Sub-State basketball tournaments are in the books and the State tournaments start next week and 10 Northeast Kansas area teams are headed to State between Class 3A, 2A, 1A-DI and 1A-DII. 

In Class 3A the Sabetha Bluejays are flying back to the State tournament after taking third for the boys and fourth for the girls last year at State. In Hutchinson this year both Bluejay teams carry a 22-1 record into the tournament and are both the two seeds. The Sabetha boys draw the defending 3A State Champs in the first round in Scott City at 6:30pm on Wednesday, March 9th, while the girls play Thursday, March 10th at 6:30pm in their first round game against Southeast of Saline. Five teams in the girls and boys 3A State brackets go into the State tournament with only three losses or less. (State 3A bracket) 

It's familiar territory for both the Valley Falls girls and Jackson Heights boys as they are headed back to Manhattan for the Class 2A State tournament after being their last year as the lady Dragons placed fourth and the Cobras bowed out in the first round. The lady Dragons take a 23-0 record into the State tournament and are the two seed slated to play on Wednesday, March 9th at 6:30pm against Republic County. Jackson Heights despite having two losses if the five seed at State and takes on Berean Academy in the first round on Thursday, March 10th at 4:45pm. Both the girls and boys 2A State tournaments each feature three 23-0 teams and six teams with three losses or less. (State 2A bracket) 

Class 1A-DI will be a bit of a Twin Valley League party as both the girls and boys Centralia Panther teams are going to State and both the girls and boys Hanover Wildcat teams are headed to State. The 1A-DI State this year will be played in Dodge City and for the lady Panthers of Centralia they are coming off of a State runner-up finish last year and go into State as the three seed with a 22-1 record and will play at 4:45pm against South Barber in the first round on Thursday, March 10th. While the Panther boys take on Pretty Prairie in the first round as the four seed on Wednesday, March 9th at 4:45pm and go into State with a 16-7 record, returning to State for the first time since 2013. The Hanover boys go into the State tournament as the number one seed and as the defending State Champs, carrying a 20-4 record this year and will face St. Paul in the first round on Wednesday, March 9th at 3:00pm. Lady Wildcats are returning to State for the first time since 2013 and are the seven seed with a 18-6 record and drew the defending State Champs, Hoxie in the first round on Thursday, March 10th at 3:00pm. (State 1A-DI bracket) 

The TVL flavor in Dodge City for State basketball continues in Class 1A-DII as the Axtell girls and Wetmore girls are both going to State. The Axtell girls have the three seed with a 20-3 record and are set to take on Elyria Christian in the first round on Thursday, March 10th, as the Eagles are making their first trip to State since 1988. The lady Cardinals of Wetmore are returning to Dodge City this year after a first round exit last year at State in a tough matchup. This time around the Cardinals are the eight seed with a 12-12 record and face the one seed Norwich in the first round on Thursday, March 10th at 6:30pm. (State 1A-DII bracket)

The State tournaments set up to be filled with great competition again this year and several area teams are in the hunt for State Championships. (Stay tuned for the KNZA, Inc broadcast plan for coverage of State basketball for the area teams - broadcast plan will be posted Monday or Tuesday)