With Saturday’s results, Three Rivers’ schedule for the Region XVI tournament is finally set in stone. The men host State Fair today at 7 p.m. at the Libla Family Sports Complex in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 play-in game. Both team’s have three region wins on the season, and the Raiders (10-11, 3-9 Region XVI) hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, thus earning the higher seed and the opportunity to host.

State Fair (8-14, 3-9) had a chance to earn a fourth region win and host the play-in game, but lost to Moberly Area on Saturday in its region finale. The winner of Tuesday’s game will play Mineral Area at 5 p.m. Friday at Park Hills, and the region championship is 7 p.m. Saturday in Park Hills.

Mineral Area, as the top seed, is hosting both the semifinals and finals this season under temporary rules because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Region XVI winner will then face the Region IV winner in the district championship. On the women’s side, the Region XVI winner gets an automatic bid in the national tournament, but that’s not the only difference.

The women’s tournament has also been pushed back a week, giving the Lady Raiders a week off between games. While Mineral Area is hosting the final four for the men, all women’s tournament games will be played at the higher seed. As the top seed, Three Rivers will host its semifinal game at 7 p.m. April 8 against the winner of Mineral Area and Crowder. The championship game will be at 7 p.m. April 10 at the highest seed. Second-seeded Moberly Area will host the winner of State Fair and Jefferson in the other semifinal. The Lady Raiders also have one remaining regular-season game against Crowder at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Libla Family Sports Complex. Both men’s and women’s national tournaments begin April 19 in, respectively, Hutchinson, Kan., and Lubbock, Texas.

Scott Borkgren - Daily American Republic