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The basketball season continues for four teams representing independent schools in the Roanoke-Chowan area.

The 2024 North Carolina Independent Athletic Association’s 1A State Tournament begins this week at various locations.

Ridgecroft’s girls (20-0 overall), the regular season and tournament champions of the Tarheel Independent Conference, gained a double-bye in the 15-team tournament. The Lady Rams are seeded third and will not play until Saturday’s (Feb. 17) quarterfinals where they host Thursday’s (Feb. 15) winner of the #6 Crossroads Christian School vs. either Kerr-Vance Academy or Albemarle School.

Lawrence Academy’s girls (13-8 overall) are seeded #7. They received a first round bye and will host the winner of Tuesday’s (Feb. 13) game between Bradford Academy and Cape Fear Christian Academy.

Also representing the Tarheel Independent Conference in the state’s varsity girls tournament is Pungo Christian Academy (15-10 overall). They are seeded #8 and will meet unseeded Halifax Academy (9-11 overall) in Thursday’s (Feb. 15) second round.

On the varsity boys side of the bracket, both Ridgecroft and Lawrence gained bids to the state 1A tournament. Ridgecroft (19-5 overall), the TIC regular season and tournament champions, received a first round bye, but got a tough matchup in Thursday’s (Feb. 15) second round as the Rams will entertain league rival Pungo Christian (22-5 overall). Ridgecroft, seeded #8 in the state tourney, swept the Raiders this season, but all outcomes were close (61-57; 59-53; and 57-53).

Lawrence Academy (16-7 overall) is unseeded. They were given an opening round bye, but must travel to face #7 Cape Fear Christian (11-12 overall) in Thursday’s second round action.