It’s that time of year for high school basketball in the Golden Triangle – playoff season. With local schools getting prepared for either district- or state-tournament play, The Dispatch is recapping the 2023-24 season for every school in our coverage area, complete with postseason outlooks.
MHSAA
Columbus Falcons
Boys basketball (17-8, 5-5 in 2-6A)
District ranking: No. 3 seed
Next Game: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Warren Central (First Round, 6A, District 2 tournament at Callaway)
Season Highlights: The Falcons have a number of high-caliber wins on their schedule, including New Hope, Starkville twice and Cleveland Central. The Falcons took care of business in non-district play, going 12-3.
Girls basketball (3-20, 2-8 in 2-6A)
District ranking: No. 5 seed
Next Game: 6 p.m. Monday vs. Vicksburg (First Round, 6A, District 2 tournament at Callaway)
Season Highlights: Despite winning just one game in non-district play, the Falcons have had seven single-digit losses this season. Columbus has also won both its district games over Warren Central by a combined 120-22 scoreline.
Starkville Yellow Jackets
Boys basketball (15-10, 8-2 in 2-7A)
District ranking: No. 1 seed
Next Game: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Germantown/Tupelo (Semifinals, Class 7A, District 2 tournament at Germantown)
Season Highlights: What a run Starkville has gone on over its past 13 games, going 10-3 in that span and dominating in district play with an 8-2 record. Oddly enough, Starkville’s lone two district losses have come off a pair of buzzer-beating shots vs. Madison Central & Tupelo.
Girls basketball (22-4, 8-2 in 2-7A)
District ranking: No. 3 seed
Next Game: 4 p.m. Monday vs. Hernando (First Round, Class 7A, District 2 tournament at Germantown)
Season Highlights: Despite being tied with both Tupelo and Germantown with an 8-2 record in district play, the Yellow Jackets head into the District 2 tournament as the No. 3 seed. Starkville went an impressive 14-2 in non-district play this season.
West Point Green Wave
Boys basketball (13-11, 5-5 in 1-5A)
District ranking: No. 3 seed
Next Game: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Clarksdale (First Round, Class 5A, District 1 tournament at Lafayette)
Season Highlights: It hasn’t been the best of seasons for West Point, but a strong showing in district play sees them as the No. 3 seed going into the district tournament.
Girls basketball (16-7, 7-3 in 1-5A)
District ranking: No. 2 seed
Next Game: 4 p.m. Thursday vs. New Hope/Corinth (Semifinals, Class 5A, District 1 tournament at Lafayette)
Season Highlights: Aside from a blowout loss against Pontotoc on Jan. 25, West Point has won six of its last seven games heading into the district playoffs, including key wins against Lafayette and Clarksdale to secure the No. 2 seed.
New Hope Trojans
Boys basketball (23-2, 10-0 in 1-5A)
District ranking: No. 1 seed
Next Game: 5:30 p.m. Thursday vs. Lafayette/Corinth (Semifinals, Class 5A, District 1 tournament at Lafayette)
Season Highlights: One of the most dominant teams in 5A, New Hope’s two losses this season have come against Columbus and Hartfield Academy. Aside from them, the Trojans haven’t missed a beat, running the gauntlet in district play to go into the district tournament as the undefeated No. 1 seed.
Girls basketball (15-8, 6-4 in 1-5A)
District ranking: No. 3 seed
Next Game: 4 p.m. Tuesday vs. Corinth (First Round, Class 5A, District 1 tournament @ Lafayette)
Season Highlights: New Hope stormed into the district tournament on a high, winning four of its last five district games to secure the No. 3 seed in district play. All four wins were double-digit wins, including three 15+ point victories and two 20+ point victories.
Caledonia Cavaliers
Boys basketball (18-7, 4-4 in 3-4A)
District ranking: No. 3 seed
Next Game: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Greenwood (Semifinals, Class 4A, District 3 tournament at Caledonia)
Season Highlights: Despite a tough end to the season that did include a thrilling victory over Greenwood, Caledonia finds itself as the No. 3 seed in district play, set to face off against the Bulldogs again in the district tournament.
Girls basketball (15-7, 4-4 in 2-4A)
District ranking: No. 3 seed
Next Game: 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Houston (Semifinals, Class 4A, District 3 tournament at Caledonia)
Season Highlights: After years of losing records and disappointment, Caledonia has not only found its way to a 15-7 record this season, but the Cavaliers are the No. 3 seed going into the district tournament, held at Caledonia this week.
Noxubee County Tigers
Boys basketball (11-12, 6-2 in 5-3A)
District ranking: No. 2 seed
Next Game: 5:30 p.m. Thursday vs. Southeast Lauderdale (Semifinals, Class 3A, District 5 tournament at ECCC)
Season Highlights: What was a tough stretch in non-district play, falling to teams like Neshoba Central, West Lowndes and Saltillo among others, gave way to a strong district performance from the Tigers. Finishing 6-2, Noxubee County was barely edged out for the No. 1 seed in the district tournament by Kemper County.
Girls basketball (7-12, 4-4 in 5-3A)
District ranking: No. 3 seed
Next Game: 4 p.m. Thursday vs. Southeast Lauderdale (Semifinals, Class 3A, District 5 tournament at ECCC)
Season Highlights: Despite a 2-7 record in non-district play, including an 0-9 start to the season, Noxubee County has rebounded in a big way going into the district tournament. Over their final eight games of the season, the Tigers were 7-3 and 4-2 in district play.
West Lowndes Panthers
Boys Basketball (16-11, 4-1 in 3-1A)
District ranking: No. 2 seed
Next Game: 8:30 p.m. Thursday vs. Okolona/Vardaman (Semifinals, Class 1A, District 4 tournament at West Union)
Season Highlights: Free throw shooting has plagued West Lowndes on more than one occasion this season, but the Panthers have persevered through, going 4-1 in district to secure the No. 2 seed going into this week’s district tournament. The Panthers lost just 63-57 to West Union, the No. 1 seed in their district, so if those two match up again, expect a close game.
Girls Basketball (5-19, 1-4 in 3-1A)
District ranking: No. 5 seed
Next Game: 4 p.m. Tuesday vs. Vardaman (First Round, Class 1A, District 4 tournament at West Union)
Season Highlights: A regular-season finale win against Pickens County (Ark.) was the right way for West Lowndes to go into the district tournament, but a poor showing in district play after a rough non-district schedule puts the Panthers in a big hole going up against Vardaman.
MAIS
Heritage Academy Patriots
Boys Basketball (17-4, 8-2 in 3-5A)
District ranking: No. 4 seed
Next Game: 5:15 p.m. Wednesday vs. Wayne Academy (First Round, Class 5A, North State tournament at Bayou Academy)
Season Highlights: In head coach Andrew Howell’s first season as head coach for Heritage Academy, the Patriots has been a dominant force, clinching a district title ahead of the North State tournament. Heritage enters as the No. 1 seed from District 1, carrying a six-game win streak with them into the playoffs.
Girls Basketball (13-8, 4-6 in 3-5A)
District ranking: No. 1 seed
Next Game: 4 p.m. Wednesday vs. East Rankin Academy (First Round, Class 5A, North State tournament at Bayou Academy)
Season Highlights: District play hasn’t been the kindest to Heritage, but a key win last Monday against Starkville Academy was enough for the Patriots to sneak into the No. 4 seed going into the North State tournament. In non-district play, Heritage was a dominant 9-2, starting out the season 8-2 before district play began.
Starkville Academy Volunteers
Boys Basketball (9-16, 1-9 in 3-5A)
District ranking: Sixth place
Season Highlights: All-around, this was a down season for Starkville Academy boys basketball despite an 8-7 non-district record. Once district play came around, the struggles worsened, losing by double-digits in six of its nine district losses, including three losses by 15 or more points.
Girls Basketball (16-12, 3-7 in 3-5A)
District ranking: Fifth place
Season Highlights: With no tournament for Starkville Academy’s district, the Volunteers had to be a top-4 team in order to qualify for the Class 5A North State tournament. However, a key loss last Monday against Heritage Academy was the nail in the coffin as the Vols missed out on the postseason entirely.
Oak Hill Academy Raiders
Boys Basketball (15-9, 6-2 in 3-4A)
District ranking: No. 1 seed
Next Game: 5:15 p.m. Thursday vs. Marshall Academy/Washington School (First Round, Class 4A, North State tournament at Kirk Academy)
Season Highlights: A thrilling district tournament saw Oak Hill Academy squeak out close wins against both Winona Christian, 47-42, and Canton Academy, 48-45, to win a district title. It’s been a more up-and-down season from what the Raiders would want, but they hold the No. 1 seed from District 3 and a first-round bye going into the North State tournament
Girls Basketball (18-5, 7-1 in 3-4A)
District ranking: No. 1 seed
Next Game: 4 p.m. Thursday vs. Marshall Academy/Washington School (First Round, Class 4A, North State tournament at Kirk Academy)
Season Highlights: Under first-year head coach Nora Kathryn Smith, the Raiders have dominated the competition in District play, running the gauntlet to take home a district title and a crucial first round bye in the North State tournament. Oak Hill has currently won six of its last seven games after rattling off a 12-game winning streak earlier this season.
Columbus Christian Academy Rams
Boys Basketball (19-9, 7-1 in 2-2A)
District ranking: No. 2 seed
Next Game: 5:15 p.m. Tuesday vs. Calhoun Academy (First Round, Class 2A, North State tournament at Marvell Academy)
Season Highlights: Saturday evening was one to forget for Columbus Christian boys basketball, blowing a 16-point lead in the district championship game against Sharkey-Issaquena, losing 76-73. The Rams still seemingly have plenty of confidence going into the North State tournament, but they missed out on a key No. 1 seed with that loss.
Girls Basketball (24-8, 8-0 in 2-2A)
District ranking: No. 1 seed
Next Game: 4 p.m. Tuesday vs. Calhoun Academy (First Round, Class 2A, North State tournament at Marvell Academy)
Season Highlights: Not only did the Rams secure the No. 1 seed in their district tournament, but they ran the gauntlet, defeating Kemper Academy, 56-47, in the district title game to win a district championship and secure a No. 1 seed in the Class 2A North State tournament. The reigning state champions are here to repeat.
Hebron Christian
Boys basketball (No. 4 seed in 2-2A)
Next Game: 7:45 p.m. Wednesday vs. Lee Academy (Ark.) (First Round, Class 2A, North State tournament at Marvell Academy)
Season Highlights: A disappointing year for Hebron Christian boys basketball still sees the Eagles having made the postseason, but with two tough losses in last week’s district tournament under their belts. Facing a No. 1 seed in Lee Academy (Ark.) will almost assuredly be a tough task.
Girls basketball (No. 3 seed in 2-2A)
Next Game: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday vs. Delta Academy (First Round, Class 2A, North State tournament at Marvell Academy)
Season Highlights: Hebron avoided going into the Class 2A North State tournament as the lowest seed from District 2 with a consolation bracket win in the district tournament on Saturday. Despite another rebuilding season for the Eagles, they find themselves firmly in the playoffs with a chance to go on a dark-horse run.
Others
Starkville Christian Cougars
Boys Basketball (8-7, 5-4 in conference)
Season Highlights: Conference play has been a rollercoaster for Starkville Christian, but just like with their overall record, the Cougars are a game above .500 in what looks to be a tough conference overall. SC is also 3-3 in non-conference play thus far this season.
Girls Basketball (11-3, 5-1 in conference)
Season Highlights: The gears have been clicking for Starkville Christian girls basketball this season in a big way, currently 11-3 overall, with a 6-2 non-conference record and 5-1 conference record. Despite fighting the elements when looking to schedule opponents, it’s been a very successful season so far.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
