The District Playoffs got started Tuesday for most teams in the state, all you’ve done in the season flies out the window. Every team is basically 0-0 and you play for the right to continue your season and compete for a State Championship. Being a two time state champ myself, I remember the feeling we used to get around this time, you have to bring your A+ game to get a win and you know you are going to get the best performance from each team you face. I’m reporting the results that I could find from Tuesday’s matchups and will continue to update as the games continue. Good luck to all the teams and remember playoffs are the time you either GO Hard or Go Home!
I will begin with arguably the toughest division in the state, Division 3-4A is being hosted by the Callaway Chargers- the No. 1 seed in this tournament- and the field includes the Lanier Bulldogs, Ridgeland Titans, Pearl Pirates, Vicksburg Gators, Yazoo City Indians, Yazoo County Panthers, and Canton Tigers.
We’ll start with the most exciting game of the night: No. 3 seed Ridgeland -vs- No. 6 seed Pearl. Ridgeland starting forward Jamaal McCoy, had the flu and was unavailable to play Tuesday night, that meant everybody had to step up and nobody stepped up larger than Jeff Stubbs for Ridgeland. Stubbs scored 24 pts, scoring 9pts in the last 3 minutes including the game winning bucket with 8 seconds left that capped a stellar performance for the senior PG. Ridgeland won 75-74 and the win secures them a spot in the North Mississippi Playoffs next week. They will play Vicksburg Thursday in the semifinals.
The surprise of the night came from the Lanier Bulldogs, I say this because since I have been apart of basketball in Mississippi Lanier has been a definite to represent Jackson @ the State coliseum competing for a championship and in most cases winning the crown. Yazoo City, behind 19pts from Bradley Lawyer, knocked the Bulldogs out of the playoffs completely with a 64-49 win over the team from Maple Street with 8 gold balls. Yazoo City advances to play Callaway in the other semifinal matchup.
No. 1 seeded Callaway had no trouble dispatching the Panthers of Yazoo County, Julysses Nobles put up a modest 15pts as they pancaked YC 61-36. They will play Yazoo City Thursday. My first shoutout to Yazoo County who we dismantled in the state championship, one of three in a row, 1994.
In the other matchup, Vicksburg got Canton out of town with what seemed like a defensive minded matchup beating the Tigers 45-34. Kelsey Howard led the Gators with 17pts and pushed them on to the semifinals where Ridgeland awaits.
Other Playoff Scores and notes from around the state for Tuesday:
Class 5A
Behind Tyler Adams’ 13 pts Brandon beat Hattiesburg 57-25.
Greenville- Weston defeated Clinton 60-53, Greenville was led by Willie Calvin with 16pts, Robert Williams had 15, and Demario Calvin added 10. That offset Jarvis Martin’s 19 pts and Donzedrick Smith’s 17pts.
Grenada ousted Northwest Rankin 62-46. Robert Willis scored a game high 35pts.
Harrison Central won over Petal 72-61 with DeShaun Bowie scoring 23pts.
Pg Brandon Anderson propelled Jim Hill to a 57-50 win over Natchez with 16pts.
The No. 1 rated player in the state and some say in the country, LaQuinton Ross, dropped 26pts on Madison Central as Murrah rolled to a easy victory 73-52.
Meridian had 4 players in double figures as they had no problem with Oak Grove, 72-42.
Pascagoula beat Ocean Springs 58-41.
John David Little scored 20pts to lead Olive Branch to a victory over Southhaven 66-49.
Provine boasted 4 players in double digits with Glen Collins leading the way with 24pts as they beat the brakes off of Warren Central 84-51.
The football powerhouse showed Tupelo that they can hoop too beating them in a tight one, 50-48. Quendarius Robinson dropped a hot 20 of those 50 for the edge.
Jeff Jernigan scored 19 to help Starkville slide past Columbus 60-57.
Wingfield blew Terry back down 55 behind Trency Jackson’s 28 in a 85-51 shalacking.
The rest of 4A:
West Point beat Caledonia 80-55.
Quitman triumphed over Northeast Jones 62-42 with three players in double figures.
Kadeem Fleming scored 23pts in handing Mendenhall an embarrasing loss, 91-49.
New Hope beat Neshoba Central 93-58.
Tradarius Holloway led 4 players in double figures with 21 as McComb beat Lawrence County 77-65.
West Lauderdale beat up on Kosciusko to the tune of 70-43.
Greenwood won by beating Lafayette County 61-36.
Brookhaven used a balanced attack to send Florence packing 72-60.
Pontotoc 69 -Tishimingo County 61.
Shannon 65- Center Hill 55.
Results for 3A:
Bailey was led by Orlando Taylor who scored 22pts as they downed Collins 83-68.
Choctaw Central won 43-34 over Carthage.
Greenwood Elzy beat Charleston 66-57.
Talented Guard Kevin Nixon led Heidelberg to a victory by scoring 26pts to oust Raleigh from the playoffs 73-45.
Holly Springs beat Independence in a lopsided affair 62-33.
Humphreys County beat Velma Jackson 57-51.
North Panola beat Senatobia 60-53.
In 2A action:
West bolivar beat Ruleville 55-42. I have to give a shout out to Ruleville who we trounced in the Championship game my senior year 1995.
One of the most underrated players in the state, Seiwe Olivier of Piney Woods, scored 20pts in posting an easy win over Seminary 63-32. Go Nados, my alma mater is still fighting.
McLaurin beat Enterprise 77-66.
Loyd Star won over St. Andrews 71-57.
Kemper County 55- Philadelphia 44.
J.Z. George 43 – Leflore County 40.
Bobby Thigpen scored 20pts in leading Forest over Union 69-48.
Byers beat East Union 66-57.
Mississippi/Chi-town Hoops 