CENTRE — Prep basketball teams in Cherokee County begin area tournament play this week. The Class 1A Area 12 boys tournament will be in Cedar Bluff, with Asbury and Collinsville tipping off the round ball action on Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. That game will be followed by Gaylesville and Spring Garden at 7 p.m. No. 1 seed Cedar Bluff (21-3, 9-1) will square off against the winner of Asbury vs. Collinsville Friday at 5:30 p.m.

The championship game will take place Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.

The Class 1A Area 12 girls will play at Gaston High School beginning tonight, with Gaylesville facing Cedar Bluff at 7 p.m. Spring Garden (16-8, 6-4) will face the winner of that game Thursday at 7 p.m.

The championship game will be Saturday at 7 p.m.

Sand Rock will host the Class 2A Area 12 boys, beginning with the home-standing Wildcats (21-3, 6-0) facing off against West End at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

 Westbrook and Geraldine will close out the evening at 7 p.m. The championship tips off at 7 p.m. Feb 8. The girls will play at Geraldine, with Sand Rock (14-11, 3-3) and Westbrook starting things off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

The winner will play Saturday at 6 p.m. against the winner of top-seed Geraldine vs. West End.

In Class 3A Area 10, Piedmont will host the boys tourney, and the Bulldogs' (16-7, 6-0) Thursday night opponent will be determined by the outcome of Tuesday's Weaver vs. White Plains game. The Bulldogs will take on the winner at 6 p.m.

 Friday. That game will be followed by Glencoe and Pleasant Valley, with the championship game set for Monday at 7 p.m. Glencoe will host the girls in Class 3A Area 10. The Lady Jackets will begin area play Thursday at 6 p.m. against the winner of tonight's White Plains vs. Weaver game. No. 2-seeded Piedmont will take to the hardwood against Pleasant Valley at 7:30 p.m., and the winners advance to the championship, set for Saturday at 7 p.m.

In Class 4A Area 12, the Warriors can play spoiler when they get to Jacksonville.

 They drew Alexandria and play Friday at 6 p.m. No. 1-seeded Jacksonville will face Hokes Bluff in the later game. Jump ball for the championship is 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8. Cherokee County will host after fighting hard to earn a tie with Alexandria and winning the right to host via coin toss. As the No. 1 seed, the Lady Warriors will play Jacksonville Thursday at 7 p.m., after Alexandria and Hokes Bluff begin the tournament at 5 p.m.

The area title will be decided Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Warrior Dome.