Basketballs will be dribbling all day long at the Ty Cobb Gymnasium on the campus of Choctaw County High School Saturday for the 2020 Mid Mississippi Challenge, with nine games.
It will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a girls game between East Webster and defending 4A state champion Louisville. That will be followed in order by East Webster-Winona boys, New Site-Holmes Central girls, Choctaw Central-Ripley boys, Choctaw Central-Meridian girls, Pontotoc-Germantown girls, Pontotoc-Southeast Lauderdale boys, Choctaw County-Tupelo Christian girls and Choctaw County-Louisville boys.
Tickets are sold as a day-long pass and are $10 each. The full breakdown of the games can be found in the local sports schedule elsewhere in this week’s paper.
— Laurence Hilliard
BIG 3 HOOPS COMING UP SHORT
The three biggest NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams are having a hard time in conference play. Southern Miss is 0-4 in Conference USA while Ole Miss is 0-2 and MSU is 0-3 in SEC play. Ole Miss and MSU are both 9-6 overall while Southern Miss is 4-13.
Ole Miss will play at home on Saturday night hosting LSU after traveling to Florida on Tuesday. Southern Miss has home games against North Texas on Thursday and Rice on Saturday while MSU begins a three-game home stand that began on Tuesday against Missouri.
— Dale McKee
POGUE NAMED JA HEAD COACH
Eupora native and former Eupora and South Panola High School head football coach Lance Pogue has been named the new leader for the Jackson Academy football team.
Pogue, was named the 2010 USA Today National Coach of the Year while guiding South Panola, had been serving as JA’s defensive coordinator under then head coach Larry Weems.
“In my three years at JA, I have come to know the quality and dedication of these young men, and I very much look forward to working alongside them to achieve great things and help them be a part of a program they will proudly carry with them throughout their lives,” Pogue said in a press release.
— Austin Bishop
OTHER STATEWIDE HOOPS
Jackson State took care of Alcorn this past weekend. The Tigers are now 5-11 overall while the Braves are now 5-9 entering the week. Mississippi College’s record stands at 6-8, Belhaven's at 6-7 and Delta State's at 7-8 while William Carey is off to another typical Crusader season at 13-5 overall.
— Dale McKee
NHSACA FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Seven Mississippi Coaches have been announced as finalists for 2020 NHSACA (National High School Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year honors.
Lamar High School and former Meridian High School legendary coach and player Mac Barnes made the National list for football, while former Mississippi State University basketball standout and current Starkville High School head coach Greg Carter made the list for boys basketball.
Other finalists for Mississippi are as follows: Jeff McCleskey, Northwest Rankin, baseball; Jimmy Murphrey, Lafayette County, boys basketball assistant; Chris Gardner, Northwest Rankin, soccer; Philly Hicks, DeSoto Central, Softball; and Robert Gonzalez, Oxford, Swimming.
— Austin Bishop
MSU WOMEN STILL ROLLING
The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs won their 14th straight road game and stand at 15-2 overall and 3-0 in SEC play. They will host LSU this Thursday. Ole Miss is 0-4 in league play and 7-10 overall while Southern Miss is off to a 10-4 mark and 2-1 in C-USA play.
— Dale McKee
COFFEY WEIGHING OPTIONS
Winona all-state quarterback AnDarius Coffey has scholarship offers from Duke, Liberty University, and Central Arkansas and plans to visit all three prior to the February signing period.
Coffey committed to the University of Mississippi last summer, but did not sign with the Rebels during the February signing period. “I don't have any interest in Ole Miss at the moment,” he said.
Coffey played quarterback the last two years, but was recruited by Ole Miss as a defensive back, the position he played for the Tigers as a sophomore. He said Duke and Central Arkansas have recruited him for offense or defense, Liberty just for defense. Missouri and Memphis have also shown interest, but have not yet made an offer.
— Laurence Hilliard
