Playoffs roll along in MHSAA

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Feb. 23, 2004
Fifteen area boys' basketball teams have advanced to this week's MHSAA North/South State basketball tournaments. Competition gets underway Tuesday with play-in games.
Class 2A has the largest area contingent with five teams still in the running for a trip to the Big House and a potential state championship.
In 2A, Region 5-2A runner-up Philadelphia, 21-8, hosts East Marion; Newton, 18-17, goes to Perry Central, 21-11; Region 7-2A runner-up Bay Springs, 24-8, hosts McLaurin, 9-18; Region 7-2A champion Heidelberg, 20-7, hosts Piney Woods, 17-10; and Kemper County, 17-16, goes to Lumberton, 20-3.
Two area Class 3A teams will be hosting action Tuesday with another hitting the highway. Region 5-3A champion West Lauderdale, 25-8, will host the 18-14 Tylertown Chiefs; Region 5-3A runner-up Choctaw Central, 26-6, will host West Marion, 15-12; and Southeast Lauderdale, 8-24, will go to Columbia, 23-6.
Three area Class 4A teams survived to play another day. Northeast Lauderdale, 14-15, will go to Gautier; Region 5-4A champion Quitman, 22-11, will host Pass Christian, and Wayne County, 15-11, will visit St. Stanislaus.
Four area Class 1A schools will also see action. Union, 11-18, goes to Natchez to take on 11-17 Cathedral; Nanih Waiya, 13-18, goes to Biggersville; Region 6-1A runner-up Scott Central, 26-7, hosts West Lincoln; and Region 6-1A champion South Leake, 18-11, hosts Mississippi School for the Deaf.