By Staff
from staff reports
March 8, 2004
Visitors to the Mississippi Coliseum for the MHSAA State Boys/Girls Basketball Tournament may have been a little surprised when they pulled into the parking lot.
Parking is now free sort of.
In the past an attendant would be waiting to charge $4 per car to park in the coliseum parking lot. This year, fans can just pull right on and park where they wish.
While there is no longer a per car charge, money is still being collected according to MHSAA deputy director N.Z. Bryant.
"They (the Mississippi Coliseum) asked us to just add a fee to the ticket price," Bryant said. "I believe it's about $2 per ticket."
One positive is that there is not a traffic jam of cars backed up into the street waiting to enter the parking lot. It also works out well for the Mississippi Coliseum on two fronts they no longer have to man the gates and considering the fact that there are usually more than two people in any one car that rolls into the parking lot for the tournament, they could collect more money.
"People have asked us why the ticket prices went up this year, there it is," Bryant said.
The cost to attend a single two-game session of the state tournament is $10.
Austin Bishop
Busy week for the West Lauderdale Knights
If you have a son who plays baseball for West Lauderdale, then don't bother with cooking supper this week. They won't be around to eat it.
The Knights, who have begun the 2004 season at 8-0, will play five games over the next six days, beginning with tonight's contest against Union at 7.
The Union game was shifted from last Saturday to tonight to accommodate a division rain-out. The Knights pay a visit to Region 5-3A foe Southeast Lauderdale on Tuesday, then host league foe Choctaw Central on Friday at 7 p.m.
Then comes Saturday which has the Knights visiting Union at 1 p.m. in a non-division game, before hosting region foe Carthage at 7 p.m.
Austin Bishop
Elliott, Chaney named MC MVPs
CLINTON Two East Mississippians claimed top honors at the annual Mississippi College football banquet here Saturday night.
Meridian's Scotty Elliott was named Offensive Most Valuable Player, and Little Rock's Josh Chaney earned the Defensive MVP award. The awards were presented by MC head coach Johnny Mills.
Elliott, a junior quarterback, is a transfer from East Mississippi Community College and played his prep football at West Lauderdale, and Chaney, a senior strong safety, transferred from East Central Community College after playing his high school football at Newton County High School.
Elliott led the Choctaws in passing and total offense and was ranked second on the team in rushing. He earned All-American Southwest Conference (honorable mention) honors, and was also named ASC Player of the Week for leading the Choctaws to a season-opening win over Millsaps.
Elliott's top game of the season came against Texas Lutheran when he threw four touchdown passes in a 31-0 victory. His 82-yarder to Tony Williams was the long pass play in the ASC for the season.
Chaney led the Choctaws in tackles with 38 solo stops and 39 assists. He also recorded an interception and broke up numerous pass plays.
special reports
Parker, Wenonah win AHSAA 6A titles
Cordell Page's team-high 22 points led the Parker Thundering Herd to the AHSAA Boys 6A Basketball State Championship title in a 75-73 win over the John Carroll Cavaliers on Saturday at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham, Ala.
Walter Sharp posted 15 points in Parker's win, and Rod Smitherman came off the bench to score 14 for the Thundering Herd.
In Girls 6A championship action, Wenonah defeated Clay-Chalkville 65-59 to capture the state crown.
Butler scored a 74-85 win over Athens in the Boys Class 5A championshipm, and Ramsay took the Girls Class 5A title with a 50-46 win over Blount.
Deshler tallied a 72-55 win over Demopolis to win the Girls Class 4A State Championship game.
Tony Krausz