Playoff pairings set for East in all classifications

The brackets are pregnant, ready to begin their six-game labor and eventually give birth to eight N.C. High School Athletic Association basketball champions.

The NCHSAA released the brackets for most of its postseason play, with the 3-A West boys and girls and 4-A West boys and girls delayed until Sunday because of Saturday games.

But for those of us down east, the pairings are set.

The ones of interest to area readers are as follows:

Girls
Monday
3-A
East Sectional No. 2
Wildcard) South Granville (12-14) at 1) Beddingfield (25-1)
East Sectional No. 3
3) Fike (14-11) at 2) Eastern Alamance (17-7)
3) Rockingham County (22-5) at 2) Southern Nash (14-9)
East Sectional No. 4
4) SouthWest Edgecombe (12-11) at 1) Oxford Webb (21-4)
Notes: Beddingfield would play the D.H. Conley-Union Pines winner if the Lady Bruins reach the second round. Beddingfield, Conley, Bertie and Washington are the only teams with winning records in the sectional bracket. The Lady Bruins should reach Greenville.
In the second round, Fike would get the Northeast Guilford-Southern Lee winner while Southern Nash could meet Western Harnett or Northern Guilford. The Lady Demons and Ladybirds could meet for the sectional crown.
SouthWest Edgecombe would see the Harnett Central-Eden Morehead winner if the Lady Cougars beat Webb. A potential fourth meeting with NEW 6 rival Rocky Mount could be in the sectional final.

1-A
East Sectional No. 3
3) Pamlico County (16-7) at 1) North Johnston (19-6)
Notes: North Johnston originally was paired against Holly Ridge Dixon but at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, the NCHSAA amended some of its brackets and the Lady Panthers' new first-round foe is Pamlico. If the Lady Panthers win, they'll still see either Pender County or Carolina Conference archrival Princeton in round 2.

NCHSAA 2008 girls basketball brackets


Boys
Tuesday
3-A
East Sectional No. 1
3) Burlington Williams (18-8) at 2) Hunt (18-7)
East Sectional No. 3
3) Northeast Guilford (18-9) at 2) SouthWest Edgecombe (16-7)
East Sectional No. 4
4) Fike (19-7) at 1) Northern Vance (21-1)
Notes: With a win, Hunt would meet the Jacksonville-Havelock winner. Lurking in the upper part of the backet is Eastern Carolina Conference rival Southern Wayne.
SouthWest Edgecombe would get the Southern Lee-Western Guilford winner if the Cougars advance. Nash Central, their NEW 6 Conference foe, is in the upper half of the bracket.
If Fike beats Northern Vance, the Demons would play the Eden Morehead-Union Pines victor. A third 2008 meeting with NEW 6 archrival Rocky Mount exists in the sectional final.

1-A
East Sectional No. 3
3) North Johnston (10-15) at 1) Pender County (20-5)
Notes: In the second round, the Panthers could meet Carolina Conference foe Ayden-Grifton for the fourth time this season. North Johnston has lost all three, including a 57-52 decision in the conference tournament championship Friday.

NCHSAA 2008 boys basketball brackets