Because of weather concerns Monday and Hamilton County schools also being out today, several area district basketball tournaments have been rescheduled for Wednesday.
The District 6-AA tournament moved Monday's consolation games in front of the championship events Wednesday at Red Bank with the East Ridge girls playing Tyner at 3:30 and Hixson's boys playing Red Bank at 5. The girls' and boys' championship games between Brainerd and Central will be played at 6:30 and 8.
The District 5-AAA tournament at Ooltewah, most likely being bumped to Wednesday, starts at 3 with the Soddy-Daisy girls facing Cleveland. The boys' consolation (Ooltewah vs. Soddy-Daisy) starts at 5, followed by the girls' championship game (Bradley Central vs. Walker Valley) at 6 and the boys' title game (Bradley Central vs. Cleveland) at 7:30.
Jesse Nayadley, athetic director at Ooltewah, said Monday there was a slim chance the tournament might be played today.
"I don't think it's likely, and if we are unable to play then we'll go on Wednesday," he said, adding that a definite decision would be made not later than noon today.
The only other games on the schedule are tonight, weather permitting, in District 5-AA at Loudon -- the boys' consolation and championship games, starting at 6.
Because of the ice and snow that walloped the midstate area, the TSSAA has adjusted regional schedules. Girls' region tournaments are to begin Monday at 7 p.m. local time at the higher seed; boys' regionals will start Tuesday, also at 7 local time and also at the higher seed.
Winners will advance to semifinals at central sites with games beginning at 4 p.m. local time. Thursday is reserved for championship games at the central site and scheduled for local time starts of 6 and 7:30.
McCallie fifth in final poll
McCallie is ranked fifth in Division II in the final Associated Press Tennessee boys' basketball poll for 2014-15. The Blue Tornado, with a record of 24-6, moved up one notch from sixth.
Brainerd is the only other area boys' team in the poll, listed No. 8 in Class AA with a 19-5 record.
McMinn Central (24-4) is No. 6 in the girls' AA poll, while Baylor (17-9) finished in an eighth-place tie with University School of Jackson (23-5).
TWC signs Balthrop
Boyd-Buchanan senior Madison Balthrop has signed scholarship papers to continue her golf career at Tennessee Wesleyan College.
Balthrop, who also has regularly started on the volleyball and basketball teams, represented the Lady Bucs on the golf course for five straight seasons and participated in the Class A/AA state tournament each of those years. This year she helped lead the Lady Bucs to district championships in golf, volleyball and basketball.
Balthrop, daughter of former Class A PGA professional Rich Balthrop, tied for 19th place in the state last fall after winning district and region medals. She was a Best of Preps second-team selection and had a top-15 finish at the annual Best of Preps Tournament held at the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay.
Balthrop also considered Samford and Stetson before settling on the Athens school.
"I'm really excited because I love Coach (Stan) Harrison there and he cares about me getting better as a person," she said. "I met the team and I've played with a couple of them before. I think this will be a really good experience. I want to get myself in the top five so I can play in tournaments."