It hardly seems fair that we’re still a week away from the actual start of spring, yet already halfway through the spring high school sports season.

Like Christmas break in the winter, spring break provides a clear dividing line between the first part of the season and the second for our local baseball, softball, golf, tennis and track teams. The next month will be filled with division games and the run-up to the playoffs.

Before we get there, there are a couple of odds and ends to clean up from the winter season just completed. The Vicksburg Post’s soccer and basketball all-county teams will be unveiled this Sunday and next, respectively.

There were a number of worthy candidates for our Player and Coach of the Year awards. We had a state championship soccer team at St. Aloysius led by two excellent players, Ryan Theriot and Jack Dowe. They combined to score more than 70 goals this season. Braylen Greer scored 33 while leading Warren Central to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs and 18 wins against a daunting schedule.

Similarly, St. Al’s Scott Mathis and Warren Central’s Greg Head both did phenomenal jobs with their teams. Head’s Vikings had their best season since 2010. Mathis guided St. Al’s boys to the MAIS Class AAA title and the girls to the semifinals.

On the basketball side, WC coaches Jackie Martin-Glass and Bruce Robinson had similar results. Martin-Glass’ Lady Vikes got to the Class 6A quarterfinals, while Robinson’s boys had their first 20-win season in at least two decades.

Not to be forgotten is the job Amanda Yocum did with the Porter’s Chapel Academy Lady Eagles. They only won about a dozen games, but after winning almost that many in the decade prior it was nothing short of a miraculous turnaround.

Among the players, there were a number of great performances. The basketball Player of the Year choices were difficult because the local teams were often just that — teams. A handful of players were consistently better than the others, but the teams succeeded by finding someone different to step up every night.

Our selections have been made. A case can be made for any one of several players and coaches to take home the top honors — and those are always the best seasons — but I feel pretty confident this is one of those years where we got things right.

So check back with us on Sunday. Let us know if you agree.

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Ernest Bowker is the sports editor of The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at ernest.bowker@vicksburgpost.com