The Mt. Ararat girls are up first, with an Eastern Maine Class A rubber match with sixth-seeded Oxford Hills (11- 7) on tap today at 3 p.m. in Augusta.
The Eagles, the No. 3 seed after a 15-3 regular season, split with the Vikings during the regular season. Mt. Ararat won at South Paris 41- 39 in overtime, but lost at home 47-41, the last of a threegame losing skid after a 10-0 start.
Mt. Ararat recovered, winning its final five games by an average of 20 points.
Saturday’s boys slate is packed, with Brunswick, Mt. Ararat, Richmond and Hyde all in action at the Augusta Civic Center.
Western D kicks things off as No. 2 Hyde (14-3) battles seventh-seeded Seacoast Christian (10-8) at 10 a.m. The Phoenix swept the two regular season meetings, but had to fight hard for a 41-35 win on Jan. 5.
Also, eighth-seeded Richmond, coming off a hardfought 62-57 prelim win over No. 9 Buckfield on Tuesday, faces a tough challenge against Evan Worster’s topseeded Forest Hills squad at 1 p.m. The Bobcats lost the lone meeting with Tigers at Jackman on Jan. 4, 71-40.
Eastern A action kicks off at 4 p.m., with sixth-seeded Brunswick (10-8) looking to shake some demons against No. 3 Lawrence (14-4). The Bulldogs, after coming away with a 59-49 win at Brunswick, routed the Dragons on Jan. 21, 55-28 at Fairfield.
The late game on Saturday (9:30 p.m.) pits No. 9 Mt. Ararat, riding high after a 53-52 prelim win at No. 8 Oxford Hills on Wednesday, against top-seeded and undefeated Hampden Academy, which prevailed at Topsham Jan. 8, 59-37.
And, next week
After a Sunday rest, action picks up again on Monday at Augusta, with the Western D girls taking center stage.
At 10 a.m., No. 3 Hyde (16-1) looks to continue its remarkable turnaround from a winless 2011/12 campaign against No. 6 Valley (5-13). The Phoenix will surely be supported well by some of the loudest fans in high school basketball.
Hyde defeated the Warriors 48-16 and 52-42 during the season.
Right after, the two-time defending Western D champion Richmond Bobcats take the court against East-West Conference rival Greenville (6-12) at 11:30 a.m. Third-seeded Richmond bested the Lakers 49-21 and 59-31 this year and will look for the threegame sweep.
And, later Monday night, rivals get it on as No. 8 Wiscasset (11-8) and top-seeded Boothbay (17-1) renew acquaintances.
The Seahawks topped the Wolverines Feb. 7 at Boothbay, pulling away late for a 72- 58 victory behind 29 points from Anthony DiMauro. But, Wiscasset, coming off a prelim win over St. Dom’s on Wednesday, looks to ride that momentum.
And, Tuesday, the Freeport girls will invade the Portland Expo for the first time as the eighth-seeded Falcons take on defending Western B champ Lake Region at 8:30 p.m.
Jim Seavey’s Falcons, who downed Maranacook 48-37 in a prelim on Wednesday, split with the Lakers this year, falling 45-27 at Bridgton before shocking Lake Region 48-32 on Jan. 15.
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