As winter comes to a close, its sports are headed to a hotly contested conclusion.

It’s the final week of the regular season in basketball. Several Chronicle Country teams find themselves not only battling for playoff positions, but region titles.

Meanwhile, 3 Chronicle Country schools remain in the running for state wrestling titles.

At least 1 is guaranteed to reach the Class 3A final as Gilbert defended its Lower State title against Region 5-3A rival Swansea on Wednesday.

In Class 5A, White Knoll was the lone Lexington County team standing entering Wednesday.

BASKETBALL

The Region 5-5A basketball titles may come down to the final day of the regular season.

On the girls’ side, Lexington and River Bluff were tied for 1st place headed into Tuesday’s action.

If both teams were victorious in their scheduled contests, a winner-take-all matchup is set for Thursday at Lexington High School.

A win by White Knoll at home over River Bluff could complicate matters. Should the Lady Timberwolves win their next 2 games, they could possibly face Lexington in a 1-day playoff.

Another scenario would be a 3-way tie if the Lady Gators lose to White Knoll and defeat Lexington and White Knoll wins its season finale against Dutch Fork.

The schools may hold a Wednesday meeting to clarify the tiebreaker rules.

Things are more cut and dry on the boys’ side. Dutch Fork can clinch the region with a win over White Knoll Thursday.

River Bluff would need to beat White Knoll and Lexington and have Dutch Fork lose to White Knoll to set up a 1-game playoff.

Class 4A saw. Airport and Brookland-Cayce boys in a 3-way tie with Midland Valley for the final playoff spot out of Region 5-4A.

It could come down to a season-ending clash on WACH 57 as part of its Rush’s High School Hoops Game of the Week this Friday on Channel 1250 on Spectrum Cable or streamed at www.wach.com .

In Class 3A girls, Gilbert can clinch 2nd place and a 1st round home game with a win Tuesday over Edisto. Pelion and Swansea are battling for 3rd place, although the Lady Tigers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

On the boys’ side, Pelion needs to win its final 2 games and Swansea lose its final game to 1st place Edisto to make the playoffs.

Those who’ve already secured region titles are 2-time defending Class 2A boys’ champion Gray Collegiate and both Irmo teams.

WRESTLING

At least 1 Chronicle Country team will compete for a state title Saturday at Dreher High School.

This was assured this past Monday when both Region 5-3A rivals Gilbert and Swansea advanced to the Class 3A Lower State finals.

The Indians earned an opportunity to defend that title following a 33-29 win over May River.

Meanwhile, the Tigers traveled to Pelion and pulled out a 36-30 victory.

They avenged a loss to the Panthers on Feb. 2 at the region quad meet. The win earned Swansea a return trip to the semifinals for the 2nd time in 3 years.

Gilbert defeated the Tigers 65-18 at the same meet. The winner will face the Upper State champion at 1 pm Saturday at Dreher High School.

In Class 5A, White Knoll is 1 more road win shy of its 1st ever state final appearance.

After opening the Class 5A playoffs with a 38-30 win over Ashley Ridge at Carolina Forest, the Timberwolves upended the top-seeded Grand Strand host team 46-23 on Feb. 8.

A couple of nights later, White Knoll headed to the Lowcountry to face another top-seed. This time, the Timberwolves jumped on Wando early with 3 straight pinfall victories.

They recorded 3 more pinfalls enroute to a 42-32 win over the Warriors.

To set up a 6 pm Saturday date in the Class 5A final, White Knoll had to return to the Lowcountry and defeat Summerville.

The Green Wave edged defending Lower State champion River Bluff 32-30 to deny them a 3rd straight trip to the finals.

The White Knoll/Summerville winner would face either defending state champion Hillcrest or Lugoff-Elgin out of the Upper State.

The state finals can be watched for a fee live at www.nfhsnetwork.com .