Shelby County has showcased many stand-out basketball teams in years past, and this year has proved no different. When teams around the state take the court for their respective area tournaments, five of those sites will be hosted in Shelby County.

Class 6A

The Spain Park Jaguars hope to continue what has already been a strong season when they host the Area 11 tournament this week. Although Homewood ended their five-game win streak last week, the Jags bounced back with a road win over Grissom on Friday night to fine tune for the post season.

&8220;We have been playing well at times, but we have to be able to convert in critical situations,&8221; Spain Park head coach Brian Moon said.

&8220;We need to be at a point where we are clicking on all cylinders.&8221;

With the area tournament looming, Moon is looking for &8220;individual readiness&8221; from his team and hitting the court playing like they &8220;have something to prove.&8221;

Also looking to pick up an area title at home, is Thompson. The Warriors host Jackson-Olin, Hueytown and Pelham in the the Area 10 tournament.

CLASS 5A

The Wildcats have had their highs and lows in the past week as they prepare to host the Area 6 tournament in Charles Dickinson Gymnasium.

After clinching the area crown and posting a nine game win streak, they fell twice on the road to Vincent and Thompson. Despite being on the losing end, Wildcats head coach Charles Dickinson is optimistic.

&8220;We played two very good teams that shot the ball well, but we are still playing well despite that,&8221; Dickinson said.

Dickinson hopes his team will keep &8220;doing what they have been doing&8221; through the post season and &8220;continue to play the game, not necessarily the opponent.&8221;

CLASS 3A

Post season play has been no stranger to the Calera Eagles, who host the Area 7 tournament this week.

After countless state championships, the Eagles know what it takes to hang the banner high and cut down the nets in the end. After suffering two back to back losses from Shelby County and Altamont, the Eagles bounced back in triple digit fashion by defeating Childersburg 106-82 to conclude the regular season.

&8220;After two knock down, drag out losses to Shelby County and Altamont, it was good to beat a quality team in Childersburg,&8221; said Eagles head coach Robert Burdette. &8220;We seemed to find our intensity again, rebound the ball well, and kept Childersburg off the offensive glass.&8221;

&8220;We are happy to be the number one seed in the area tournament and to be able to have it on our home court is a huge plus,&8221; Burdette says.

&8220;We just need to defend, rebound, and take one game at a time.

If we do that, we have a great chance to win.&8221;

CLASS 2A

As if hosting the Area 7 tournament and posting a 9-1 record weren&8217;t enough, the Vincent Yellow Jackets

posted a pair of confidence building wins over Shelby County and ninth-ranked Childersburg to wrap up the regular season.

The win over Shelby County marked the first in seven years.

&8220;There is no doubt these past few wins has helped the confidence of our guys,&8221; Yellow Jacket head coach Stacy McGehee said.

&8220;Our guys are now believing in themselves and believing in the program.

They are a fun group to watch.&8221;

With everything to be proud about, Vincent hopes to remain focused as the post season play progresses.

&8220;We are just telling our guys not to be over confident and overlook anyone, especially Winterboro.

Of all the area teams we have played, they have given us the closer game than all the others,&8221; McGehee said.