The new year has started and local high school basketball teams are in the midst of area play.

The playoffs, which begin on Feb. 2 with area tournaments, are only a few weeks away. The top seed in each area will host each area tournament and the top two seeds in each tournament advance to the sub-state portion of the playoffs.

Here’s a look at how each team’s area is shaping up at this point in the season:

BOYS

Class 3A, Area 7

Beulah (3-13, 1-4) is out of the running for the regular season title after suffering losses to Dadeville (4-0) and B.B. Comer (3-3), but the Bobcats’ hopes to get hot in the postseason and achieve the goal of qualifying for the state playoffs remains alive. Beulah still has two meetings with Randolph County (1-2) before the end of the regular season.

Class 1A, Area 6

Lanett (9-6, 4-0) is off to an undefeated start in area 6. The Panthers already have wins over every team in area 6 — Loachapoka, Notasulga and Wadley — but still, play Loachapoka and Notasulga one more time before the end of the regular season. The Loachapoka and Wadley games will be on the road, but the Panthers won both of the first matchups against each team, and the second matchup against Wadley by 30 points or more. Notasulga has been Lanett’s biggest area competition so far, staying within two of the Panthers in a 63-61 game earlier this year. However, Wadley may be the biggest challenger for the title. Wadley is 2-2 in area play after beating Notasulga on Monday. Notasulga (1-2) is still in the running as well. Loachapoka (0-4) is eliminated for the regular season title.

Class 2A, Area 9

LaFayette (18-3, 4-0) is also off to an undefeated start in area play. The Bulldogs have defeated Ranburne twice by double digits, Woodland by 45 points and Horseshoe Bend by 27. The team will face Woodland and Horseshoe Bend one more time before the end of the regular season.

Class 5A, Area 4

Valley (5-8, 2-1) is one game over .500 in area play so far. The Rams have opened home area play with two surprise wins over Tallassee and Brewbaker Tech, while losing on the road to Beauregard 63-52 on Jan. 10. Beauregard (2-1), Tallassee (3-2) and Valley all have area records that stand at one win over .500. The Rams face each area team one more time before the end of the regular season.

GIRLS

Class 3A, Area 7

Beulah (2-14, 2-2) currently stands at .500 in area play after earning back-to-back wins over Dadeville and Randolph County. The Bobcats have battled injuries all season, but now have a majority of their team back to finish the regular year. B.B Comer is the only team in the area that Beulah hasn’t won against, after suffering a road 39-38 loss to the Tigers on Dec. 14. Beulah still faces Randolph County twice before meeting B.B. Comer for one final time in the regular season on Jan. 26. Dadeville currently has the best record in the area at 3-1.

Class 2A, Area 9

LaFayette (15-3, 4-0) is undefeated in area 9. The Bulldogs have already defeated every team in the area — Ranburne, Woodland and Horseshoe Bend  — by an average of 19 points but still have to play Woodland and Horseshoe Bend one more time before the end of the season. Ranburne has the second-best overall record in the area at (3-2) and 12-5 overall.

Class 1A, Area 6

Lanett (7-5, 3-1) has only suffered one loss in area play. The Panthers lost to Loachapoka at home 38-36 on Jan. 5. Since the loss, Lanett has defeated Wadley twice and Notasulga once in area play. Loachapoka also has a 3-1 record in area play, while Notasulga is 2-1. While the two wins against Wadley were 50-point blowouts, the Panthers squeezed out of Notasulga with a 51-48 win on Jan. 8. Lanett will also finish the season without senior guard Ambria Jackson, who recently tore her ACL. Lanett faces Loachapoka one more time this regular season on Jan. 25.

Class 5A, Area 4

Valley (8-8, 2-1) is a game over .500 in area play after a loss to Brewbaker Tech on Tuesday night. The Rams defeated Tallassee and Beauregard in convincing fashion before the loss earlier this week. Valley plays each area team one more time before the end of the regular season. Brewbaker Tech currently leads the area with a 2-0 record in area play, defeating Valley and Tallassee by an average margin of 54 points.