CLEVELAND — From facing elimination in the district tournament to upsetting Neshoba Central in the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A tournament, Columbus was given new life after some noticeable struggles in district play.
The Falcons were helped by the return of forward Marreon Smith, who had been out for a good portion of the second half of the regular season.
Not having him made district play tougher, but with him healthy again, Columbus immediately saw a difference.
“That was one of the best games I saw of us playing as a team,” Columbus head coach Phillip Morris said. “Not playing selfish, not taking bad shots, sharing the ball, making the extra pass … Marreon back was big for us. I think he might have had six blocks.”
Columbus continues its state tournament quest on the road in the second round, heading to play another 20-win team in Cleveland Central, the top seed in Region 2.
After a close win against the Rockets, if the Falcons want to advance, they need to win another close game and combat what is expected to be a raucous road environment.
Vicksburg at New Hope, MHSAA Class 5A playoffs, second round
Rest and recovery is incredibly important, and New Hope has very much taken advantage of it after winning the MHSAA Class 5A, Region 1 tournament last week.
While a second-round bye might sound great on paper, it’s not going to be as great on the floor because the luck of the draw sees the Trojans taking on Vicksburg.
The Gators, coming into the matchup with a 28-3 record, have had very little, if any weak spots on their roster, but looking at recent history, it was New Hope who took this playoff battle last year.
“The guys really grew up a lot, and they’re playing confident right now,” New Hope head coach Drew McBrayer said. “We’re feeling good about our chances, but we’re going to have to do a good job defensively tomorrow and try to control the glass to be successful.”
This season has been a banner one for Vicksburg, significantly improving from even last season, and the Gators are coming in with a purpose and revenge on their minds.
New Hope, having that extra week or so of rest, has to be prepared for a quick start early on and containment in the middle.
The Trojans like to break out and spread the floor, so being able to connect from deep and power down low could just be the perfect recipe for success.
Clinton at Starkville, MHSAA Class 6A playoffs, second round
When you get a shot at the champs, you better not miss, and Starkville boys basketball has that opportunity in front of them on Saturday.
Reigning two-time Class 6A state champion Clinton will be headed to play the Yellow Jackets in the second round of the 6A playoffs, and the buildup behind this game is more than warranted.
The Jackets have a point to prove after dominating Tupelo in the Region 1-6A championship last Friday and a mountain to climb come playoff time.
“They’re still a really good ball club no matter what,” Starkville head coach Qu’Varius “Woodie” Howard said. “We know we’re coming into a game where we have to be ourselves, do what we’ve been doing all season long and just continue to play, but we know we have a fight coming in.”
Behind Makhi Myles, a favorite for 6A player of the year in boys basketball, Starkville has a strong roster, a veteran and senior-led roster full of talent that has as much quality as it has depth.
The Jackets have great shooters, a strong forward presence and players who play smart but aggressive on the floor.
It’s going to be a battle and an exciting one Saturday night in Starkville.
West Lowndes at Biggersville, MHSAA Class 1A playoffs, second round
West Lowndes was able to take care of business in the first round of the MHSAA Class 1A playoffs, a double-digit win over Tremont to catapult itself to the Round of 16.
However, things don’t get much tougher than this as the next round looms. The Panthers will head to play the reigning 1A state champion in Biggersville, who ran the gauntlet last season, finishing 24-2.
The Lions are just as dangerous if not more this season, coming in with a 19-3 record and thoughts of repeating on their minds.
“We have to take advantage of them being aggressive and hopefully get them in foul trouble,” West Lowndes head coach Michael Huffman said. “It’s going to be tough on the road. That home court environment is going to be tough to fight back against, but hopefully we can get it done.”
The Panthers have hovered around the .500 mark this season, but they come in winners of three of their last four games, having fallen in the finals of the MHSAA Class 1A, Region 4 tournament in a one-point loss against Houlka.
Confidence has been building for West Lowndes, and to beat the reigning champs, it’s going to take a complete effort on both sides of the floor.
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