It’s a win or go home scenario for each of the Morgan Academy basketball teams Thursday at Fort Dale Academy.

Both Senators teams will be participating in the Alabama Independent School Association class 3A, region 2 tournament and if they win Thursday, the teams will qualify for the state championship tournament.

A win would also mean Morgan would keep playing through the region 2 tournament, although the remaining games would only impact seeding for the state tournament.

Seven girls teams and seven boys teams will take part in the tournament. Morgan’s girls’ team kicks off the tournament with a game against Escambia at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The Senators’ boys team plays right after against Pike Liberal Arts at 1 p.m.

All of Thursday’s winners qualify for state, while all of the losers will see their season end.

“It’s a one game season,” said Morgan Academy’s Lee Tate, who coaches both Senators’ teams.

“It opens up a lot of great possibilities if we can win this tomorrow. We automatically qualify for state if we win. It’s a great opportunity for us.”

Both teams will also have their hands full with tough opponents.

The Morgan girls will face Escambia Academy, who they lost to last week 47-26. In that game, Escambia’s Alia Snow led a 12-2 run to begin the second half to help Escambia pull away. Snow led all scorers with 19 points in the game.

Tate said slowing her down is the key to Thursday’s game.

“We may go to a triangle-and-two or a box-and-one depending on how we’re feeling but we will be in [Snow’s] pocket the whole time,” Tate said. “That’ll be our plan.”

If the girls win, they’ll play Pike Liberal Arts Friday at 3 p.m. Pike received a bye and is automatically qualified for the regional semifinals and the state tournament.

The Morgan boys will face Pike’s boys in the first round of the region tournament Thursday.

The two teams did not meet this season, but Tate said he’s talked to other coaches about what the Patriots like to do. Morgan and Pike also share a common opponent in Escambia.

“It is exciting to play somebody you haven’t seen at all to see how you stack up,” Tate said.

Although his team hasn’t faced Pike, Tate said the Patriots have two talented guards who protect the ball and can score in bunches. He said Morgan will have to counter with a great defensive effort.

“We’ll need to play the best defensive game we’ve played this year and block out on every shot,” Tate said.

If Morgan wins, the Senators will face the winner of Hooper and Fort Dale Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The tournament will continue through Saturday, when the championship and consolation games will be played.

The top four boys and girls teams from region 2 and the top four from region 1 advance to the state tournament.

The AISA state tournament will take place in Montgomery Feb. 2-4.