By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Entering Tuesday night’s regular-season finale at Union County, the Woodruff varsity girls’ basketball team has little riding on the game save for pride as the Lady Wolverines are locked into second place in Region 3-3A and will host a home playoff game next week.
For the varsity boys, things are not so clear.
The Wolverine boys’ team is taking the race for a region title to the final night of the regular season and perhaps beyond, depending on how the rest of the night’s match-ups between other conference foes pan out. In short, Woodruff can finish anywhere between fourth place and region champions.
At one point, things looked dire for the Wolverines as they battled for the program’s first region championship since 1981. Woodruff started conference play 1-3, falling to last place in the standings after being one of the predicted favorites to win their region entering the season. However, Region 3-3A has seen immense parity over the past month, and the door for the Wolverines has continuously been open.
Lately, Woodruff has responded. And at just the right time. Entering the final night of the regular season, there is a five-way tie for first place in the region, with Woodruff, Broome, Greer Middle College, Mountain View Prep, and Union County all sitting at 5-4 in league play.
The boys’ team enters the finale as winners of their last three games, all at home, against Greer Middle College, MVP, and Chapman. The Wolverines hold the tiebreaker over Greer Middle College, having defeated the Blazers twice. Broome, conversely, defeated Woodruff twice and held that tiebreaker. The Wolverines split with MVP.
There are two scenarios in which the varsity boys win the region.
Scenario one includes a Woodruff win over Union County, a Chapman victory over Broome, and MVP defeating Greer Middle College. In that case, the Wolverines and Stars (MVP) would play a tiebreaker game at a neutral site later in the week to determine the champion.
Or, should Woodruff, Chapman, and Greer Middle College win, the Wolverines would take the conference crown outright. It has many moving parts, but it must start with a Woodruff win over Union County. Should the Wolverines fall to the Yellow Jackets, they would be locked into fourth place. With a win, Woodruff could finish anywhere from first to third.
The Wolverines enter the week with momentum and recent history on their side. Woodruff topped Chapman, who will finish last in the region standings, 61-45 on senior night. In their previous meeting with the Yellow Jackets, Woodruff trounced Union County 59-44.
Yet, there is still much at play for having only one game on the schedule.
Author: Tracy Sanders
