Alabama high school basketball playoffs: How will Gadsden area teams fare in regionals

Gadsden area high school basketball teams are gearing up to go to Jacksonville to compete in the AHSAA Northeast regional.

All games will take place at the Pete Matthews Center, starting on Tuesday but Gadsden area play starts first thing on Wednesday.

It's the mark of any successful season, as its a goal that every area team has going into the season. Now the goal simplifies, win two games and earn a trip to Birmingham for a Final Four berth and a chance at the Blue Map Trophy.

Here's a quick preview of ahead of the week of fun:

SPRING GARDEN: Even in playoff blowouts, Spring Garden girls basketball focus on playing to own standard

FULL SCHEDULE: Alabama high school basketball playoffs: AHSAA regional round schedule, score

AREA TOURNAMENTS: Alabama high school basketball playoffs: What we learned about Gadsden area teams in area tournaments

Class 3A Super Saturday

Going into the sub regional round it was guaranteed that all four of the Class 3A games in Jacksonville would involve a Gadsden area teams with the potential for all eight slots to be area teams. Well it happened and it should be a fun day with Piedmont, Plainview and Susan Moore having both girls and boys teams there with Sylvania girls and Geraldine boys also making it.

It also secures at least two Gadsden area teams that will make the Final Four.

Who are Final Four contenders

There's the usual contender of Spring Garden girls team, still led by Alabama women's basketball commit Ace Austin. Inside Etowah County three teams could make it but will have a tough test. Southside girls are a favorite to make it but don't count out the Sardis boys. Gaston could make it but their route involves taking down No. 1 Lafayette in the Elite Eight.

Out of Class 3A, Geraldine and Plainview boys seem destined for a sixth matchup this year, Plainview is 3-2 so far in those. It's a little more wide-open on the girls side, anyone could make it through but Susan Moore has Final Four experience.

Players that we're excited to see

Whether it's for the first time or the fifth time this season, these are some of the Gadsden-area players that are just fun to watch on the basketball court, whether for their style of play or how they can take over a game. Here's a few that will be in Jacksonville over the next week:

• Ace Austin, Spring Garden

• Jaxon Colvin, Geraldine

• Mary Hayes Johnson, Cherokee County

• Mica Merriman, Gaston

• Ava Pope, Piedmont

• Grace Anne Rose, Southside

• Madison Shaw, Southside

• Lani Smallwood, Susan Moore

• Jacob Welsh, Spring Garden

Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: How will Gadsden area teams fare in AHSAA basketball regionals