McKenzie girls coach Cindy Lowe got the surprise of her life this week when she learned the her area champion Lady Tigers would be host to the area tournament that begins next Monday.

Lowe said that back in mid-January that if her basketball team did indeed win the area championship that the tournament would be held at the area runner-up site because of McKenzie lack of seating capacity as laid out in the bylaws of the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

But an agreement by the respective coaches within McKenzie's area agreed that the area champs should host the area tournament.

&#8220I just sat there and smiled and said a silent ‘Yes!' to myself,” Lowe said. &#8220No one disagreed with the idea. Questions were asked and were answered about the facilities.”

Lowe said that she was quite sure that McKenzie's gymnasium did not have a seating capacity of 300 or more, but she did not see that as a problem in hosting the area tournament.

&#8220I don't expect 300 people to come out for a girls area tournament anyway,” Lowe said.

McKenzie (17-7) captured the area title after finishing with a 6-2 area mark. J.F. Shields finished second with a 5-3 mark.

Lowe said she passed the good news to her girls Monday in the lunch room.

&#8220There were smiles and there were tears,” she said.

The tournament begins at 6 p.m. Monday with Pleasant Home taking on Florala.

J.F. Shields will then play Kinston in one semifinal matchup at 6 p.m. next Thursday, while top-seed McKenzie will take on the winner of Monday's game at 7:30 p.m. that night.

The championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. next Saturday.