• 61°
franklin county times

State Games announces basketball brackets

By By Rocky Higginbotham/The Meridian Star
June 20, 2001
East Mississippi Community College was set to host high school basketball action for the first time in a State Games format.
But when basketball commissioner Ernie Watson didn't have enough teams to fill the girls' and boys' fields of 24 teams, EMCC and Newton High School were scratched from the list of venues.
The 10th annual State Games of Mississippi's prep hoops action is still scheduled to get under way Thursday, but now the competition will be held at four locations instead of six.
As in years past, there will be four pools each in the boys' and girls' competition. There are 20 boys' teams entered, while 19 girls' squads will be chasing the gold medal.
Action will be held at Meridian Community College, Meridian High School, Newton County High School and East Central Community College Thursday through Saturday. MCC and MHS will host the semifinals Sunday morning, with the girls' and boys' gold medals set for 1:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday.
Here's a brief look at the early schedule at each of the four venues, all of which tip off at 2:30 p.m. Thursday:
At MCC, West Lauderdale tangles with Warren Central in a key girls' matchup right off the bat, while the West boys get Walnut at 5 p.m. and the Meridian B-team boys take on Northeast Lauderdale at 6:15.
Friday's top games at the Ivy Sports Center include West Lauderdale taking on defending Class 3A girls state champ and cross-county rival Southeast at 10:45 a.m., while Saturday's lineup includes a boys' battle between West and Northeast.
At MHS, Meridian battles Laurel at 5 p.m. and Noxubee County takes on Wayne County at 6:15 p.m. in a pair of key boys' contests Thursday.
Friday's highlighted games include Meridian's girls against Northeast Lauderdale at 3:45 p.m. and Northeast against Indianola Academy at 7:30 p.m. Saturday's slate includes a boys' battle between former division rivals Meridian and Wayne County at 1 p.m.
At ECCC, the Neshoba Central girls take on Kossuth Thursday at 2:30 p.m., and the Lady Rockets get a rematch with last year's Class 4A State Tournament opponent at 9:30 a.m. Friday when they take on Crystal Springs.
Saturday's top games at the Brackeen-Wood gym include a battle between private-school powerhouses when the Jackson Prep boys take on Pillow Academy at 10:30 a.m.
At Newton County, the last two Class 1A girls state champions and cross-county rivals collide at 2:30 p.m. Thursday when Scott Central takes on Lake.
Host Newton County gets its shot at Scott Central's girls Friday at 10:45 a.m., while cross-county rivals Newton County and Newton tangle in a boys' game at 4:45 p.m. Saturday.
Rocky Higginbotham is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rhigginbotham@themeridianstar.com.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x