There are still some games left, but they would have to be pretty special to stack up with the best games of the basketball season.

Thorsby’s and Chilton Christian’s girls have playoff games scheduled for Thursday night, and Chilton Christian’s boys are preparing for an appearance in the state tournament.

While maybe not as meaningful in terms of seasons hanging in the balance, the games listed here were the most exciting of the 2009-10 season:

1. Bryan sinks free throws, Winterboro in overtime.

Evan Bryan’s first chance to win the boys basketball game on Dec. 3 against Winterboro rimmed out, but Thorsby’s senior guard would get another chance.

Bryan made two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to give the Rebels a 62-61 win in overtime, which was necessary after Bryan’s 3-pointer with time expiring in regulation rolled around the rim but wouldn’t go in.

The hosts made two comebacks—one in regulation and one in overtime.

Winterboro led by 10 points at the end of the third quarter, but Thorsby tied up the physical game on a Jeremiah Good free throw with just less than 1 minute to play.

All the momentum disappeared in the extra period, though, as the Rebels failed to make contact with the rim on four of their first five possessions (three turnovers and an airball) and Winterboro took a 5-point lead.

But, once again, Thorsby came storming back—and was helped by Winterboro’s making only four of nine free throws in overtime.

2. Late run gives title to Devils.

Thorsby’s girls basketball team dropped only one game this season, but the loss cost the Rebels the county tournament championship.

Maplesville downed Thorsby, 47-39, on Jan. 16 in a game that was close most of the way but got out of hand late, when the Red Devils started creating turnovers and scoring points on fast breaks.

“I feel like they did a good job of stopping us from running and playing our game for the most part,” Maplesville coach Eric Bailey said. “But Ebony (Childers) stepped up—and Zuri (Nix). I feel like the whole team stepped up and played better at the end of the game.”

Neither team led by more than three points until Kiana Andrews drained a 3-point shot after Maplesville rebounded a missed free throw with 6:47 remaining in the game.

That shot gave the Devils a 33-27 lead and sparked a run that saw them build a 16-point lead with 3:30 left.

Thorsby cut the lead to eight points on a runner by Ashlin Hilyer with 1:10 on the clock, but it wasn’t enough.

3. Shorthanded VHS girls fall in 2nd OT.

There were only two Verbena girls basketball players on the court at the end of a 63-53 double overtime loss to Wadley in the first round of the Class 1A, Area 7 tournament at Edward Bell High School on Feb. 2.

The Red Devils came into the game down to six players because of sickness, and foul outs spared only freshman Kaelyn Mims and sophomore Allyson Brown.