The high school basketball postseason officially begins tonight when conference tournaments tip off across the state.

For each team, the goal is a little different. Some have a state playoff berth sewn up, while other are facing the end of their season unless they win.
Regardless, this year’s Four Rivers and Northeastern Coastal conference tournaments are shaping up to be some of the most competitive in years.

Here’s a look at the tournaments:

NCC GIRLS

Schedule: Today at Hertford — No. 5 Edenton (7-13, 4-7) vs. No. 4 Bertie (9-8, 7-5), 4:30 p.m.; No. 6 Currituck (5-12, 2-10) vs. No. 3 Northeastern (14-5, 9-3), 6 p.m.; No. 7

First Flight (2-14, 0-11) vs. No. 2 Hertford (14-7, 9-3), 7:30 p.m. No. 1 Pasquotank has a bye.

Wednesday semifinals at ECSU — Currituck-Northeastern winner vs. First Flight-Hertford winner 4 p.m.; Edenton-Bertie winner vs. No. 1 Pasquotank (20-3, 10-2), 7 p.m.
Friday final at ECSU — semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

Outlook: It is hard to pick a favorite as it seem any one of four teams have a legitimate shot at coming out on top. Northeastern was running away with the regular-season early on, but stumbled a bit down the stretch, leaving the door open for Pasquotank and Hertford to vie for the tournament’s No. 1 seed, which was eventually captured by the Lady Panthers. Fourth-seeded Bertie is not to be overlooked as it owns wins over Northeastern, Pasquotank and Hertford this season and has the ability to make a run this week.

Northeastern and Pasquotank have locked themselves into the 2A playoffs and will host first-round games next week. Hertford and Currituck have likewise assured themselves of spots in the 3A tournament in what appears to be the final year the NCC will be a 3A/2A split conference.

Bertie is in the No. 3 spot for the last 2A berth, but First Flight or Edenton could move up to the No. 2 seed if they win the tournament and knock the Lady Falcons out.

Players to watch: Jasmine Nixon, Northeastern (19.4 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 5.2 bpg); Mikeara Jordan, Pasquotank (no stats available); Brandi Burden, Hertford (16.8 ppg, 7.3 apg, 4.8 spg); Hadiya Bembry, Edenton (11.8 ppg); Kayla Powell, Currituck (11.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg).

NCC BOYS

Schedule: Tuesday at Northeastern — No. 5 Bertie (8-11, 5-7) vs. No. 4 Edenton (13-8, 7-5), 4:30 p.m.; No. 6 First Flight (3-15, 2-10) vs. No. 3 Pasquotank (14-9, 8-4) 6 p.m.;

No. 7 Currituck (3-19, 0-12) vs. No. 2 Northeastern (12-7, 8-4) 7:30 p.m. No. 1 Hertford has a bye.

Wednesday semifinals at ECSU — First Flight-Pasquotank winner vs. Currituck-Northeastern winner 5:30 p.m.; Bertie-Edenton winner vs. No. 1 Hertford (19-3, 12-0) 8:30 p.m.

Friday final at ECSU — semifinal winners, 8:30 p.m.

Outlook: Hertford has dispatched all comers this season and enters as the clear favorite. But the Bears have had a few close ones, including a three-point win at home against Edenton, a seven-point win at Northeastern and a two-point victory at Pasquotank two weeks ago. Pasquotank would seem to be the biggest challenger to Hertford, but

Northeastern has been coming on strong in recent weeks.

Hertford and Currituck are locks for the 3A state playoffs while Pasquotank and Northeastern have a spot in the 2A field waiting for them. Edenton sits on the bubble in third in 2A and could only be displaced if Bertie or First Flight wins the tournament.

Players to watch: Jqwan Ruffin, Hertford (15.5 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.4 spg); Naquan Gant, Pasquotank (14.1 ppg, 2.6 apg); Marquise Whidbee, Northeastern (11.2 ppg, 3.4 apg);

Junior Barrow, Edenton (14.4 ppg); Dreshaun Morris, Bertie (10.7 ppg); Billy Foster, First Flight (15.8 ppg); Juwan Harvey, Currituck (11.0 ppg, 41% on 3-point shots).

FOUR RIVERS GIRLS

Schedule: Today — No. 8 South Creek (4-20, 1-13) at No. 1 Riverside (22-2, 13-1), TBA; No. 5 Manteo (11-8, 6-8) at No. 4 Perquimans (9-11, 7-7), 6 p.m.

Tuesday — No. 7 Camden (4-20, 3-11) at No. 2 Southside (22-2, 13-1), 6 p.m.; No. 6 Northside (9-11, 3-11) at No. 3 Plymouth (12-5, 10-4), TBA.

Wednesday semifinals at South Creek High School in Robersonville — South Creek-Riverside winner vs. Manteo-Perquimans winner, 6 p.m.

Thursday semifinals at South Creek High School in Robersonville — Camden-Southside winner vs. Northside-Plymouth winner, 6 p.m.
Friday final at South Creek High School in Robersonville — Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.

Outlook: Riverside and Southside have dominated the conference all season and there is no reason to think they won’t be in the championship game on Friday. Plymouth was the only team to come close to breaking through against the Big Two, losing all four match-ups, but only by an average of 7.1 points.

Perquimans has a favorable matchup against Manteo, a team they split with during the regular season. The Lady Pirates won by six in Hertford in January, where they will play tonight. Manteo won 45-38 on Feb. 3.

Camden faces a steep hill, going to Southside for the first round. The Lady Bruins lost both games to the Lady Seahawks by an average of 20 points.

The top four teams, Riverside, Southside, Plymouth and Perquimans are in the 1A playoffs. No. 5 Manteo holds down the fifth spot, but could be knocked out if Northside,

Camden or South Creek gets hot and wins the tournament.

Players to watch: Jalyn Brown, Riverside (14.7 ppg, 3.6 spg); Katisha Hyman, Southside (16.2 ppg, 4.8 apg, 4.8 spg); McKenzie Wescott, Manteo (10.7 ppg); Nae’kera Lyons, Perquimans (10 ppg), McKenzie Moore, Camden (13.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Kristy Gibson, Plymouth (9.3 ppg).

FOUR RIVERS BOYS

Schedule: Today — No. 8 Southside (5-18, 1-13) at No. 1 Plymouth (15-4, 13-1), TBA; No. 5 Northside (12-10, 6-8) at No. 4 South Creek (14-10, 7-7), TBA.

Tuesday — No. 7 Manteo (7-12, 2-12) at No. 2 Camden (16-7, 11-3), 7 p.m.; No. 6 Perquimans (8-12, 5-9) at No. 3 Riverside (16-7, 11-3), 7 p.m.

Wednesday semifinals at South Creek High School in Robersonville — Southside-Plymouth winner vs. Northside-South Creek winner, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday semifinals at South Creek High School in Robersonville — Manteo-Camden winner vs. Perquimans-Riverside winner, 7:30 p.m.

Friday final at South Creek High School in Robersonville — Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.

Outlook: Plymouth has been the class of the conference all season, claiming 10 of its 13 conference wins by 17 points or more. Despite the fact that Plymouth has played so well, Camden and Riverside have demonstrated they can play with the Vikings, making the championship a three-team race. Camden was the only team in the league to beat Plymouth. Plymouth exacted some revenge two nights later by beating the Bruins by 13.

Perquimans lost twice to Riverside during the regular season, but by only a combined 14 points. With Mikel Harvey, who averaged 32 points against the Knights, anything is possible for the Pirates.

The top four teams, Plymouth, Camden, Riverside and South Creek are in the 1A playoffs. No. 5 Northside holds down the fifth spot, but could be knocked out if Perquimans, Manteo or Southside pulls off the upset and wins the tournament.

Players to watch: Carl McCray, Plymouth (19.4 ppg); Shaquille Joyner, Camden (15.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg); Brett Forbes, Camden (16.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg); Mikel Harvey, Perquimans (29.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg); Tony Peele, Northside (29.4 ppg); Laquan Boston, South Creek (17.8 ppg, 14.3 rpg).