Now that football season has wrapped, we can turn more of our attention to hoops. There have been some interesting developments to this point, so here are a few notes from the hardwood.
• With Chloe Chism having graduated, and with a very young roster, you might think New Site’s girls would be in rebuilding mode. But they’re off to a 10-2 start, and that’s due in large part to the youngsters. Sophomores Johna Kate Lindley and Bella Green lead the team with 14.8 and 10.1 points per game, respectively. Freshman Claudi Ann Brown averages 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds.
The Royals reached the Class 2A quarterfinals last season and appear good enough to make another deep run.
• One of the tougher girls regions is 1-1A, which includes Biggersville, Thrasher and Wheeler. Biggersville beat Thrasher in last season’s state title game, and Wheeler entered our rankings this week at No. 9. Biggersville (5-3) beat Thrasher (5-4) again on Tuesday, and Wheeler (10-2) gets a shot at the latter tonight.
Wheeler has been led by senior Emma Kate Beckham, who is averaging 15.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 asssists per game. The Eagles are off to their best start in years – how many years, I’m not sure, because MaxPreps only goes back to 2005-06.
• Starkville’s boys and girls both sit atop our rankings and are both undefeated. Senior Jada Gay is once again one of the best players in the area; she had 30 points and 14 rebounds in Tuesday’s win over Tupelo.
Veteran guards Jaden Tate and T.J. Warren have led the boys squad, and they combined for 42 points against Tupelo.
• West Union’s boys sure look like a state title contender in 1A. The Eagles are off to a 13-0 start, and all but two of those wins have been by double digits. They average 65.8 points per game.
This is a deeply experienced squad with a great inside-out combo of 6-foot-6 senior Jon Grey Morrisson (17.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg) and junior Carson Conlee (15.2 ppg). And junior Jack Rutherford pitches in 10.2 ppg.
West Union faces county rival Ingomar tonight. The Eagles won the first meeting, back on Nov. 7, by 19 points.
• Speaking of Ingomar, the Falcons saw a familiar face return this season in Jojo Petty. He transferred to Holly Springs last season but came back home and has picked up where he left off. The senior is averaging 12.5 points per game and has led Ingomar to an 11-4 start. The Falcons could be a factor in 1A – if they can solve West Union.
• West Point’s boys started off 8-0 before suffering their first loss of the season on Tuesday, 57-50 to Houston. The teams previously met on Nov. 4 with West Point winning 62-31, so the Hilltoppers have clearly made some progress (probably helped getting some football players back). So keep an eye on Houston, and specifically keep an eye on 6-4 junior Kase Brooks, who is averaging 18.8 points and 7.5 rebounds.
Houston, by the way, is going to play two games in two different locations on Saturday: against Ingomar at the Tangle on the Trail in Pontotoc (11 a.m.), and then against Biggersville at the Curtis Loggins Shootout in Calhoun City (2 p.m.). Coach Eddie Neal has a 12-man rotation, which is why he thinks playing two won’t be a big problem.
• Well, well, well, if it isn’t Drew Tyler winning basketball games. The Oxford boys coach has been doing so for nearly 30 years, and this year’s team is off to a 10-0 start. Tyler, who’s in his 29th season leading the Chargers, now has 643 career wins.
Oxford has one of the area’s most prolific scorers in 5-6 guard Miles Bledsoe, who averages 26.4 points per game. Jack Tatum, a 6-4 guard, averages 15.1 points, while 6-foot guard Jakavion Majors Jr. adds 14 points per game.
Brad Locke is a senior sports reporter at the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
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