The fact that the Columbus High School boys basketball team has a chance means everything to coach Sammy Smith.
While so many other teams have collected uniforms and put the basketballs away for the season, Columbus has a chance at 7 tonight against Jackson Jim Hill in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A North State tournament simply because it has a chance.
A year ago, Columbus couldn’t imagine reaching this stage of the season. But after improving from two wins last season to 13 victories this season, Smith knows his young team, which has only one senior, has nothing to lose tonight when it plays at the Class 6A-Region 4 champion.
Jim Hill defeated Madison Central 43-37 last week to earn the right to play host to Columbus, which lost to Tupelo 54-47 in the Class 6A-Region 2 title game in Columbus.
Smith liked the effort his team delivered at home Friday night and will look for the same intensity and execution (only four turnovers against Tupelo) tonight.
“We didn’t change anything, and the kids are confident,” Smith said. “We made our bed and now we have to lie in it. We have to make sure we bounce back and do the right thing. It will be tougher on the road, but, hopefully, we will be up for the challenge.”
Smith said he and his coaches did some research about Jim Hill, which is led by 6-foot-4 senior guard Fred Thomas. Incomplete season statistics on Maxpreps.com show Thomas averaging 19.7 points and 5.6 rebounds.
While slowing Thomas could be a key part of the game plan tonight, Smith said his team will focus on itself and try to remain disciplined.
He likes his team’s chance if it can play with energy and go deep into its bench and continue to get solid minutes from everyone he puts into the game.
“Hopefully, we will be a little bit more focused and play just a little bit harder,” Smith said. “We will go down there and see what we’re made of.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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