Sammy Smith knows the win will come.
It would be a wonderful holiday present if the Columbus High School boys basketball team could deliver this weekend when it serves as one of the hosts to the 14th annual Joe Horne Christmas Classic.
The event will feature 17 boys and girls basketball games in the two gymnasiums on the Columbus High campus.
The Columbus High boys will take on Marion (Ark.) at 8:20 tonight in the final game of the first day.
On Saturday, the Columbus boys will take on Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Central, followed by the Starkville High boys against Brandon.
The Columbus High girls, who are ranked No. 3 in the Class 6A by The Clarion-Ledger, will take on Jim Hill, the No. 5 team in Class 6A, at 5:40 p.m.
The Noxubee County and Starkville High girls and boys also will participate in the event, which is named in honor of Horne, a longtime scorekeeper for Columbus High sporting events.
The West Lowndes High girls and the East Webster boys also will see action.
Holt (Ala.) will replace Provine and take on Starkville High, the defending Class 6A state champions, at 7 tonight. Provine dropped out Thursday and was quickly replaced by Holt (Ala.), which just happened to call Wednesday to see if there were any open spots available.
“The community has stepped up and helped make these teams come to Columbus,” Smith said. “It is a community thing, and the community has done a tremendous job for us — the Visitors” Bureau, Wendy”s, and numerous people. There hasn”t been one person I have called who hasn”t stepped up to the plate. I want to thank everybody for that.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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