The boys high school basketball postseason starts Monday, bringing with it new hope for every team in Washtenaw County.

And if you doubt a team that had a lackluster regular season can make noise in the MHSAA tournament, just ask the kids at Lincoln High School about their 2008-09 experience.

The Railsplitters entered the tournament with a 9-11 record, won a district title and a regional semifinal before losing to Romulus in the first regional championship game appearance in school history.

“I think the run we made last year, that team set the precedent for our program,” Lincoln coach Mike Foley said. “Emotions and experience play a big role in the tournament … we’ll be ready to play.”

Lincoln starters KeAndre Taylor, Andrew Dillon, Latwan Wesley and C.J. Luvene were all significant contributors to last year’s success.

This year, Lincoln rolls into the tournament on a four-game win streak -- including Thursday's upset of Southeastern Conference White Division champion Ypsilanti -- and could be considered a favorite to win a second straight district crown.

But Foley says he’s not sure there is such a thing as a favorite in a district tournament.

“I don’t know who the favorite was last year, and I don’t think my kids knew,” Foley said. “It’s just a one-game tournament every time you take the floor. You catch a team that you may be better than that’s hot, and you’ll get upset.”

Huron and Father Gabriel Richard are Washtenaw County’s other defending district champions.

Huron lost in a regional semifinal to eventual Class A runner-up Kalamazoo Central. Gabriel Richard lost to Inkster in a Class B regional championship game.

The Fighting Irish undoubtedly boast the most tournament experience in the area.

Seniors Josh Herbeck, Keith Mackie, Matt Jenkins and Dan Gasco all saw at least nine minutes of action in Gabriel Richard’s Class C state semifinal loss to Kalamazoo Christian as sophomores in 2008.

Here's a look at each district tournament involving a Washtenaw County team. Vote for who you think will win each district in the polls.

CLASS A

AT HURON Monday: Pioneer (13-7) vs. Dexter (13-7), 5:30 p.m.; Huron (16-4) vs. Brighton (18-2), 7 p.m. Wednesday: Pinckney (9-11) vs. Pioneer/Dexter winner, 5:30 p.m.; South Lyon (6-13) vs. Huron/Brighton winner, 7:30 p.m. Friday: Final, 7 p.m.

Overview: Huron won this district last year, upending two-time defending champion Jackson in the final. Jackson has moved northwest to battle with some Lansing-area schools - but the MHSAA filled that void by moving a solid Brighton squad into this bracket. Both of Monday’s opening-round games would be a suitable district final. Pioneer won at Dexter by nine points earlier this season in a battle of SEC divisional runners-up. Huron versus Brighton, led by a pair of four-year starters in Jackson Armstrong and Bryan Bollin, is one of the more interesting openers in the state. Whichever teams win Monday should be favored to win Wednesday’s semifinals and meet in Friday’s title game.

AnnArbor.com prediction: Huron beats Pioneer in a 2009-10 season rubber-match.

AT SALINE Monday: Monroe (9-11) vs. Lincoln (12-8), 6 p.m.; Saline (6-14) vs. Carleton Airport (11-9), 8 p.m. Wednesday: Temperance Bedford (9-11) vs. Monroe/Lincoln winner, 6 p.m.; Adrian (8-12) vs. Saline/Airport winner, 8 p.m. Friday: Final, 7 p.m.

Overview: Lincoln and Monroe both enter the tournament on four-game winning streaks, which include victories over potential semifinal opponent Bedford. Saline may have the worst record in the district, but don’t dismiss the Hornets from making a tournament run on their home floor. Their competition in the SEC was significantly tougher than Airport’s Huron League foes, and they beat Adrian - a potential semifinal matchup - by nine points in early February.

AnnArbor.com prediction: In a repeat of last year’s title game, Lincoln tops Saline.

AT WAYNE MEMORIAL Monday: Inkster (13-4) vs. Wayne Memorial (15-5), 6 p.m.; Westland John Glenn (6-14) vs. Romulus (19-1), 8 p.m. Wednesday: Ypsilanti (16-4) vs. Inkster/Wayne winner, 6 p.m.; Belleville (15-4) vs. John Glenn/Romulus winner, 8 p.m. Friday: Final, 7 p.m.

Overview: Romulus, the state’s top-ranked team, is the clear favorite in this district … and maybe the entire MHSAA tournament. Before Ypsilanti gets a shot at upsetting the Eagles, they’ll have an interesting semifinal matchup against either Kensington Lakes Activities Association runner-up Wayne Memorial or Inkster, where Steve Brooks coached before taking over the Phoenix program.

AnnArbor.com prediction: Romulus over Ypsilanti, in a tribute game for the defunct Michigan Mega Conference Red Division.

CLASS B

AT CHELSEA Monday: Tecumseh (2-17) vs. Skyline (4-0), 5 p.m.; Chelsea (10-10) vs. Ida (12-8), 6:45 p.m.; Father Gabriel Richard (12-8) vs. Willow Run (12-8), 8:30 p.m. Wednesday: Milan (9-11) vs. Tecumseh/Skyline winner, 5:30 p.m.; Chelsea/Ida winner vs. Gabriel Richard/Willow Run winner, 7:15 p.m. Friday: Final, 7 p.m.

Overview: In a district so chock-full they have to play three opening-round games, the favorite should emerge from Monday’s Gabriel Richard-Willow Run game. "I'm sure we're considered the underdogs,” says Flyer coach George Woods. “We know we have our hands full, but I think we're ready. We look forward to a great contest." Neither team should look past Chelsea on its home court, however, and Milan made a late-season statement against Dundee, running Class C’s No. 5-ranked team out of the gym. Skyline, which played primarily a junior varsity contest, won a Class C district game with only freshmen last season. A Class B win is possible here, too, heading into next year’s first full varsity season.

AnnArbor.com prediction: Gabriel Richard over Milan.

CLASS C

AT MANCHESTER Monday: Manchester (5-15) vs. Napoleon (18-2), 7 p.m. Wednesday: Clinton (16-4) vs. Whitmore Lake (14-6), 6 p.m.; Manchester/Napoleon winner vs. Greenhills (2-18), 7:30 p.m. Friday: Final, 7 p.m.

Overview: Perhaps Manchester will be inspired by its girls team, which upset Cascade Conference champion Napoleon in a district final on Friday. The winner of that lone Monday game gets Greenhills, which probably wishes Southfield Christian was in this draw. Southfield was on the losing end of both Gryphon wins this season. The other semifinal is a rematch of a March 2 game when Clinton beat Whitmore Lake to split their regular season matchups and clinch an outright Tri-County Conference title in the process.

AnnArbor.com prediction: Napoleon over Clinton.

CLASS D

AT WASHTENAW CHRISTIAN Monday: Washtenaw Christian (6-14) vs. Rudolf Steiner (4-14), 7 p.m. Wednesday: Plymouth Christian (12-7) vs. Central Academy (10-10), 5 p.m.; Calvary Christian (4-14) vs. Washtenaw Christian/Rudolf Steiner winner, 7 p.m. Friday: Final, 7 p.m.

Overview: Washtenaw Christian beat (and later forfeited wins to) both Rudolf Steiner and Calvary Christian this season, and is likely to reach a district final on its home court. Central Academy center Sami Shalabi warmed up for the Falcons’ tournament with a 51-point, 27-rebound performance in a win over Jackson DaVinci Institute on Friday. He’ll need another strong performance against a good Plymouth Christian team.

AnnArbor.com prediction: Central Academy over Washtenaw Christian.