Both of Richmond's basketball teams landed in the western half of the brackets in the Midwest pod.
The Richmond boys finished tied for third in the Southeastern Conference and earned a No. 9 seed in its pod. The Raiders (18-6) will open the playoffs at Butler at 7 p.m. Monday. The Bulldogs (15-10) finished tied for second in the Southwestern Conference.
"I don't mind being in the Midwest," Richmond coach David Laton said. "I still think you should get points for your conference finish and the number of wins. We won 18 games and we are going to a place that won 15."
The Richmond girls grabbed the sixth seed in the Midwest pod after finishing second in the SEC. The Raiders (17-8) will play host to North Davidson (8-16) in the opening round at 7 p.m. Monday. The Knights tied for third in the Central Piedmont Conference.
"We are going to go into the game like it's the first game of the season," Richmond girls coach Nellie Harrington said. "We have to think positive and not worry about what happened before. We have to toughen up and take the bumps because there will be no touch fouls. The refs will let you bang in the playoffs."
Because it is the first time seeding was used to create the matchups, the NCHSAA didn't release a preliminary bracket which allowed coaches to get an idea of their opponents. Laton thinks it will place a premium on being able to make in-game adjustments.
"I will have to make some calls tonight and tomorrow to see what I can find out about them," Laton said. "We spent the last two days not focused on an opponent, but what we need to do to get off to a good start. Sometimes I think you can scout too much."
Elsewhere in the SEC, Hoke, the SEC regular season and tournament champion, grabbed the No. 2 seed in the Mideast pod. The Bucks will open the playoffs at home against No. 15 Holly Springs.
The Lumberton boys are the seventh seed in the Mideast and will host South View in the first round. Purnell Swett earned the No. 11 seed and will play at Hillside.
"We're excited just to get in ... we don't care who we're playing," Swett coach Jeremy Sampson said. "I feel like our guys are ready for the challenge that awaits in the postseason."
In the girls half of the playoffs, SEC champion Scotland is the No. 4 seed in the Mideast and will face E.E. Smith at home in the opening round. Purnell Swett is the No. 11 seed and will play at Seventy-First on Monday. Lumberton rounds out the SEC teams to qualify for the postseason as the No. 12 seed in the Mideast and will travel to Holly Springs.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com
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