Prep hoops postseason in full swing

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Feb. 16, 2004
It's that time.
The public schools in Mississippi begin their postseason basketball games tonight, while the private schools have already reached their state championship level.
In the MHSAA, four teams will advance from all region tournaments, except for Class 5A where only two teams will continue their seasons.
MHSAA
Region 4-5A at NW Rankin
Play gets under way on Tuesday with Meridian's 18-10 Lady Wildcats taking on Brandon at 4 p.m. The Meridian Wildcats, 23-6, face Northwest Rankin, 19-9, at 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday's other games have top-seeded Murrah and Brandon meeting in a boys' contest at 5:30 p.m. and the 21-7 Lady Cougars of Northwest Rankin playing top-seeded Murrah at 7 p.m.
The championships are slated for Friday.
Region 4-4A at Kosciusko
Neshoba Central's 5-24 Lady Rockets face Louisville, 19-6, today at 7 p.m. Today's other girls' contest has second-seeded Bailey playing Kosciusko. Today's boys games have Pearl, 19-9, taking on Ridgeland, 12-18, and Bailey playing Louisville.
On Tuesday, Pearl, 12-16, faces Ridgeland, 17-10, in a girls' contest with Neshoba Central's 11-18 Rockets squaring off with Kosciusko at 7:30 p.m.
Canton's boys and girls earned the top seeds and have first-round byes.
Region 5-4A at Quitman
Action begins today at 5 p.m. with Wayne County's 20-6 Lady War Eagles taking on Florence. At 6:30 p.m., the 13-10 Wayne County boys meet the Florence Eagles. At 8 p.m., the 5-24 Lady Panthers of Quitman host Mendenhall, 17-11.
On Tuesday, the 13-13 Trojans of Northeast Lauderdale meet West Jones, 12-15. At 6:30 p.m., the Northeast Lauderdale girls play West Jones. At 8 p.m., the 19-11 Quitman boys host Northeast Jones, 5-20.
Northeast Jones, 25-1, got the top seed and first-round bye in the girls' bracket with Mendenhall, 25-4, receiving similar honors with the boys.
Region 5-3A at Choctaw Central
Three games are on tap for today with the 22-7 West Lauderdale Lady Knights meeting Morton, 5-20, at 5 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the 22-8 Knights of West Lauderdale tangle with Carthage, 11-18. At 8 p.m., the 27-2 Lady Tigers of Southeast Lauderdale play Forest.
On Tuesday, play begins at 5 p.m. with the 18-10 Cougars of Newton County taking on Forest. At 6:30 p.m., the 18-12 Lady Tigers of Carthage play Newton County, 13-14. And at 8 p.m., the 14-11 Morton boys take on Southeast, 7-22.
Choctaw Central's 29-1 Lady Warriors and 25-5 Warriors both earned top seeds and first-round byes.
Region 5-2A at Philadelphia
Three games are slated for tonight at Philadelphia with the Newton boys opening play at 5 p.m. against Ackerman. At 6:30 p.m., the Lake girls face Ackerman. At 8 p.m., the 18-8 Philadelphia boys host Lake.
On Tuesday, Philadelphia's 22-4 Lady Tornadoes take on Mississippi School for Math and Science at 5 p.m. The MSMS boys play Kemper County, 16-14, at 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m., the 8-22 Kemper County girls take on Williams-Sullivan.
Top seeds and first-round byes went to the Newton girls and the Williams-Sullivan boys.
Region 7-2A at Enterprise
Play doesn't begin until Tuesday at Enterprise. Enterprise hosts Taylorsville in a girls' game at 6 p.m. with the 9-15 Clarkdale boys taking on Taylorsville at 7:30 p.m.
On Thursday, girls' games have Heidelberg playing Seminary at 7 p.m. and 7-17 Clarkdale taking on Bassfield at 4 p.m. Boys' action has Enterprise facing Bay Springs at 8:30 p.m. and Bassfield squaring off with Seminary at 5:30 p.m.
Top seeds went to the Bay Springs girls and the 18-7 Heidelberg boys.
Region 6-1A at Sebastopol
Action gets under way today with the 8-18 Union Lady Jackets taking on Thomastown at 6 p.m. and the 9-17 Union boys playing Edinburg at 7:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, the 22-6 Wildkittens of South Leake play Pisgah at 4 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., the Thomastown boys face Pisgah. At 7 p.m., the 17-11 Scott Central Lady Rebels take on Edinburg with the 24-6 Scott Central boys playing Sebastopol at 8:30 p.m.
Top seeds and first-round byes went to the Sebastopol girls and the 16-11 South Leake boys.
Academy Class A State
at University Christian
Two area girls' teams and three area boys' squads advanced to the state tournament from last week's Central State Tournament at Louisville.
By winning last week, the 23-6 Heidelberg Academy Lady Rebels enjoy a first-round bye and will play the Tunica Institute-Tensas Academy winner Thursday at 4 p.m. Kemper Academy's Lady Rams also have a first-round bye and will face the DeSoto School-Deer Creek winner Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Wayne Academy's 17-13 Jaguars won't have to wait to see action as they'll take on Lee (Ark.) Academy today at 5:15 p.m.
The 22-8 Heidelberg Academy boys hit the court Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. against Riverdale Academy.
Central State champion Winston Academy, 28-4, will be off until Thursday when the Patriots play the Delta Academy-Franklin Academy winner at 7:45 p.m.
Academy Class AA State
at Canton Academy
The much-anticipated showdown between the girls' teams from Leake Academy and Brookhaven Academy could happen Saturday if neither stumbles before then.
Leake, 34-1, won the North Class AA Tournament last week while unbeaten Brookhaven enjoyed a similar fate in the South half.
Leake opens with Central Hinds Academy Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
The 28-5 Leake boys finished second in the North State Tournament and will play Prairie View Academy Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.