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Inside Mississippi State Sports



Today's MHSAA State Championship Preview
by Gene Phelps and Brandon Speck/NEMS Daily Journal
Mar 07, 2013 | 1858 views | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Thursday’s Games

Girls 1A Championship

Tipoff: 1 p.m.

H.W. Byers (27-5)

Probable Starters

05 Precious Rogers

14 Laniqua Collins

20 Richenda Crutcher

22 ShaDai Nolen

33 Justice Martin

Hinds AHS (28-6)

Probable Starters

02 Ieshia Dixon

03 Octavia Barnes

04 Erica Harris

10 Adrienne Burks

13 Croatia Williams

SCOUTING REPORT

Byers, playing without leading scorer Madison McCreless, had no problem beating Bogue Chitto 72-35 in the semifinals. ... McCreless is sidelined with a foot injury suffered in the North state tournament. ... Hinds AHS reached the finals with a 52-47 win against Ashland. ... Byers Lady Lions have won state titles four of the last five seasons – two each in 1A and 2A. ... Byers played top-ranked Bay High closer than anyone, falling 51-45 Jan. 12 in Hickory Flat Tournament. THE BUZZ

The Lady Lions are heavy favorites to win their third straight Class 1A gold ball.

Girls 2A Championship

Tipoff: 7 p.m.

Radio: WBVV-FM (99.3), WBIP-AM (1400).

New Site (31-4)

Probable Starters

02 Addison Lucas

04 Marlee Taylor

11 Christy Clark

21 Chistin Pharr

33 Shelby Stricklen

35 Grace Elliott

Scott Central (32-4)

Probable Starters

12 Haley Watkins

15 Alexis Odom

35 Victoria Vivians

40 Teelisa Kennedy

55 Holly Hendershot

SCOUTING REPORT

Grace Elliott, a sophomore inside-outside player, came off the bench to score 17 points in Lady Royals’ 71-59 semifinals win against Amite County. ... Scott Central’s led by the state’s leading scorer, Victoria Vivians. The junior guard/forward averages 40 points per game. She scored 43 in team’s 58-43 semifinals win against Potts Camp. ... New Site, the defending state championship, is playing in its fourth consecutive championship game. ... Lady Royals won 149 games the last five seasons.

THE BUZZ

Lady Royals have to find a way to limit Vivians’ touches. She shot 35 of team’s 47 attempts in semifinal.

Boys 1A Championship

Tipoff: 2:30 p.m.

Radio: WXRZ-FM (96.3)

Biggersville (27-8)

Probable Starters


25 Emmanuel Simmons

01 Jaylon Gaines

20 Shaun Watson

30 Darian Barnett

23 Daniel Simmons

Coldwater (23-3)

Probable Starters


12 Marcel Newson

21 Earlando Blair

03 Jordan Robinson

20 Devonta Roberts

15 Marcel Hunt

SCOUTING REPORT

Coldwater beat Biggersville in the North championship game thanks to a late 27-7 run. ... Biggersville beat Coldwater in last year’s North title game before losing to the Cougars in the state championship game. ... Biggersville lost all five starters from last season and has only one senior this year, Blake Stacy. ... Biggersville reached the finals with a 61-55 win behind a combined 48 points from Daniel Simmons and Jaylon Gaines. ... Earlando Blair scored 18 points in Coldwater’s North tournament win.

THE BUZZ

Biggersville’s defense must stop Coldwater’s explosive offense.

Boys 2A Championship

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m.

Radio: WBVV-FM (99.3)

Baldwyn (30-3)

Probable Starters


03 Tevin Lindsey

10 Mason Penson

11 Martell Brown

23 Duke Upshaw

33 Romaro Crump

Bassfield (24-5)

Probable Starters

22 Jamal Peters

10 Desmond Hammond

42 Ron Logan

25 Jeff Smith

12 Trayell Wright

SCOUTING REPORT

Baldwyn lost starting PG Dee Gates for the season thanks to a torn ACL on Dec. 8. ... The Bearcats are in the title game for the third time in four years, losing to SV Marshall last season. ... Free throw shooting has been a playoff lift for Baldwyn, which made 7-of-10 in a semifinals win against Williams-Sullivan. ... Baldwyn is trying to win its first state title since 1986-87’s back-to-back wins. ... Current coach Jason McKay was a point guard on those two championship teams.

THE BUZZ

To bring the gold ball back to Prentiss County, the Bearcats need Tevin Linsey and his teammates to connect from the field.
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