Waccamaw & SAC 6 Conference Tournament Preview: What is at stake for East & West Bladen?
- Austin Smith
- Feb 17
- 3 min read
**Disclaimer: Some parts of this article are projections and they are just that—projections. They can change based on the results of the conference tournaments and will not be finalized until this coming Saturday by the NCHSAA.**
East Bladen Varsity Girls
The East Bladen Lady Eagles enter the Waccamaw Conference Tournament as the No. 1 seed after an undefeated (12-0) run in conference play.
After earning a first-round bye, East Bladen will face the winner of the 4-seed Whiteville vs. 5-seed Pender matchup in the semifinals on Wednesday at 6:00 PM at West Columbus High School.
Should they advance, the Lady Eagles will compete for the championship on Friday at 6:00 PM, also at West Columbus.
What’s at Stake?
East Bladen enters the conference tournament ranked #10 in the 1A East RPI, but based on current projections, they would be seeded #7 in the state playoffs due to their status as the top seed from the Waccamaw Conference.
RPI rankings can be a complex topic—so I'll spare you the deep dive for now.
However, the key takeaway is that East Bladen has a legitimate chance to climb to the #6 seed depending on how current #6 seed North Duplin performs in their own conference tournament.
If the Lady Eagles secure the #7 seed, they would be guaranteed at least two home games in the state playoffs should they advance in each round of the state playoffs.
East Bladen Varsity Boys
On the boys' side, the East Bladen Eagles enter the Waccamaw Conference Tournament as the No. 6 seed, setting up a tough first-round matchup against 3-seed South Columbus on Tuesday at South Columbus.
A first-round victory would propel East Bladen into the semifinals on Thursday at 7:30 PM at West Columbus.
The boys’ championship game is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 PM.
What’s at Stake?
East Bladen enters the tournament ranked #30 in the 1A East RPI, but current projections have them seeded #29 in the state playoffs.
A win on Tuesday could help boost their RPI standing, but it’s difficult to project how much they could rise without seeing how other teams fare in their respective conference tournaments.
As results unfold across the 1A East, a clearer picture will emerge.
West Bladen Varsity Boys
The West Bladen Knights secured the #1 seed in the SAC 6 Conference Tournament after a perfect 10-0 record in conference play.
The Knights will face the winner of the #4 St. Pauls vs. #5 Red Springs matchup in the semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 6:00 PM—on their home court, as they are hosting the conference tournament.
If they advance to the championship, they will play Friday at 7:30 PM.
What’s at Stake?
West Bladen enters the tournament #6 in the 2A East RPI, but based on current projections, they would be seeded #4 in the state playoffs as the top team from the SAC 6 Conference.
There isn’t much wiggle room for the Knights in the RPI standings unless teams around them move up or down.
However, securing the #4 seed would guarantee at least three home games in the state playoffs if they were to continue to advance in each round of the state playoffs
West Bladen Varsity Girls
The West Bladen Lady Knights enter the SAC 6 Conference Tournament as the #5 seed and will travel to #4 Red Springs for a quarterfinal matchup.
These two teams split their regular-season series, including an intense 40-37 West Bladen victory to close out the regular season.
What’s at Stake?
West Bladen enters the tournament #33 in the 2A East RPI and is currently outside the state playoff picture based on current projections.
A win over Red Springs, currently projected as the #29 seed in the 2A East, would boost West Bladen’s playoff hopes. However, their postseason fate will also depend on other conference tournament results affecting the RPI standings.
If you're interested in learning more about how the NCHSAA determines playoff seeding, this link provides a helpful breakdown from High School OT: NCHSAA Playoff Seeding Process
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