In its first season back on the 3-A level after competing as a 4-A program, Harnett Central is the only area school with two teams in the NCHSAA basketball playoffs.

The Lady Trojans (20-4) host West Brunswick (16-10) on Tuesday (Feb. 20) at 6 p.m. The Central boys (14-10) start Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Southern Lee (22-3).

The HC girls are coming off a 50-35 loss to Union Pines at Campbell on Thursday night in which freshman post player Syniah McMiller went out with a right ankle injury in the second quarter.

“Syniah will be available,” said Lady Trojans coach Chelsey Cabe. “She did some easy running today (Monday) and went through warm-ups. We were trying to keep the swelling down.”

West Brunswick’s leading scorer is 6-feet, 5-inch junior Breanna Mercer, who is averaging 11.7 points. The Trojans are getting 9.7 points from 5-8 senior Natyra Gore. Junior Dyna Jefferies has a 6.2 scoring average. Senior point guard Logan Locklear is averaging 5.2 points and 2.3 assists.

“In doing research and talking to people, they want to feed the big girl,” Cabe said.

Central boys coach Will Gage hasn’t had to rely on others for a scouting report as the Trojans will be playing the Cavaliers for the third time.

If Central can take care of the ball and get good shots in a low-possession game, then that adage about the difficulty of beating a good team three times could come into play. The Trojans have scoring depth and can get on the boards.