Lamar Raiders kick off area soccer playoffs
By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Jan. 27, 2003
Seven area public school soccer teams and one area private school squad will be participating in their respective state playoffs this week.
Lamar, 8-2-1, gets things under way today when the Raiders travel to Jackson to take on North state runner-up Jackson Academy, 11-5, at 3 p.m. Lamar finished third in the South state behind Jackson Prep and University Christian.
In MHSAA boys' action on Tuesday, Division 5-1A/2A/3A champion Clarkdale, 14-1, hosts Division 7 1A/2A/3A runner-up Wesson, 8-6, at 6 p.m., while Division 5-1A/2A/3A runner-up West Lauderdale, 16-4-1, travels to Natchez to take on 7-1A/2A/3A champion Cathedral, 12-1 in a 6 p.m. game. In Class 4A, Division 2-4A runner-up Neshoba Central, 8-5-1, goes to Division 4-4A champion Florence, 11-4-1, for a 5 p.m. game.
In Tuesday's public school girls' action, Division 5-4A champion Northeast Lauderdale, 13-3, hosts Division 7-4A runner-up Gautier, 10-8-2 at 6 p.m.; Division 5-1A/2A/3A champion West Lauderdale, 10-5-1, hosts Division 7-1A/2A/3A runner-up Wesson, 7-9; Division 5-1A/2A/3A runner-up Newton County, 10-5, travels to Division 7-1A/2A/3A champion North Pike, 11-4, for a 5 p.m. contest; and Division 4-5A runner-up Meridian, 12-5, travels to Division 2-5A champion Tupelo, 14-2-1, for a 5 p.m. game.
If Lamar gets past JA today, the Raiders will return to action on Thursday against the Jackson Prep-Pillow winner.
Saturday's boys' games will have the Neshoba Central-Florence winner taking on the Ridgeland-Oxford winner, the Clarkdale-Wesson winner meeting the Richland-Mercy Cross winner, and the West Lauderdale-Cathedral winner playing the Resurrection-North Forrest winner.
The MPSA boys' state finals are also set for Saturday.
In girls' action on Saturday, the Meridian-Tupelo winner will play the Olive Branch-Madison Central winner, the Northeast Lauderdale-Gautier winner will play the Brookhaven-Poplarville winner, the West Lauderdale-Wesson winner will take on the Forrest County AHS-Mercy Cross winner, and the Newton County-North Pike winner will face the Our Lady Academy-Resurrection winner.
