Seeing a team twice in the same season is very much the norm in high school basketball, especially in district play, but to see a team three times in a season is unique.
To play that same team four times in a season is nearly impossible, but that’s exactly the situation that Columbus Christian Academy (23-12) sees itself in Friday as the Rams girls will take on Delta Academy at 2:15 p.m. Friday in the MAIS Class 2A semifinals at Rebul Academy in Learned.
The Raiders won all three previous meetings this season, with the two regular-season meetings decided by less than 10 points but the district semifinal matchup ending in a 21-point defeat.
The tide hasn’t yet turned in favor of CCA, but the Rams hope Friday will be a different story.
“This is the game that we wanted,” CCA head coach Billy Thomas said. “When we finished the tournaments and knew where our seeding was going to be and what side of the bracket we were going to be on, I think the girls were excited about this game for a chance to get back and even things out.”
While a win on Friday will still leave a lopsided season series record in favor of Delta, the Rams will have won the most important game of the four, and they’re going to need big contributions from everyone.
Players like Faith Yeates and Ada Farlow will be relied upon to produce against the Raiders as a spot in the Class 2A title game is on the line.
Starkville at Germantown, MHSAA Class 6A playoffs, second round
Starkville needed a breather and needed one fast after last Friday’s MHSAA Class 6A, Region 1 championship game got away.
Tupelo was able to pull away with relative ease and secure a 20-plus-point victory on the Yellow Jackets’ home court.
Such a tough loss needed to be washed away almost immediately, and Starkville did that in the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs, defeating Southaven 60-30.
However, the second round sees the 20-5 Jackets taking on a familiar and formidable foe in 25-2 Germantown.
“I thought that we played with a lot of poise on Monday after a tough loss against Tupelo,” Starkville head coach Kristie Williams said. “I didn’t know how we would respond, but we came out, we were mentally sharp and we executed the game plan.”
Executing things at a high level will be a major key to success for Starkville against a team in Germantown that doesn’t make many mistakes.
Too many open shots down low were missed in the district championship, so having Zariyah Edwards and Jada Gay being able to execute down low, with the ability to kick it out to Jamaica Young, among others, will provide versatility.
That should open the floor up and potentially lead to more scoring opportunities for the Jackets.
Alcorn Central at Noxubee County, MHSAA Class 3A playoffs, second round
Noxubee County, with a dominant performance in the first round of the MHSAA Class 3A playoffs against Rosa Fort, will have the advantage of hosting again in the second round.
The Tigers welcome a team in Alcorn Central whom they always seem to play in the playoffs, having done so each of the past three seasons, including this year.
While not playing each other during the regular season, that postseason familiarity is going to play a big part in preparations for Friday’s game.
“I’m confident about my girls,” Noxubee County head coach Micheal Johnson said. “They’ve been here before. The only thing I can do as a coach is get them prepared. We had a long talk Monday, and they told me that they were ready, and so I trust them.”
Behind junior guard Tootie Lockett, one of the best all-around 3A players in the state, the Tigers are going to have the advantage of being able to generate a number of fastbreak opportunities.
That’s exactly what Noxubee County was able to do against West Point during the regular season, with Lockett leading the charge, blowing by defenders for uncontested layups.
The Tigers play fast, play hard and play together, and that team chemistry will only help to boost the confidence of a team looking to go on a deep playoff run into early March.
Callaway at West Point, MHSAA Class 5A playoffs, second round
A much-needed respite was in the cards for West Point girls basketball after securing a first-round bye as the MHSAA Class 5A, District 1 champions.
That puts the Green Wave in the driver’s seat heading into Friday’s second-round home tilt against Callaway, which is making more than a two-hour commute from the Jackson area to play.
The Chargers are currently 24-6 going into Friday, coming off a 14-point win over Cleveland Central in the first round, and were the No. 2 seed in Region 4 behind Vicksburg, who is 25-5.
Stifling defense will be something West Point will have to contend with Friday, but as Callaway has been great defensively, the Green Wave have shown their own ability to compete and be successful when it comes to the defensive side of the ball.
Dukiaha Jones, arguably West Point’s best player this season, is going to be needed to hit some big shots from the perimeter and control the game from the top of the key.
Teammates Malajae Robinson and Taylor Fair can shoot the 3-ball and get to the line, and getting Callaway in foul trouble will only further help West Point’s chances.
It’s going to be an immediate test right out of the gates for the Green Wave and an entertaining game Friday night.
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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 28 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
