Northwest Regional
Class 5A
Parker vs. Athens, Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
Wenonah vs. East Limestone, Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

PARKER THUNDERING HERD
Coach: Reginald McGary
ASWA ranking: None
Record: 17-7
Regional appearances: 10
Regional titles: 4 (1995, 1997, 2004, 2009)
Players to watch: Marquell Oliver, Omari Williams
The skinny: Parker is one of the few teams this season that has challenged two-time defending state champion Wenonah. Parker lost to Wenonah 61-59 in an area title game. The Thundering Herd can pose problems for any team in the field with their athleticism.

ATHENS GOLDEN EAGLES
Coach: Stace Tedford
Record: 24-7
ASWA ranking: 7
Regional appearances: 10
Regional titles: 2 (2004, 2005)
Players to watch: Nathanial Potts, Trey Potts
The skinny: This season, Athens was arguably the area’s best basketball team. Nathanial Potts highlights a strong collection of guards, and his younger brother, Trey, gives the Golden Eagles a big, athletic 6-foot-6 center on the interior.

WENONAH DRAGONS
Coach: Cedric Lane
Record: 30-2
ASWA ranking: 1
Regional appearances: 7
Regional titles: 3 (2010, 2011, 2012)
Players to watch: Justin Coleman, D’Runnya Wilson, Isaiah Maston, Cedric McGinnis
The skinny: Wenonah has won the past two Class 5A state titles, and the Dragons are trying to become the first team to win three state basketball titles in one of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s large-school classifications. The Dragons are arguably the most talented collection of players in the state.

EAST LIMESTONE INDIANS
Coach: Chad Drake
Record: 19-12
ASWA ranking: None
Regional appearances: 3
Regional titles: 1 (1996)
Players to watch: Jordon Gandy, Tristian Matthews
The skinny: Averaging about 20 points per game, Gandy is one of the area’s best scorers. Surrounded by a gritty collection of guards, Gandy and company are enjoying the program’s best season in years. One concern for the Indians as the head into the regional is height. At 6-foot-3, Gandy is the team’s tallest player.

Class 4A
J.O Johnson vs. West Limestone, Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
Butler vs. Brooks, Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

J.O. JOHNSON JAGUARS
Coach: Maurice Ford
Record: 19-8
ASWA ranking: 5
Regional appearances: 4
Regional titles: None
Players to watch: Tyrese Garner, Lionel Love
The skinny: Since the regional format began in 1994, Johnson hasn’t been in the upper echelon of Huntsville basketball. But now that Johnson has dropped to Class 4A, the Jaguars’ expectations have changed. Johnson is one of the most athletic teams in the field and can post matchup problems for the other three teams.

WEST LIMESTONE WILDCATS
Coach: Justin Taylor
Record: 23-9
ASWA ranking: None
Regional appearances: 4
Regional titles: None
Players to watch: Nathanial Adams, Aaron McWilliams
The skinny: West Limestone is making its fourth straight appearance, and the Wildcats advanced to last season’s regional final. West Limestone graduated a dominant player from those teams in Preston Adams, but that hasn’t stopped the Wildcats from enjoying another strong season. With Adams and McWilliams, the Wildcats can advance, but they will have to limit turnovers and play fundamentally sound basketball.

BROOKS LIONS
Coach: Brian Wright
Record: 26-7
ASWA ranking: 7
Regional appearances: 10
Regional titles: 3 (1996, 2001, 2002)
Players to watch: Holden Corum, Brady Bedingfield, Skyler Beck
The skinny: Brooks is making its first regional appearance since 2009. With a new coach and a nice collection of guards, have play an up-tempo style, using pressure defense to score points in transition. Corum, Bedingfield and Beck are all solid shooters from beyond the 3-point arc.

BUTLER REBELS
Coach: Jack Doss
Record: 15-13
ASWA ranking: None
Regional appearances: 14
Regional titles: 7 (1995, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
Players to watch: Robert Steele, Terryion Hobson
The skinny: All the familiar names like Trevor Lacey and Justin “Coodie” Pride are gone, and it’s true that this Butler team isn’t the most talented team Doss has fielded. But don’t be fooled. Butler is still a contender for a regional title. With frustrating half-court traps and a slow-down offense, at tournament time, Butler can never be taken lightly.

Class 2A
Cold Springs vs. Hatton, Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Vincent vs. Tanner, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

COLD SPRINGS EAGLES
Coach: Tim Burleson
Record: 18-10
ASWA ranking: None
Regional appearances: 12
Regional titles: 1 (1995)
Players to watch: Chayse Elliott, Triston Chambers
The skinny: Cold Springs is making its fourth straight regional appearance. Elliott, a UAH signee, is an athletic scorer with a nice jump shot, but he has played through multiple injuries this season. The biggest concern for Cold Springs is matching up with the big, athletic interior players from Hatton and Tanner.

HATTON HORNETS
Coach: Rusty Murks
Record: 18-8
ASWA ranking: None
Regional appearances: 3
Regional titles: 1 (1999)
Players to watch: Laron Cooper, Ty Terry
The skinny: Hatton is making its first regional appearance since 2004. Cooper (6-4) and Terry (6-3) have been solid interior players for the Hornets, with each grabbing about 10 rebounds a game.

TANNER RATTLERS
Coach: Chris Whitt
Record: 25-4
ASWA ranking: 1
Regional appearances: 15
Regional titles: 7 (1997, 1998, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
Players to watch: Greg Maclin, Fred Rich, Jace Haggermaker
The skinny: Tanner is arguably the most talented team in the field. Maclin, a 6-4 guard, is averaging more than 10 points per game, while Haggermaker and Rich are an athletic combination on the interior. For the other three teams in the tournament, matching up with Tanner’s talented starting five, and deep bench, could be a problem.

VINCENT YELLOW JACKETS
Coach: John Hadder
Record: 23-6
ASWA ranking: 3
Regional appearances: 9
Regional titles: 1 (2012)
Players to watch: Tyler Williams, Anterio Rogers
The skinny: Vincent is a newcomer to the Northwest Regional, but the Yellow Jackets aren’t new to postseason basketball. Vincent won the Northeast Regional title last season, and the Yellow Jackets have advanced to two straight regional finals. The Tanner-Vincent regional semifinal is one of the most intriguing matchups on the Northwest Regional’s opening day.

Class 1A
Marion County vs. Shoals Christian, Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
R.A. Hubbard vs. Parrish, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

MARION COUNTY RED RAIDERS
Coach: Willie Williams
Record: 24-6
ASWA ranking: 8
Regional appearances: 9
Regional titles: 1 (1997)
Players to watch: DeShawn Riebeschl, Sean Wallace
The skinny: Marion County is making its second straight regional appearance, and the Red Raiders advanced to last year’s Class 1A Northwest Regional final. Marion County returns most of its key players from last season’s team.

SHOALS CHRISTIAN FLAME
Coach: Patrick Odom
Record: 15-13
ASWA ranking: None
Regional appearances: 3
Regional titles: None
Players to watch: Daniel Wood, Tanner Traglia
The skinny: Shoals Christian is making its first regional appearance since 2011, and the Flame appear to be getting hot at the right time. Shoals Christian upset R.A. Hubbard in the Area 16 final. Wood and Traglia are both averaging double figures in scoring.

R.A. HUBBARD CHIEFS
Coach: Jack Steele
Record: 16-7
ASWA ranking: None
Regional appearances: 12
Regional titles: 6 (1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010)
Players to watch: John Owens, Deonta Carter, Tevin Ray
The skinny: R.A. Hubbard has put together a strong season, winning the Lawrence County title and advancing to its fourth straight regional. Owens is a quick, athletic guard who is averaging double-figures in scoring, while Carter gives the Chiefs a strong big man on the interior.

PARRISH TORNADOES
Coach: Heath Burns
Record: 27-1
ASWA ranking: 3
Regional appearances: 1
Regional titles: None
Players to watch: Barry Hill, Jermichael Harris, Brandon Sims
The skinny: Burns, who took Dora to multiple state tournaments, has quickly turned around Parrish’s basketball program. The Tornadoes have three players who average double-figures in scoring: Hill (16.8), Harris (15.9) and Sims (11.1).
Justin Graves