Hunter Huss, Forestview learn regional opponents, game times

The Hunter Huss boys and Forestview girls will play on back-to-back nights in Greensboro as they open the Western Regional basketball tournament.

The Hunter Huss boys (23-3) will face Lenoir Hibriten (19-9) 7 p.m. Tuesday at UNC Greensboro’s Fleming Gym. The Forestview girls (24-2) will then play against Charlotte Catholic (25-3) 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the same venue.

If Hunter Huss and Forestview win, they would play Saturday for the regional championships and the right to play in their respective state title games.

(Full regional schedule below)

Hunter Huss vs. Hibriten

Hunter Huss is making its fifth Western Regional appearance and first since 2006. The Huskies haven’t won a regional game in their past two trips; they last won a regional game in 1990.

The Huskies and Panthers have a pair of common opponents. Hibriten lost twice by double digits (75-58 and 75-60) against Hickory, the team Hunter Huss beat 75-64 in a second-round playoff overtime thriller. In the first round, Hibriten did knock off a team that gave Hunter Huss trouble: Big South regular-season co-champion Forestview. The Panthers defeated the Jaguars 74-71, the same score by which Hunter Huss won the first meeting in overtime. The Huskies went down big in the second meeting, 64-41, before exacting revenge in the Big South tournament final, 60-59.

Tuesday’s winner will meet Concord (25-5) or West Rowan (20-6) in Saturday’s 2 p.m. regional final at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center.

Forestview vs. Charlotte Catholic

Wednesday will mark Forestview’s second postseason encounter with Charlotte Catholic in four years.

The teams met in the 2007 playoffs when current senior stars Shannon Smith and Kelsey Harris were freshmen. Forestview won a 56-53 thriller in the sectional semifinals after Smith made an off-balance, desperation 3-pointer with 2 1/2 seconds remaining. The Jaguars lost to T.C. Roberson in the next round at Mars Hill but have qualified for the regional every year since.

The Jaguars and Cougars have one common opponent. Forestview beat Hickory Grove Christian 66-42 in December. Ten days later, Catholic lost to the same team 61-57.

Catholic’s other losses came at the hands of Ardrey Kell (60-42) and Harding (45-39). Forestview’s only losses were to 4A schools Matthews Butler and Huntersville Hopewell. Butler is still alive in the 4A playoffs.

If Forestview advances to its third straight regional final, it would face the winner of Wednesday’s 7 p.m. game between North Iredell (22-2) and Asheville Clyde Erwin (21-6). The regional final is scheduled for noon Saturday at UNC Greensboro.

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.

Full Western Regional pairings:

Boys

Class 1-A : Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Thursday, March 4, 7 p.m.: Hendersonville (23-4) vs. Nantahala (23-6)
Thursday, March 4, 8:30 p.m.: Monroe (29-1) vs. Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (19-10)
Saturday, March 6, 2 p.m.: championship

Class 2-A: Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Friday, March 5, 7 p.m.: West Caldwell (25-2) vs. Winston-Salem Carver (16-12)
Friday, March 5, 8:30 p.m.: Sylva Smoky Mountain (23-4) vs. Charlotte Berry Academy (23-7)
Saturday, March 6, 8 p.m.: championship

Class 3-A :Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Tuesday, March 2, 7 p.m: Gastonia Hunter Huss (23-3) vs. Lenoir Hibriten (19-9)
Tuesday, March 2, 8:30 p.m.: Concord (25-5) vs. West Rowan (20-6)
Saturday, March 6, 2 pm: championship at Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center

Class 4-A :Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Wednesday, March 3, 7 p.m.: Charlotte Ardrey Kell (20-8) vs. Lake Norman (23-3)
Wednesday, March 3, 8:30 p.m.: Greensboro Dudley (22-6) vs. West Charlotte (21-9)
Saturday, March 6, 6 p.m.: championship


Girls

Class 1-A: Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Friday, March 5, 7 p.m.: Mount Airy (27-2) vs. Mitchell (23-4)
Friday, March 5, 8:30 p.m.: Avery (24-3) vs. Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (20-7)
Saturday, March 6, 4 p.m.: championship

Class 2-A: Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Tuesday, March 2, 7 p.m.: Salisbury (26-0) vs. Catawba Bandys (26-3)
Tuesday, March 2, 8:30 p.m.: Newton-Conover (27-3) vs. Shelby (24-3)
Saturday, March 6, noon: championship

Class 3-A: Fleming Gym, UNC-Greensboro
Wednesday, March 3, 7 p.m.: North Iredell (22-2) vs. Asheville Clyde Erwin (21-6)
Wednesday, March 3, 8:30 p.m.: Gastonia Forestview (24-2) vs. Charlotte Catholic (25-3)
Saturday, March 6, noon: championship

Class 4-A: Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Thursday, March 4, 7 p.m.: McDowell (27-1) vs. Matthews David Butler (22-4)
Thursday, March 4, 8:30 p.m.: East Mecklenburg (26-2) vs. Lake Norman (24-5)
Saturday, March 6, 4 p.m.: championship