Thanks to a two-game sweep in the first round of the 5A state playoffs last week, the Charles Henderson Trojans find themselves playing host in the second round.

And in the second round, the team finds themselves playing against a team it knows fairly well – the Rehobeth Rebels.

The two 5A Area 3 teams met three times during the regular season, with the Rebels getting the best of the Trojans twice.

The Trojans were able to take the Area championship away from Rehobeth thanks to the lone victory.

Those two losses are ones that CHHS head coach Derek Irons believes will stay in the past however.

“It’s all about our guys understanding to turn the page and not worry about what happened in the regular season – and I think they have done that,” Irons said.

“For good or for bad, the regular season is over with and we have to look forward. All that matters now is turning our focus to Friday and Saturday.”

The Trojans were able to make to this point in the playoffs thanks to a two-game sweep over Monroe County last Friday.

It wasn’t as easy for the Rebels as it split with Greenville on the road last Friday before winning in the deciding game three at Rehobeth on Saturday.

Even though the visiting team today may have played an extra game in the playoffs, it doesn’t mean it is not a worthy opponent, according to Irons.

“They are a sound team,” he said. “They are a team that won’t hurt themselves and have the ability to play small ball.

“They can bunt well, run well and hit the long ball – they are not a one dimensional team at all, but hopefully that is the same way people look at us,” the coach added. “I think both teams match up pretty similarly.”

Like in game of the Monroe County series, Mitch McLeod will get the start for CHHS in game one of this season.

“There will be two keys for us against Rehobeth,” Irons said. “We have to be focused and have a sense of urgency.