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.