The Jefferson City Jays have already defeated one state-ranked team this basketball postseason.
Tonight, they get a chance at doing it again.
The Jays (18-8), who topped 10th-ranked Waynesville to win the district title last week, will take on the third-ranked Blue Springs South Jaguars (25-2) in a Class 5 sectional game at 6 p.m. at State Fair Community College in Sedalia.
Blue Springs South defeated a pair of Mid-Missouri foes to capture the District 9 Tournament title in Blue Springs. The top-seeded Jaguars got past Hickman 72-60 in the semifinals before besting Rock Bridge 70-62 in the championship game.
It was Blue Springs South's second win against Hickman this season after defeating the Kewpies 73-51 on Jan. 9.
Jefferson City split with Hickman this year, losing 51-49 in mid-December at Fleming Fieldhouse before winning 73-65 on Feb. 10 in Columbia. Rock Bridge won the lone meeting with Jefferson City this season with a 62-51 decision in Columbia.
The two teams have three other common opponents - Lee's Summit North, Rockhurst and Blue Springs. The Jaguars finished 4-0 against the trio, while the Jays were 1-2.
The Jays and Jaguars are both led by Division I signees - O.G. Anunoby of Jefferson City, who has signed with Indiana, and Kevin Puryear of Blue Springs South, who has signed with Missouri.
This is Jefferson City's first trip to the state tournament since the 2009-10 season when the Jays fell 40-39 to Holt in the sectionals at Union.
Tonight's winner advances to Saturday afternoon's quarterfinal at Southwest Baptist in Bolivar against either fifth-ranked Kickapoo or second-ranked Nixa.