Win one and you’re in.

That’s how the area basketball tournaments work for most of the state. But not for White Plains.

For White Plains, today is do or die.

The Class 3A, Area 10 boys area tournament starts today at Piedmont, and it will kick off with the bottom two seeds — White Plains and Weaver — facing off for a shot at the semifinals. A win in the semifinals ensures a team of a sub-state berth.

It’s about as even of a matchup as one could expect with the two teams each gaining a win over the other during the regular season.

Early in the season, White Plains suffered a double-digit loss to the Bearcats. But with the recently surging Wildcats, they topped the Bearcats’ by a four-point margin.

Whomever wins the contest will get a shot at Piedmont and its host of outside shooters.

Pleasant Valley, however, was able to bypass the play-in games, and has a good shot at that sub-state berth.

The Raiders are pitted against Glencoe in a 7:30 p.m. tipoff on Friday. Against the Yellow Jackets this season, Pleasant Valley has won one and lost one.

And should the Raiders top Glencoe, their future against Piedmont doesn’t look that bleak.

White the Raiders have lost twice to the top-seeded Bulldogs, neither one was a blowout. The first loss was by 10 points and the second was 11.

The championship game is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m.

Class 1A, Area 11

Jacksonville Christian didn’t pick up the top seed in the area tournament, but it got perhaps the next-best thing.

Coosa Christian.

When the Area 11 tournament’s semifinal games take place on Friday at Sacred Heart, Jacksonville Christian will take on its foes from Etowah County. Less than three weeks ago, JCA dominated Coosa 61-29. The two will square off at 5:30 p.m.

Another showing like that and a place in the area tournament finals — and the berth into the sub-state round — will be in the books. It will be there that — in all likelihood — JCA will get its next shot with Sacred Heart, the tournament host.

JCA split with Sacred Heart in the regular season, winning the most recent meeting (Jan. 23) by a six-point margin.

Jacksonville Christian will be heading into the tournament with quite a bit of momentum on its side. The Thunder have won six of its last seven, including that win over Sacred Heart. It only blemish was a loss to Cedar Bluff.