WHITEVILLE — Pairings for the Three Rivers Conference girls and boys basketball tournaments have been announced by the league’s president.

Whiteville High School Athletic Director David Smith’s news release said quarterfinals are scheduled for Monday at the higher seeded teams. Wednesday, semifinals begin at Fairmont High School with the Nos. 1-8 winners facing the Nos. 4-5 winners. Thursday, the other two semifinals will be played.

The championships are Friday, with the girls at 6 and the boys to follow afterward.

Cost of admission is $6 at Monday’s quarterfinals.

Several tiebreakers and a coin flip were needed to settle the pairings. When all was decided:

• East Bladen’s girls, seeded No. 1, host No. 8 West Columbus.

• West Bladen’s girls, seeded No. 4, host No. 5 Red Springs.

• Whiteville’s girls, seeded No. 3, host No. 6 East Columbus.

• St. Pauls’ girls, seeded No. 2, host No. 7 South Robeson.

• West Columbus’ boys, seeded No. 1, host No. 8 East Columbus.

• Fairmont’s boys, seeded No. 4, host No. 5 Whiteville.

• St. Pauls’ boys, seeded No. 3, host No. 6 South Robeson.

• South Columbus’ boys, seeded No. 2, host No. 7 Red Springs.

Seven of the 10 schools host games, with St. Pauls having the only doubleheader. There, the girls game begins at 6 and the boys game follows.

Teams finishing ninth and 10th did not qualify for the tournament.

The St. Pauls girls earned a tiebreaker over Whiteville because of a better record against Red Springs. The deadlocked teams had the same record against the top four teams.

In deciding places 7-9, South Columbus lost two of three to West Columbus, and South Robeson won three of four among the three tied teams. That gave the Lady Mustangs seventh and left the Lady Stallions out of the eight-team field.

South Columbus’ boys won the coin flip with St. Pauls when play on the court for the whole season didn’t yield a decision.

Whiteville’s tie with South Robeson was broken by the Wolfpack’s win over West Columbus.

The state playoffs begin Feb. 26.

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Alan Wooten

Bladen Journal

Alan Wooten can be reached at 910-247-9132 or awooten@bladenjournal.com. Twitter: @alanwooten19.