With the region finals now set in boys basketball around the state, one matchup that will closely be watched will take place in Class AAA, Region IV.

Cabell Midland and South Charleston will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night in a contest that will send one team that no one wants to see into the West Virginia Boys State Basketball Tournament.

In a way, it is fitting that the two teams will collide, considering that one of their regular season meetings changed the landscape of the state.

Cabell Midland's victory over the Black Eagles in South Charleston in February not only signaled that South Charleston was indeed a beatable team, but it also was the culmination of an electric change for the Knights.

Here's a little bit of background on how.

Prior to meeting South Charleston, the Knights had struggled with last-second losses to Ripley and Winfield within the course of a week's time.

Cabell Midland jumped out to a 20-plus point lead in the first half against South Charleston, sending a shock into the Black Eagles on their home floor.

However, South Charleston rallied back to tie the game on a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

I firmly believe that the next five minutes dictated Cabell Midland's season.

Instead of getting their head down after a third-straight potential deflation in which they looked primed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, the Knights did what Knights are supposed to do.

They battled.

Along the way of the overtime win, they also discovered some key leadership from seniors Michael Brumfield and Matt Walker along with the sheer energy of Tyler Anderson, who has gone from the bench to a starter based on work ethic.

The end result was an overtime win that sent them into the MSAC Championship game and completely transformed their season.

While that win transformed their season, Tuesday night's matchup will be the one that puts a stamp on a great campaign should they get past South Charleston for a second time.

Regardless of the victor, it's going to be a great game between two teams that no one wants to see come up on their side of the draw.

Consider this matchup the first game of the 2010 boys state tournament -- the play-in game if you will.

It will have that type of feel to it.

POLLINGER SIGNS WITH NAVY: Tolsia girls basketball standout Kara Pollinger signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the U.S. Naval Academy on Friday afternoon.

Pollinger is the floor general for the Rebels, who are currently ranked No. 3 in Class AA and are headed to the state tournament this week at the Charleston Civic Center. Tolsia takes on Oak Glen at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

For the year, Pollinger is averaging 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals while notching three triple-doubles on the year.

WE SANG TOO SOON: Speaking of the U.S. Naval Academy, a story earlier this week incorrectly stated that Huntington St. Joe junior standout Sara Sang had signed with Navy.

According to her father John Sang, she has not signed with Navy, but they are one of several schools who have shown interest in the recruiting process.

Sang, a 6-1 junior, leads the No. 1 Irish into this week's Class A girls state tournament. Huntington St. joe takes on Meadow Bridge at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

WHAT A FINISH: Former Chesapeake High standout P.J. Rase closed out his college career in style Friday. The senior guard for the University of Rio Grande matched a career high with 34 points, but No. 1 seed Campbellsville beat the No. 8 RedStorm, 93-77, in the first round of the Mid-South Conference Tournament. Rase went 17 for 17 at the foul line. He was honorable mention All-Mid-South Conference and also earned league All-Academic honors as well.

OHIO DIVISION III WRESTLING: Chesapeake's Shane Pelfrey went 1-2 in the Ohio Division III state wrestling tournament at Ohio State's Value City Arena.

Pelfrey lost to Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy's Matt Meadows 14-7 in the first round before beating Swanton's Tom Leahey 6-5 in the consolation first round. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon's Miles Chapman eliminated Pelfrey with a 5-0 win.

SPRING SCHEDULES: All coaches and athletic directors that have not submitted baseball and softball schedules are urged to do so.

Schedules can be E-mailed to gtraylor@herald-dispatch.com or hedge@herald-dispatch.com. They can also be faxed to (304) 526-2857.

Grant Traylor is a reporter for The Herald-Dispatch. Contact him at (304) 526-2759 or gtraylor@herald-dispatch.com.

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