State Games basketball has strong history

By Staff
This is one in a series of stories highlighting the competitions that make up The State Games of Mississippi. The State Games are set for June 18-20 and June 24-27 in Meridian.
By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
May 9, 2004
Over the years, the high school division of the State Games of Mississippi basketball competition has seen many quality teams compete.
Meridian High School boys' basketball coach Ernie Watson believes the event's timing is one of the reasons for that.
Games are a good test to close your summer down with. You see where you are before the kids take off for vacation."
This year's games are scheduled for three sites in Lauderdale County and three sites in Newton County June 24-27. The championship games will be played at Meridian Community College.
The State Games tries to have 24 girls' teams and 24 boys' teams competing each year.
school that has been very loyal to us.
The Warren Central girls have participated each of the 12 previous summers and this year will be no exception.
A word of warning to the teams in Warren Central's pool… Fuller expects to have a pretty good squad this year.
Over the years, the girls' teams that have won gold medals have gone on to greatness the following school year.
A year ago, Choctaw Central's Lady Warriors defeated Warren Central 55-43 in the gold medal game, then claimed the MHSAA Class 3A state championship the following March.
The previous year, the West Lauderdale Lady Knights won the gold medal and went on to finish second in the state in Class 3A.
West's girls also won the gold medal in 2001 and went on to finish runner-up in Class 3A that season as well. Northeast Lauderdale's boys took the gold medal in 2001 and went on to post a 24-8 mark for one of their best showings in school history.
Noxubee County's girls won the inaugural State Games gold medal in 1992 and went on to capture the 1993 Class 4A state championship, going 38-0.
Rolling Fork claimed the first boys' gold medal and tied for third in the 1993 Class 3A state tournament.
Noxubee County also won the 1993 girls' gold medal and captured the 1994 Class 4A state championship with a 36-3 season.
Meridian won the 1994 girls' gold medal and was the 1995 state runner-up in Class 5A. Meridian also won the 1995 girls' State Games gold medal and tied
for third place in the 1996 Class 5A state tournament.
Senatobia won the 1996 girls' gold medal and followed it up by winning the 1997 Class 3A state championship en route to a 36-3 season.
On the boys' side, Choctaw Central won the 1996 State Games gold medal and tied for fifth place in the 1997 Class 2A state tournament.
Choctaw Central won the 1997 girls' gold medal and tied for third in the 1998 Class 2A state tournament. Boys' gold medalist Gulfport tied for fifth in the Class 5A boys' state tournament.
Leake Academy's Rebelettes breezed through the 1998 State Games and followed it up with a perfect 46-0 record that included the 1999 Academy Overall championship.
The Yazoo County girls won the 1999 gold medal and went on to take the 2000 Class 3A state championship with a perfect 39-0 record.
Meridian's boys and girls won the 2000 gold medals. The Lady Wildcats went on to finish second in the 2001 Class 5A state tournament.
Watson believes one reason the girls have fared better than the boys during the school year is that many coaches work them harder in the summer than the boys.
Founding Gold Sponsors of The State Games of Mississippi an Olympics-style sports festival are Rush Foundation Hospital and Meridian's Coca-Cola, while Gold Sponsors are The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, The Partnership For a Healthy Mississippi, Bell South and Meridian Airport Authority.
For event applications or schedules call 1-800-462-0205 or visit the State Games of Mississippi website at www.stategamesofms.org.