Choctaw shoots for 3A crown
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
March 11, 2004
After a five-year absence from a state championship game, the Choctaw Central girls team has returned, though in a different classification.
The last time the Lady Warriors shot for the state title, the team played in Class 2A. Choctaw Central won the 2A girls title three times in 1996, 1997 and 1999.
The Lady Warriors will meet Ripley at 1 p.m. Friday in the MHSAA Class 3A Girls State Basketball Championship game at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson this weekend.
Choctaw Central (35-2) will expect a large number of supporters, after the Lady Warriors' fans made up a large portion of the 6,000 spectators who came to the "Big House" when the team defeated North Pike on March 6.
Prentiss and Byhalia met in a Boys Class 3A semifinal contest during the same two-game session.
In order for the Lady Warriors to claim the title, they will have to knock off the defending 3A champions in Ripley.
The Lady Tigers (34-1) got past Southeast Lauderdale last Monday 75-71.
Ripley, ranked No. 1 in The Clarion-Ledger final regular season MHSAA poll, has won its 26th consecutive game, losing only to Briarcrest Christian, Tenn.
The first basketball state champions of the 20034-04 season will be crowned today in Class 2A.
Coldwater (32-3) will meet Bay Springs (35-1) at 6:30 p.m. in the Girls Class 2A title contest, the first of 10 championship games at the Coliseum over the next three days.
Heidelberg (25-8) and Hollandale Simmons (34-1) wrap up the first day of State title action in the Boys Class 2A championship game at 8 p.m.
On Friday, Byhalia (27-12) will take on Holly Springs (29-4) in the Boys Class 3A championship game at 2:30 p.m.
Bay High School (29-6) will meet Northeast Jones (31-3) in the Girls Class 4A championship game at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and the second day of finals wraps up with another meeting between Jackson Provine (31-6) and Jackson Lanier (30-4) in the Boys Class 4A title game.
McAdams (32-4) and West Lowndes (30-4) tip off Saturday's championship action when the two squads meet for the Girls Class 1A title at 1 p.m., and Benoit Brooks (22-9) will take on Byers (28-8) at 2:30 p.m. in the Boys Class 1A championship contest.
Hancock (27-4) will meet the winner of today's game between Jackson Murrah (28-6) and Tupelo (22-11) for the Girls Class 4A championship at 6:30 p.m., and Hattiesburg (29-7) will take on the winner of today's game between Biloxi (22-7) and Jackson Murrah (26-7) at 8 p.m. in the Boys Class 5A title game.
