By Sonny Jones
We’ve entered the “must win” portion of the high school basketball team. The real “must win” portion.
There’s a few seemingly “must win” games during each season that aren’t really “must win” games. They may be important games to win or games that would be really, really nice to win, but, win or lose, there’s going to be another game.
Tuesday night, at dozens of high school gyms throughout North Carolina, teams face “must win” games in order to play another “must win” game.
It’s the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association basketball playoffs. Three Bladen County teams — East Bladen boys and girls and West Bladen boys — are playing.
Which teams will win Tuesday and then face another “must win” Thursday? You can vote in our Twitter polls.
Three-for-three sounds about right.
TWITTER POLLS
The NCHSAA basketball playoffs open Tuesday night. It’s time for you to pick the winners. Cast your vote.
Which team will win Tuesday’s NCHSAA playoff game?
— Bladen Online (@BladenOnline) February 21, 2023
Which team will win Tuesday’s NCHSAA playoff game?
— Bladen Online (@BladenOnline) February 21, 2023
Which team will win Tuesday’s NCHSAA playoff game?
— Bladen Online (@BladenOnline) February 21, 2023
Monday’s results: Which team wins Duke-Louisville basketball game?
• 9 votes – Duke 89%, Louisville 11%
• Outcome: Duke 79, Louisville 62
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1992 — Kristi Yamaguchi wins America’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s figure skating since 1976. Midori Ito of Japan takes the silver and Nancy Kerrigan of the United States wins bronze.
POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY
• NHL: St. Louis at Carolina, 7 p.m., BALLY SOUTH
• SOCCER: CONCACAF U-17 – United States vs. Guatemala, 7:50 p.m., FS2
Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.
Conference Foes East Bladen, Red Springs Meet In Girls’ Basketball State Playoffs