Baseball is America’s pastime. Football has usurped it in terms of popularity. Few sports, however, run as deep in Beaufort County as basketball.

The sport has a rich tradition in the area. Residents fondly remember the 1970s when Dominique Wilkins was shredding teams all around North Carolina en route to back-to-back 3-A championships for the Pam Pack.

Bam Adebayo became the latest county product to dominate the hardwood. His three seasons at Northside helped pave his path to the NBA. He still has a little while before he’ll catch up to Wilkins’ 26,668 career points.

There have been so many other notable teams to grace Beaufort County’s courts over the years, too.

This coming week marks the beginning of basketball playoffs. There are few events as exciting as the single-elimination tournament to crown a champion.

Wilkins’ alma mater endured a tough season and won’t compete for a title, but Adebayo’s Panthers have a shot at a decent run. These high-stakes games are a chance to see the next generation of Beaufort County’s ballers play in an electric atmosphere.

The Panthers will spotlight an experienced group directed by an elite sophomore point guard in Rashod Smith. For the girls’ teams, there’s a chance that all three of the county’s teams may be represented.

Washington has twins Cierra and Tierra Wiggins directing the show. They’ve been a pleasure to follow simply because of their chemistry. Junior Daria Jones is also a treat because of her ability to do just about anything on the court.

The Lady Panthers and Lady Seahawks are teams to watch for similar reasons. Both are relatively young squads centered around a core group of seniors. Southside has Symone Ruffin and Michaela Dixon leading a bevy of underclassmen talent. Many of those youngsters will be making their playoff debuts this week.

There are a lot of reasons to get out and cheer for each of Beaufort County’s basketball teams. Each game will be well worth the trip, so be sure to experience what should be some electric atmospheres.