Girls' basketball in the Sequatchie Valley is generally among the best in the area. This year has proven to be no different, and the competition there is tight.
With only a couple of weeks left in the regular season, the top three teams in District 7-AA -- Grundy County, Sequatchie County and Bledsoe County -- are within one game of one another. Grundy's Lady Yellow Jackets are 6-1 in league play, while Bledsoe is 6-2 with a win over Grundy and the Lady Indians are 4-1.
Chattanooga Christian sits within striking distance of the Valley trio with a 4-4 mark. With higher seeded teams hosting every game of the district tournament, gaining the highest seed possible is a top priority.
Things seem a little more clear-cut in some of the other area girls' district races.
District 5-AAA: Bradley Central, ranked fifth in the state, is the clear No. 1 team, as the Bearettes have proven to be 20-plus points better than their nearest competitor, Cleveland. The Lady Raiders have caught fire as of late and are 6-2 in the district, but Ooltewah played them to a two-point game in their first meeting and had a chance to tie in the final seconds.
District 6-AA: Brainerd and East Hamilton each has a chance to claim the regular-season district title, which means a little more to Brainerd's 8-0 Lady Panthers since they can't play in the postseason. The two teams play tonight at East Hamilton. Tyner and Red Bank each has five league wins.
District 6-A: Whitwell and Sale Creek are a step ahead of Van Buren County. The Lady Tigers and Lady Panthers still have one more meeting before the postseason, and the first meeting was a nine-point victory for Whitwell on the road.
District 5-A: Technically, Silverdale Baptist is in first place, but the Lady Seahawks have played only one league game and have seven remaining. Arts & Sciences is 4-1 with Copper Basin 3-1 and Grace Academy 2-2.
District 5-AA: Typically McMinn Central controls this district, and that has held true this season for the defending Class AA state champion Chargerettes, who sit at 6-0. Meigs County, Sequoyah and Polk County are within two games of each other in battling for the second spot.
Division II-AA: Second-ranked GPS is 2-1 in the region after suffering a loss to Ensworth recently. Baylor is 2-2.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/gh3sports.