to play in Greenville

Vicksburg won the Division 4-6A regular-season championship. Greenville-Weston has lost three games all season and has homecourt advantage for the division tournament. Warren Central has lost two of its last three, but beat its first-round opponent by 15 points earlier in the year.

In the topsy-turvy world of girls’ Division 4-6A basketball, none of that matters. It’s the only division in Class 6A where all four teams have winning records. Heading into the final night of division games on Jan. 31, all four teams had a chance to finish 3-3 in division play.

Tuesday’s games

Boys

5:15 p.m. – Tallulah

vs. Riverfield, at Claiborne

5:30 p.m. – Vicksburg vs. WC, at Greenville-Weston

8:30 p.m. – Cathedral at St. Aloysius

Girls

4 p.m. – Vicksburg vs. WC,

at Greenville-Weston

4 p.m. – Tallulah Academy

vs. Riverfield,

at Claiborne Academy

7 p.m. –  Sebastopol at St. Al

That parity has created only two certainties — bring your “A” game to the first round or go home; and two good teams will end their seasons when the tournament begins tonight.

“We’re all so close. Our district is a strong district. Whoever’s day it is Tuesday is going to come out on top,” said Vicksburg (16-8) coach Barbara Hartzog, whose team will play crosstown rival Warren Central (16-8) in the first round. “Seeding is for tournament purposes only. It doesn’t mean a thing.”

The closeness of the teams goes beyond their records. Of the 12 games played inside the division, nine were decided by 10 points or less.

Tournament host Greenville-Weston, which went 19-3 overall in the regular season, had five of its six division games decided by six points or less. The sixth game was an eight-point loss to Vicksburg in December. Greenville will play Clinton (17-11) in the first round. Their two games this season included a combined three overtimes.

“Even though we are the host, we’re in for one whale of a tournament. All four teams are balanced,” Greenville coach Curtis Stovall said.

Vicksburg plays Warren Central, which is also a tough matchup. WC won one of the few lopsided division games, beating the Missy Gators 52-37 on Dec. 12. Vicksburg won 45-43 in the rematch on Jan. 9.

“I feel like we match up better with the other three teams. But no matter who you play, it’s going to be a battle,” WC coach Jackie Martin-Glass said.

The boys’ bracket is much less balanced. Vicksburg ran roughshod over the division — and most everyone else — this season, racking up a 23-2 overall record. It’ll face Warren Central in the opener.

WC struggled to a 3-24 regular-season record, which includes losses of 37 and 25 points to Vicksburg. In the one-and-done format of the first round, a great day by the Vikings could let them be the ultimate spoiler. Vicksburg, though, comes in on a roll.

Led by the high-scoring duo of Kelsey Howard and Mychal Ammons — each averaging 19 points per game — the Gators have won 13 in a row.

“Ain’t no doubt, we’re definitely ready for the district tournament,” Vicksburg coach Dellie C. Robinson said.

Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com