If nothing else, playing a game at the Mississippi Coliseum taught the West Lowndes boys’ basketball team one thing last season.
The Panthers learned rather quickly they wanted to go back.
“We were a little in awe last year,” West Lowndes junior Marcus Farmer said. “We were a little intimdated, because it was new to us. Now, we have a confort level and a confidence level. We feel like we can go back now and compete for a state championship.”
West Lowndes began its quest for a Mississippi High School Activtivites Association Class 1A state championship with a 101-47 rout of French Camp Academy Tuesday night at home.
West Lowndes (23-8) will host either Piney Woods or Mississippi School for the Deaf Saturday in a second-round matchup. A win there sends the team to Jackson for a second straight season and moves them winin three wins of a state championship.
“Jackson was really the goal this team set to start the season,” West Lowndes junior JaQuante Bell said. “We were excited last year, because we made it. This year, we want to do a whole lot more. Each week, this team has gotten a little better. The main thing is that we stay humbled and stayed focus. There is so much more that we want to accomplish this season.”
West Lowndes coach Danny Crawford took over both basketball teams at the school prior to this school year. Having faced West Lowndes as a regional rival at West Oktibbeha County High School, Crawford knew the talent level he was inheriting. He quickly learned the coachability of the kids.
“From the very first practice, we set the goal of playing in Jackson,” Crawford said. “I really thought that if we worked really hard we could reach that goal. We play such a difficult schedule. We play Class 6A teams like Columbus and Class 5A teams like New Hope. By the time you play a large number of games against quality opponents like that, it is going to help you get ready for the postseason. It’s like night and day when the kids get to take the court against a Class 1A opponent.
“I really credit for the kids for taking the lesssons that we learned in some of those losses and applying them down the stretch of the season.”
It was a “difference between night and day” situation Tuesday night. French Camp was outmanned at every position but used some long-range 3-point shooting to traill 21-19 one possession into the second quarter.
Things quickly unralved as West Lowndes ran off a 16-2 run.
The home crowd was quickly getting into things as many in attendance would rise as one each time freshman Greg King launched a 3-point shot attempt. The crowd was also on their feet for monster dunks by Bell and Farmer.
“It had been three or four years since there was a home playoff game out here,” Farmer said. “Everybody was real excited for that reason. We wanted to get off to a good start to make sure everybody was hyped.”
West Lowndes led 63-33 when Crawford called timeout and gave his starters the rest of the night off.
What happened next was a 22-0 run by the West Lowndes reserves.
“Easily the best thing that happened in this game,” Crawford said. “If you are going to play and win five playoff games, you aren’t going to do that with five or six players. You are going to need your bench to contribute and to make plays. (King) and (Dekylae Malone) came in and shot the ball very well. We also defended. To really see the energy from the reserves, well that may have been the most exciting part of the game.”
Bell said the Panthers have gotten better each week. Overall, the squad has won 12 of its last 14, with the losses being to Columbus and Leake County.
“Each day it is exciting,” Bell said. “We feel like we are a little bit closer to our potential.”
Farmer said he knew things would be different after a couple of practices under Crawford.
“We know have a coach who will push us to the very end,” Farmer said. “We have needed that.”
Malone led West Lowndes with 24 points, while King added 18 points. Bell had 15 points.
n Elsewhere in the coverage area Tuesday night, the New Hope boys saw their season end with a 46-42 loss at Clarksdale in Class 5A first-round action.
In Class 4A, the Caledonia boys saw their season end with a 103-63 loss at Gentry. In Class 3A, the Aberdeen boys advanced with a 68-56 home win over Cleveland East Side.
Aberdeen will play at Holly Springs Saturday night in second-round play.
Follow Dispatch sports writer on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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