Tournaments fill prep stockings
By Staff
HOLIDAY FARE West Lauderdale's Shannon Lloyd makes a block against Newton County. West Lauderdale is one of several area teams set to play in basketball tournaments after Christmas. The unbeaten Lady Knights head to Greenville, Tenn., on Christmas Day. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Dec. 23, 2002
Ole' Santa Claus won't be the only busy soul during the Christmas holidays as many of the area's high school basketball teams won't be taking much time off the court.
West Lauderdale's sixth-ranked Lady Knights are going to Greenville, Tenn., to play in the Greene County Bank Ladies Classic, Friday-Tuesday. West, 15-0, opens with Greeneville Friday at 7 p.m.
Six states will be represented. In addition to 11 Tennessee teams, including traditional power Sevier County, making the long trek are Prairie, Wash.; Edison High from Miami, Fla.; Villa Angela, Ohio; and Nelson County, Kent.
Also heading out of state are the Meridian Wildcats, 7-5, who are traveling to Poplar Bluff (Mo.), for three games, Thursday-Saturday.
West Lauderdale's unbeaten boys will compete in the Hattiesburg Tournament, Thursday-Saturday. The Knights, 14-0, open with Hattiesburg before taking on Corinth and Stone in a predetermined schedule of games.
Seven area teams will play in the Philadelphia-Rush Medical Boys' Holiday Classic, while seven area girls' teams are slated to compete in the Nanih Waiya Christmas Tournament. Both are slated for Thursday-Saturday.
At Philadelphia, the tournament opens at noon on Thursday with Nanih Waiya, 5-4, taking on Ackerman, 6-4. At 1:30, Newton County, 4-7, plays Louisville, 9-2. Neshoba Central, 9-4, squares off with Kemper County, 6-5, at 3 with Philadelphia, 4-6, hosting Union, 2-4, at 4:30.
At Nanih Waiya, girls' play also begins on Thursday with Louisville, 10-2, facing Philadelphia, 2-8, at 1 p.m.; Union, 6-3, meeting Newton County, 9-4, at 2:15; Neshoba Central, 5-8, playing Weir at 3:30; and Nanih Waiya, 3-8, hosting Noxapater at 4:45.
The Meridian Lady Cats, Lake Lady Hornets, and Wayne County Lady War Eagles, along with the Lake boys, will all be playing in the Jackson Public Schools annual tournament, Thursday-Saturday.
Meridian, 10-1, opens with Wingfield Thursday at 3 p.m. at Wingfield. The Lake girls face Lanier Thursday at 6 p.m. at Lanier with the Lake boys meeting Lanier at 7:30 in the boys' game. The 5-4 Wayne County girls open with Forest Hill Thursday at 6 p.m. at Forest Hill.
The 4-1 Wayne County boys, meanwhile, will compete in a tournament at Biloxi.
Heidelberg and Newton will play in the Bay Springs Tournament, Thursday-Saturday. Newton faces Bay Springs on Thursday at 6 and 7:30 p.m. On Friday, the Newton teams take on Heidelberg at 1 and 2:30 p.m. And on Saturday, Newton plays Taylorsville at 1 and 2:30 p.m.
Heidelberg Academy will be competing in a tournament at Sharkey-Issaquena Academy, Thursday-Saturday.
Choctaw County (Ala.) is slated to visit Silas (Ala.) on Christmas Day at 5:30 p.m. Choctaw County will participate in a boys' tournament at Port St. Lucie (Fla.), Friday-Monday.
In a non-tournament contest of interest, Choctaw Central will play Cherokee (N.C.) on Saturday. Choctaw will also host games between Cherokee and Velma Jackson on Friday.