For the first time in many years, there might not be a favorite on the boys’ side entering the Dallas County Schools Basketball Tournament.

The tournament will be held Thursday and Friday at Wallace Community College with games starting at 3 p.m. each day. All four teams in the tournament — Selma, Dallas County, Keith and Southside — would like to be holding the first place trophy Friday evening, not only for bragging rights but because of what a win in the tournament signifies for the boys team that wins. Two of the last three years the team that won the boys tournament title went on to play in Birmingham in the semifinals that year.

“I think for the first time since we’ve had it, any of four teams can win the tournament,” said Dallas County coach Willie Moore.

Selma (7-3) has the best record, but the Saints have narrowly escaped in wins over Keith, Dallas County and Southside this year. Selma head coach Ronald Lane knows it won’t be easy for his team to win the tournament.

“We are looking forward to the challenge,” Lane said. “Our kids want to be the kings of the county so we’ve got to step up to the plate and try to make it happen.”

The first boys game of the tournament will be between Dallas County and Southside at 6 p.m. Those teams have not played this year, although they have a meeting scheduled for January. Both teams look to bounce back after losses. Dallas County (5-3) lost to Calera Friday night, while Southside’s rally came up short against Selma.

“I’m curious to see how we are going to be able to play against the size they present for us,” Moore said.

Meanwhile, Selma will try to pull a difficult feat — beat a team three times in the same season.

The Saints won their first two games over Keith by a combined 15 points.

The Bears (4-6) have won two in a row and might be playing their best basketball of the season.

“I think this will be the third game in six weeks and both of them have been very competitive, good basketball games,” Lane said.

“The talent itself is even and we caught a few breaks here and there. The games could’ve went either way.”

On the girls’ side of the bracket, there does appear to be a heavy favorite.

Selma’s girls (9-1) have also won games against all three teams in the tournament and they won them by sizeable margins. The Saints open the tournament against Keith at 3 p.m. Dallas County and Southside will play the other first round matchup at 4:30 p.m.

Admission into the tournament is $8.

There will be four games played each day of the tournament.