Now it's a little easier to look ahead

The buildup was there all week — or, more accurately, since their regular-season game Dec. 19 — for Friday's Sikeston-Notre Dame district championship.

Once again, two teams with great seasons. Once again, intense fan support, vocal student sections and another packed house. Once again, a talented basketball team sitting at home to watch an even more talented team aim for a state championship.

Sikeston's win over Notre Dame on Friday was a rare feat: It was the third time this season Sikeston has beaten Notre Dame, although the 49-47 score was the closest of the three. But it was the first time Sikeston was on the winning side of a district championship score since 2006, having lost to Notre Dame the past two years.

The next buildup is another one that could produce a classic finish: Sikeston at Farmington, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Mineral Area College.

Even Farmington made a dramatic entry into Friday's final round at Park Hills: The Knights scored four points in the final 0.6 seconds Thursday to eliminate Park Hills Central, and they were aiming for their third win over DeSoto in less than two months.

It all leads to plenty of questions heading into Wednesday's matchup:

Can Michael Porter win a state championship for the first time as a varsity team leader?

Can Farmington win its first-ever sectional game? The Knights have won a district title six times, but they're 0-6 in the sectional round.

Was Sikeston's 77-75 win at Farmington on Jan. 20 a sign of another close encounter to come? Was it a fluke?

And finally, with Farmington the newest member of the SEMO Conference in football, will 2008-'09 be the season a basketball rivalry is born between the schools?

Is it too early to make a prediction?