Can’t you smell it?

It’s the sweet, sweet smell of what I call “February Madness” in Covington County.

This week, area tournaments for boys and girls teams at Andalusia, Opp, Straughn, Pleasant Home, Red Level and Florala will take place.

Since they split in area with Bullock County, the Opp Bobcats started the Class 4A, Area 2 tournament on Tuesday night.

The boys varsity knocked Bullock County out of the race, winning 44-40.

The girls didn’t fair too well, falling to Ashford 45-23.

Starting tonight, the girls area tournaments will begin for Andalusia, Pleasant Home and Florala. Straughn starts its tournament Friday.

The Andalusia Lady Bulldogs will hit the road to play Clarke County at 5:30 in Thomasville; Pleasant Home will play Kinston at 6 at Florala High School; and Florala will start off with McKenzie following the PHS-Kinston game at 7:30.

The Red Level Lady Tigers will be at Flomaton starting with Mobile Christian at 5:30.

Pleasant Home, Florala, Red Level and Andalusia’s girls area tournaments will wrap up on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at their host sites.

The Class 3A, Area 3 girls tournament will wrap up on Monday night.

Tomorrow night, the boys area tournaments for Andalusia, Red Level, Straughn, Pleasant Home and Florala will begin.

Andalusia is hosting the Class 4A, Area 3 tournament as the No. 1 seed and will face Hillcrest-Evergreen at 7 p.m.

Red Level is hosting the Class 2A, Area 1 tournament after a coin flip went its way and will begin with Excel at 7.

Straughn is on the road at Jackson Steele Community Center at Central-Hayneville for the Class 3A, Area 3 tournament. They start with Calhoun at 5.

Pleasant Home and Florala will be at Butler County Magnet School in Georgiana for the Class 1A, Area 3. The Eagles play Kinston at 6 and the Wildcats play McKenzie at 7:30.

Opp will continue its area run against Brewbaker Tech at 6:30 tomorrow night at Sidney Lanier High School.

The boys will finish their area tournaments Monday night.

Then after that, those teams that have either won their area championships or earned a first round victory will advance to the sub-regional tournament.

And then, it’s anybody’s guess what team will be where in the grand scheme of things.