By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
November 4, 2004
CHOCTAW Area girls' basketball fans will have their chance to see eight games Saturday at Choctaw Central High School in the eighth-annual Choctaw Classic.
The feature game of the day has the pre-season No. 1 Lady Warriors of Choctaw Central hosting Cleveland at 8:30 p.m.
Choctaw Central finished 36-2 and No. 1 in the state last year after winning the Class 3A state championship. The Lady Warriors' season opener may be no cake walk against a Cleveland team led by former Union coach Jenny McCullough.
"Cleveland is going to be a power in the North 3A," Choctaw Central head coach Walter Wilson said. "I've been trying to get some information on them and they tell me Independence and Cleveland are going to be the two to beat in the North 3A.
"I think it's going to be a good day. The local teams should bring a good crowd in here and I think they're matched up pretty evenly.
"I think people are really ready for basketball."
Play begins at 10 a.m. with Forest facing a Louisville squad that lost its season opener 65-41 at Neshoba Central Tuesday night.
At 11:30 a.m., the Lady Rockets of Neshoba Central take on a tough Newton team that was 27-10 on the court last year and returns four starters Chotsani Henderson, Whitney Thames, Karmarshea Jones, and Jessica Anderson. The Lady Rockets return two starters from last year's 5-25 team in Kristi Pilgrim and Sondria Hillie, both juniors.
At 1 p.m., West Lauderdale faces Kosciusko.
At 2:30 p.m., Southeast Lauderdale plays South Leake. Joe Miller's team suffered heavy losses from last year's 34-4 ballclub.
At 4 p.m., Carthage meets Forest Hill.
At 5:30 p.m., Wayne County, 27-7 last year, squares off with Franklin County.
At 7 p.m., Newton County faces Vicksburg as former Choctaw Central girls' coach Willis Tullos is now with the Lady Cougars. Newton County returns four starters in Chan Moore, Andrea Dubose, Lynnesha Ramsey, and Le'Eshaa Wesley from last year's 13-15 squad. Newton County was 13-8 before Dubose went down with a broken ankle and didn't win again.