Five boys teams from the area have reached the sweet sixteen of their respective high school basketball classifications, set to begin play next week.

Throughout the week, teams will face their toughest tests yet in their quest to move to Birmingham.

The games will be played at the Acadome on the campus of Alabama State in Montgomery and the Mitchell Arena, on the campus of the University of South Alabama, in Mobile, where the dimensions are different and there are no backdrops for shooters.

It’s a new element that adds a level of difficulty to the games coaches say.

Dallas County may have the most difficult match-up in the first round when they take on No. 3-ranked Midfield.

“They are a very good team,” Hornets coach Willie Moore said. “They have really good guard play and try to force you into turnovers.”

The fast-paced game is one the Hornets are used to giving to other teams, but it will be the post play where Dallas County has the advantage in this match-up.

“They don’t really have a big man like we do,” Moore said. “They have bigger guys who can step out and shoot, but not one down low.”

The Keith Bears will take on Holy Spirit, a team coach Tommy Tisdale said would be much like their match-up against St. Jude.

“From all have hear they are a near carbon copy of St. Jude,” Tisdale said. “They are a little quicker than Saint Jude, but they like to get out and run and shoot. At this level its always going to be a good team.”

The Saints will be traveling to Mobile to take on Faith Academy in the opening round of the south regional.

“We have been keeping up with them all year,” Selma coach Woodie Jackson said. They are going to be really tough for us, but all teams now are really tough. From what we can see, they like a half-tempo. They are a really balanced team. We are going to have to play great defense and rebound.”