My friends, today could be one of the most glorious days in the history of the Rock County sporting scene.With two county teams playing for berths in the state basketball tournament at the same place on the same night, a unique opportunity is at hand.In what used to be a showcase game we could call our own here in Rock County, both Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek fans have the chance to band together and support each other in their quest for a common goal of reaching the state classic.Personally, I’m jacked up for tonight. And at the risk of coming off as being arrogant, let me be the first to dub what should be adopted as the official slogan for tonight’s lineup. Let’s call it Rock County Night at Southwest State University.It all starts at 5 p.m. in Marshall, where H-BC will take on Russell-Tyler-Ruthton in what should be a very exciting Section 3A championship game.The Knights from R-T-R, the defending state champions, have their sights set on advancing to the state tournament for the sixth time since forming a combined program in the 1980s.The only problem is R-T-R faces a huge obstacle to overcome in the form of H-BC.The Patriots, who will be playing for their first trip to a state tournament, have the luxury of knowing they can beat the Knights. H-BC defeated R-T-R 72-62 in Hills Jan. 3. With confidence in their corner, the Patriots could register their 20th consecutive victory and reach some uncharted waters that have eluded many talented H-BC teams in the past.Game 2 pits LHS against the Benson Braves in the Section 3AA championship tilt. Game time is 8 p.m.With a 15-8 record, the Cardinals surprised many by drawing the No. 1 seed for the South Section 3AA Tournament.Luverne made the coaches who voted for it as the top seed look good. The Cardinals won consecutive games against Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, Renville County West and rival Pipestone to win the tournament title.The Cardinals, who will be playing for their first berth in the state tournament since 1983, seem to have tradition on their side. The Cards will be playing for their 10th appearance in state competition. The Braves made their lone appearance at the state tournament in 1964, the same year Luverne won its lone state title.Benson, however, will offer LHS its biggest challenge of the postseason to date.The 22-3 Braves play a run-and-gun style of basketball, scoring a school record 95 points in one game this season. Benson was ranked 10th in the final Class AA poll of the season.Both the Cardinals and Patriots will have their work cut out for them tonight, which brings me to my point.Unlike the days when LHS and H-BC were rivals playing in five straight District 8 championship games from 1977-1981, tonight would be the perfect time for fans from each school to join forces and support one and other.LHS fans could leave town early enough to lend vocal support to H-BC in the early game, and H-BC backers could return the favor by staying for the late game.That type of cooperation between rivals of the past truly would make it Rock County Night at Southwest State University. And, besides, one big army of Rock County fans would make its presence felt more at SSU than two small armies fending for themselves would.