Up next for the Wildcats of Louisville High School is the final game of the regular season on Friday night on the road at Kosciusko (3-6, 2-2 Region 4). The Whippets are coming off of back-to-back wins in the conference to clinch a playoff spot in their thrilling 19-15 win on a 95-yard interception as time expired against Northeast Lauderdale last week, which has them flying high.
Kosciusko boasts one of the state’s top junior playmakers in wide receiver Antonio Harmon and the offense has shown some different looks. LHS head coach Tyrone Shorter said even with a district title locked up, his team won’t lose focus this week.
“We’ve got to prepare for both offenses that they’re going to give us. They have a really good receiver, quarterback and fullback so we’ve got to stop their offense,” Shorter said of the Whippets. “They’re clicking at the right time and they’re going to be fired up on senior night. It’s one of those game we’ll have to play our A game. We’ll treat this game like it’s our first playoff game.”
— Robbie Faulk
CHARGERS SET TO VISIT HATLEY
Choctaw County closes out the regular season Friday at Hatley in what has all the makings of the proverbial trap game. The Chargers will be coming off a big win to clinch the region title and the MHSAA 3A playoffs begin a week later.
“We want to keep the momentum going,” CCHS head coach Roberts said. “That's what I told them (his players) at the end of the game. We have the district championship out of the way so let’s finish out the district undefeated. I think they understand that.”
Hatley is 4-6 and 1-2 in region play coming off a 56-7 loss to Houston, but Roberts said the Tigers are “a scrappy bunch” who led Noxubee 14-0 early before losing 48-21. “They're going to come ready to play ball.”
— Laurence Hilliard
STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPS CROWNED
Clinton, Center Hill, Vancleave and Our Lady Academy were the winners when the MHSAA state volleyball championships were contested at Mississippi State on Saturday..
In the closest final, Clinton edged Lewisburg 21-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 15-11 for the 6A championship despite 19 kills by Lewisburg's Micah Swift.vCenter Hill defeated Long Beach for the 5A title 25-11, 25-14, 20-25, 25-18. Center Hill began the playoffs with a 12-16 record, then defeated Saltillo, Cleveland Central, East Central, and Long Beach.
In 4A, Vancleave defeated New Albany 25-10, 25-20, 25-15. Vancleave finished the season on a 21-match winning streak, the last 11 by 3-0. OLA won an eighth straight state title in Class I for 1A, 2A and 3A schools with a 25-21, 25-21, 25-14 victory over St. Andrew's. Rebecca Walk had 27 kills for the Crescents. OLA defeated all four playoff opponents 3-0.
— Laurence Hilliard
REGION 4-3A SEEDINGS SET
There is no mystery in Region 4-3A as to which teams will make the playoffs or where they will be seeded. Choctaw County’s win over Noxubee County on Friday put the Chargers at No. 1 and the Tigers at No. 2. The Hilltoppers of Houston are No. 3, while Hatley, Choctaw County’s foe this week, is the fourth seed.
That means the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 8 are set for both Region 4-3A and Region 3-3A.
Choctaw County will host Ruleville, Coahoma AHS will travel to Noxubee County, Houston visits Winona and Amanda Elzy — the top seed in Region 3-3A — plays host to Hatley.
— Austin Bishop
BEARD’S FOOT AIDS CCHS
Trace Beard, a sophomore at Choctaw County High School, was four for four on PATs in a 28-18 victory over Noxubee County. He also handles the punting and kickoff duties for the Chargers.
“He smoked one (punt) 53 yards and flipped the field,” said coach Jeff Roberts.
For the season, Beard is 34 of 36 on PATs and three of four on field goal attempts. He is averaging about 42 yards a punt and in a 38-0 victory over Ripley put two kickoffs in the end zone.
“He's a weapon,” Roberts said.
— Laurence Hilliard
