The insanity is upon us — the winter district tournaments begin tonight.
This year the boys and girls soccer and girls basketball tournaments occur at the same time (thank you, FHSAA, for making us channel the Michael Keaton movie “Multiplicity” the next nine days). They crank up in earnest next week — all the girls hoops is next week — but the soccer tournaments kick off the end of this week.
In girls soccer, Osceola, the No. 6 seed in the District 7A-6 tournament, will be in action tonight (Thursday) at No. 3 Freedom at 6 p.m., for the right play at Celebration in Tuesday’s semifinal.
The boys take the field Friday. Celebration (10-4-2) will host Osceola (9-8-2) in a 4/5 seed matchup at 6 p.m.; the winner will get top-seed Cypress Creek on Wednesday. The Storm had an epic battle with Cypress Creek on Dec. 6; they trailed the Bears 4-0 at the half but stormed back in the second half for a 4-4 draw. Celebration is gunning for a third straight trip to the state tournament.
In the 6A-12 tournament, No. 3 seed Harmony (12-3-5), the Orange Belt Conference tournament champions, will host No. 6 Martin County on Friday at 7 p.m. The winner plays Viera at Melbourne in Tuesday’s semifinal.
On Monday, both Poinciana’s girls and boys teams will play at Tohopekaliga in the 6A-9 tournament (5 and 7 p.m.) in 4/5 matchups. The winners will play at St. Cloud, the No. 1 seed in both tournaments, on Wednesday.
In girls basketball, an intriguing game Monday will pit Celebration against host Osceola in a 7A-6 4/5 matchup. The winner plays top-seed Windermere at Celebration on Wednesday.