PIGEON FORGE — By virtue of their performance in the regular season and semifinals of the District 3-AA tournament, the Pigeon Forge Lady Tigers will host the Scott County Lady Highlanders in the first round of the Region 2-AA tournament tonight at PFHS.

Similarly, the Sevier County Bearettes upset win over Cocke County in the opening round of the District 2-AAA tournament assured them a spot in the region tonight, and they’ll travel to Bristol to face the Vikings of Tennessee High.

While the Purple and White (10-20) will have their work cut with Tennessee High (22-8), the Lady Tigers (21-5) are the likely favorites over Scott County (14-11).

Still, the Lady Highlanders are no pushovers.

After falling to the top-seeded Christian Academy of Knoxville in the District 4-AA semifinals, 55-44, Scott County toppled a good Stone Memorial team, 80-73, in triple-overtime to earn the district’s third-place crown on Monday.

In that game the Lady Highlanders showed off their versatility as four players scored in double-figures — Whitney Phillips with 22 points, Shay Anderson with 20, Lexi Jeffers with 15 and Lynsey Chambers with 13.

Pigeon Forge would be well-suited to start off hot, as they did in many home games this season. Using their pressing style to spark a few Danielle Rauhuff steals and layups or some spot-up 3-pointers on fast-breaks from a trailing Kelsey Brooks would put the Lady Tigers in good shape early.

As for the Bearettes’ matchup with Tennessee High, the Lady Vikings showed what they were all about Monday night as they delivered a 52-33 knockout punch to 1-AAA’s top-seeded Science Hill in the finals of the district tournament.

What’s most concerning for the Bearettes entering tonight’s game is that same Science Hill team easily handled SCHS twice this season — by an average of nearly 18 points.

For the Bearettes to be competitive with the Vikings, they need guards Jaisa Moritz and Carly Pippin to be hitting on all cylinders. With Moritz bombing away from the outside and Pippin slashing to the basket and mixing in a few jumpers, the Bearettes could make it interesting.

mpsports@themountainpress.com