MHSAA Championship Schedule and Projections

All Championship games will be played at the Pavilion on the campus of Ole Miss in Oxford. Projected winners in bold. (Record) #MS MaxPreps rankings SOS-Strength of Schedule.

1A

Baldwyn (18-12) #79 SOS 3.4

travels 70 miles to Ole Miss

Ingomar (35-2) #20 SOS 2.8

travels 36 miles to Ole Miss

Notes: What a fitting way to make history with the first boys state championship game being played in the Pavilion between two division rivals. They have met two times earlier in the year. The results were Ingomar winning by 58-37 and 58-36. I think both school will help pack the Pavilion out. I wish I could say it will be a better result for Baldwyn this time but I just don’t see it happening. Second place is not bad in a year where you have a dominant factor like Ingomar. They have rolled all year and the gritty squad will earn the Gold Ball after a 2nd place finish in 2A last year. The Pavilion will be packed and rocking with Northeast Mississippi hoops junkies for this one.

4A

Greenwood (25-7) #21 SOS 8.5

travels 83 miles to Ole Miss

Raymond (25-7) #9 SOS 12.9

travels 176 miles to Ole Miss

Notes: Greenwood really looked impressive at the Big House and it might be time for the Bulldogs to make a run with their young players. They are very talented and will be a tough match-up for Raymond. They are bigger, stronger and faster but so is just about every other team that Raymond faces. I’m really liking what I see out of Greenwood but I think Raymond continues with the 4-peat.

 

2A

Coahoma County (23-10) #52 SOS 4.9

travels 64 miles to Ole Miss

Potts Camp (24-7) #57 SOS 2.4

travels 37 miles to Ole Miss

Notes: The difference in this game will be Jai Yates. Yates will be able to play with the big guys from Potts Camp and can bang down low with them. The problem is that Yates is no longer with Coahoma County. The big guy moved to Arizona at the start of the school year. Potts Camp should have a crazy fan base at this game being only 30 minutes away. They are big, strong, fast and skilled. Coahoma County will be able to make this a very good game but I think the loss of Yates will be the slight difference in the end. Another big note to this game will be Coach Moore of Coahoma County will be pulling double-duty again with the girls team in the 2A girls championship game. Much respect for the way he coaches both teams at such a high level year in and year out. He is the most dominant Coach in Mississippi when it comes to handling both teams.

 

5A

Center Hill (25-8) #5 SOS 17.0

travels 61 miles to Ole Miss

Callaway (24-5) #1 SOS 19.8

travels 156 miles to Ole Miss

Notes: Coach David Sanders gets a chance to return to his college stomping grounds to bring the gold ball home. Center Hill heads down to Oxford looking to repeat. This game will be legendary. The two most dominant teams in their class meeting up where it counts. It’s going to be close but I’m flipping a coin and it says Center Hill comes out on top. Do I trust my quarter? I bet Dave tells me to throw that quarter away. Center Hill sneaks by on a missed Daeshun Ruffin shot at the buzzer?

 

3A

St. Andrew’s Episcopal (28-6) #30 SOS 4.5

travels 153 miles to Ole Miss

Velma Jackson (30-5) #12 SOS 7.9

travels 132 miles to Ole Miss

Notes: The battle of two of the top juniors take the big stage with Rashad Bolden and Josh Lee going for the Gold Ball. This will be round three for the two teams with Velma taking the first two wins. Can St. Andrew’s get one win with this one being the most important? I think I’m going to have to go with the repeat and Velma.

 

6A

Starkville (27-2) #7 SOS 10.0

travels 101 miles to Ole Miss

Murrah (19-10) #15 SOS 17.0

travels 160 miles to Ole Miss

Notes: Murrah has a very solid and young squad that is probably one year away. Of the two favorites to win 6A, Olive Branch and Starkville, Starkville took care of OB and is still hanging around. Coach Greg Carter and his guys seem to always be there in the end and know how to get it done when it counts. Starkville continues this trend at the Pavilion.