A pair of basketball teams from the South Central Association play this weekend with trips to the state semifinals on the line.
The Willow Springs girls face Skyline at 6 p.m. Friday at Nixa High School in the Class 3 quarterfinals. On the boys side, Liberty plays Skyline at 1 p.m. Saturday at Republic High School.
The Lady Bears (22-6), who won their first district title since 1999 by upsetting Thayer in the championship game of Class 3 District 9, erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit Monday against Sparta to squeak out a 46-44 sectional win. Senior Chloe Jones scored 32 points for Willow Springs.
Liberty (27-2) continued to add to its program-best win total with a 66-60 win against Seymour in the sectional round at Tiger Fieldhouse. The Eagles won districts for the first time since 2012 by beating Thayer. That year, Liberty lost its sectional game to Charleston.