I can’t hide from it anymore. Basketball season is here, it’s in full swing and I’m excited. Local teams began dishing it out on the hardwood last month while I was still immersed in football.

Then, Straughn was making a deep run in the playoffs as it made school history by clinching a berth to play in the Class 3A state semifinals. The Tigers beat Midfield 17-13 to do so, but fell 35-14 a week later to Fayette County.

Basketball at the time didn’t really cross my mind, but I had started thinking about what this season will bring.

Starting today, two local schools will host their annual Christmas tournaments — Andalusia in its 46th invitational and Straughn in its boys Christmas tournament.

In my mind, usually the start of basketball season is the annual Lady Tigers’ Thanksgiving Tournament at SHS.

People often ask me whether I’m ready for it and my usual response is “not yet.”

In the next three months, for a few times each week, I’ll be going to games where one shot can determine the outcome of a game.

Where one foul can help a team overcome a slim deficit to come out in victory.

What will this season bring to our local teams?

Andalusia’s girls team had an awesome venture to the Class 4A state championship last season, but is in rebuild mode this season.

Lady Bulldogs coach Teresa Herring said the girls are improving.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking about who from our area will make a good run in the post season this year.

I’ve only been to a handful of games this season, and I can’t judge which team will do so. I’ll be sure come January when area play starts.

Class 3A Straughn and Opp are in the same area this season so that should be a good match up. So are Pleasant Home and Florala in Class 1A.

Red Level’s boys varsity, with most of its players back from last season, is primed to have a good year, but the Tigers unfortunately have Brantley, Georgiana and J.F. Shields in their area.

This year’s regional tournament will be held at the Dothan Civic Center, a place I’ve been to maybe once before on a school trip while I was in college.

The state tournament is back at the BJCC in Birmingham.

Memories of the state tournament last year crop up every now and then, but then I have to come back to reality and remind myself that a new season has begun.

And before you or I know it, there will come a time where I’m writing another column about how basketball season flew by in a hurry.

Then, I’ll have spring sports to worry about.

That’s another monster entirely and I’m not quite ready to think about that just yet.