With their impressive come from behind 52-51 win over the Livingston High Cougars last Friday night in the Class 4A Area 8 Tournament, the 13-10 Demopolis High Tigers will have the honor of hosting the Bibb County Choctaws tonight in the sub-regional round of the AHSAA boy’s basketball playoffs.

The Tigers have made an appearance in the sub-regional six out of the last seven years, but have yet to find a way to win since 1997, when the then 5A Tigers beat 5A Wilcox-Central to advance to the regionals in Mobile. The Tigers went on to lose to B. C. Rain in the regional round.

But tonight the Tigers stand their strongest chance of making the trip to Mobile as they take on the Choctaws. Tonight’s match-up will be the third meeting this season between the Choctaws and the Tigers.

But though the Tigers have won two-of-the-three previous meetings, DHS head coach Jesse Bell knows that beating a team three times in one season is about as hard as it gets, especially if a team has the wrong type of mentality going into that game.

“That’s is my biggest concern right now,” Bell said. “We just come off a big win against Livingston and have this, can’t nobody beat us attitude, and I would hate to see Bibb County move on to the next round simply because we were not mentally prepared.”

Bibb County is no stranger to success on the court either. The Choctaws have made the trip to Mobile every year of the past five. And would like nothing more than a chance to make it again this year.

“They are going to come after us pretty hard tonight,” Bell said. “It’s going to be like a boxing match. Whoever can withstand the most punches will win.”

In their only loss this season to Bibb County the Tigers committed a season high 33 turnovers to lose by 1 point. But still continue to average 18.5 turnovers per game.

DHS vs. Bibb Co.

Game 1. DHS 55, Bibb Co. 52 (Greensboro Classic)

Game 2. Bibb Co. 57, DHS 56 (Bibb County)

Game 3. DHS 55, Bibb Co. 41 (Demopolis)

Bibb County starting five

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4 Alfred Smith (guard)

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5 Clay Jones (guard)

No. 22 Rodrick Clayton (forward)

No. 24 Arthur Smith (forward)

No. 40 Stevie Crews (center)

DHS starting five

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4 Greg McClain (guard)

No. 10 G. W. Washington (forward)

No. 20 Dontrell Miller (point guard)

No. 22 Cedric McKinley (center)

No. 24 Lequintin Lomax (forward)