Both Ellwood teams are on their way to Montgomery for the Alabama Independent School Association state tournament. Alabama High School Athletic Association tournaments will heat up this week as well.

We know for a fact that in each of these games five young men and five young women will be on the court for each of our teams giving it their all as long as time is on the clock. The rest is up to you.

When Dallas County teams take the floor this week, make some noise. Cheer, clap, scream and yell. Do whatever it takes to push these young people to victory.

For those who will host games, make sure the other team’s fans know where they are and who owns the court. For those who will travel, bring Selma, Orrville or Plantersville to their gym and take over. You can easily create a home-court advantage away from home with the right fans and the right environment.

It’s no secret that players feed off the energy of the crowd. Though many coaches do not like to admit it, the atmosphere in the stands can have a huge say in the outcome of a game.

Teams fear playing Dallas County squads for a reason. They are well-coached, well-conditioned and know the game like the back of their hand.

The same is true of the fans. Let’s make sure the tradition of energetic Dallas County crowds is kept alive this week and throughout the playoffs.