LAKE WALES, Fla.  – In a basketball conference spread out from Georgia to Southern Florida, two teams from Polk County, Fla. will battle it out in the Quarterfinals of The Sun Conference Tournament.

Warner University will enter Thursday night's game as The Sun Conference defending tournament champions. The Royals are two time defending tournament champions having won both the 2015-16 and the 2016-17 post season tournaments.

In 2015-16 the Royals received a bye into the semifinals where they defeated St. Thomas University 87-57. They went on to win the tournament after defeating Keiser University 80-55 for the championship. Continuing into the NAIA National Championship, the Royals defeated College of the Ozarks 93-79. They went on to defeat Cal Maritime 73-65 and make their way into the final 14 teams. They ended their 26-7 season falling just shy of the final four dropping to Davenport University 60-77.

In 2016-17, the Royals again received a bye into the semifinals where they defeated Thomas University 84-83. They went on to play Florida Memorial in The Sun Conference Tournament Championship and defeated the Lions 79-63. In the opening round of the 2016-17 NAIA National Championship, the Royals fell to Taylor University 73-67.

Southeastern University last made its post season appearance in 2013-14. The Fire powered past Huntington University in the opening round of the NAIA National Championship 84-76. They bested Cardinal Stritch 71-70 making it to the Elite Eight. Defeating Davenport University 67-64, the Fire made a trip to the Final Four. In the Final Four, the Fire took on Indiana Wesleyan who played a flawless game taking down the Fire 98-77.

This year, both the Fire and the Royals finished with a regular season Sun Conference tied with a 10-8 record. The Royals received a #4 seed while the Fire received the #5 seed into The Sun Conference Tournament.

The Royals and the Fire have gone the entire 2017-18 season making the ballot for the NAIA D-II Coaches Top-25. The Fire made it as high as a #7 ranking while the Royals made it as high as #23. Recently announced this week, the Warner Royals were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Team of the Week. The Royals took the honor for the week of February 12-18. Other teams to be named were; NCAA D-I Wichita State University, NCAA D-II Clayton State University, NCAA D-III Ohio Wesleyan University, NAIA Warner University, and NJCAA Palm Beach State College.

The Royals and the Fire met for two games during the regular season. The Fire took game 1, 79-77 and the Royals took game 2, 104-102. The stirring rivalry between the Polk County foes has only strengthened as a 2 point margin had separated both games. Bragging rights, series, and playoff hopes hang in the balance.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Royals: #22 Melton Sanders, 633 points, 43 steals, 159 rebounds. #21 Khalil Ozuna, 552 points, 24 blocks, 239 rebounds.
Fire: #2 Ryan Atkins, 590 points, 40 steals, 132 rebounds. #3 CJ Reese, 405, 28 steals, 131 assists.