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West Bladen won a coin flip Saturday morning to earn the top seed for the Southeastern Athletic Conference boys’ basketball tournament that opens Monday.

The Knights and in-county rival East Bladen tied for first place with 9-3 records in the seven-team league. The No. 1 seed in the boys’ and girls’ tournaments receive first-round byes.

Saturday morning’s result means the East Bladen boys’ and girls’ team will host Clinton on Monday in the opening round of tournament play. The third-seeded East Bladen girls (15-7, 7-5 SAC) will play the No. 6 seed Dark Horses (10-13, 2-10 SAC) at 6 p.m. followed by the second-seeded East Bladen boys’ team (17-5, 9-3 SAC) against No. Clinton (4-19, 0-12 SAC). Admission to Monday’s games will be $7 for all spectators except those with NCHSAA and conference passes.

The West Bladen girls (8-13, 1-11 SAC) are seeded seventh and will play Monday at Fairmont (21-3, 11-1). St. Pauls (17-4, 11-1) won Saturday’s coin flip with the Golden Tornadoes for the No. 1 seed after the teams had tied for first place during the regular season.

Semifinals and championship games will be played at Sampson Middle School, 1201 West Elizabeth Street, Clinton. Admission will be $7 per night for all spectators except those with NCHSAA and conference passes.

Here is the tournament schedule:

BOYS
First round – Monday, Feb. 13
• No. 1 West Bladen, bye
• No. 7 Clinton at No. 2 East Bladen
• No. 6 Fairmont at No. 3 Red Springs
• No. 5 Midway at No. 4 St. Pauls
Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 16
at Sampson Middle School, Clinton
Games at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Championship – Friday, Feb. 17
at Sampson Middle School, Clinton
Semifinal winners at 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS
First round – Monday, Feb. 13
• No. 1 St. Pauls, bye
• No. 7 West Bladen at No. 2 Fairmont
• No. 6 Clinton at No. 3 East Bladen
• No. 5 Midway at No. 4 Red Springs
Semifinals – Wednesday, Feb. 15
at Sampson Middle School, Clinton
Games at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Championship – Friday, Feb. 17
at Sampson Middle School, Clinton
Semifinal winners at 6 p.m.