SOCCER: Leeds United at Everton, 10 a.m., USA

• WOMEN’S LACROSSE: Florida at North Carolina, noon, ACCN

• BASKETBALL: UNC Greensboro at Chattanooga, noon, CBSSN

• BASKETBALL: Saint Joseph’s at Davidson, 12:30 p.m., USA

• SOCCER: Liverpool at Newcastle United, 12:30 p.m., NBC

• PGA: Genesis Invitational, 1 p.m., GOLF and 3 p.m., CBS

• BASKETBALL: Wake Forest at Miami, 2 p.m., BALLY SOUTH

• NHL: Colorado at St. Louis, 2 p.m., NHLN

• PGA CHAMPIONS: Chubb Classic, 3 p.m., GOLF

• XFL: Vegas at Arlington, 3 p.m., ABC