Magnolia Hoops Event of the Day
BIGG Classic
Saturday December 21, 2024
From Biggersville HS
Corinth, MS
Stats are taken from the official score book.
(B) Alcorn Central Bears 10-6 #118 (3A #11 Glen, MS) 77
Ripley Tigers 9-4 #83 (4A #15 Ripley, MS) 56
Notes: Wilson McDonald (6-3 ’26 G Alcorn Central) was able to score whenever and however he wanted to in this game. McDonald saw reduced minutes and still scored 29 points in the win. I didn’t keep stats in this game but I’d be willing to say he had double figure rebounds as well. Alcorn Central has a very solid team around Wilson.
Keep an eye on Ripley the next few years. Coach Stafford has a really good, young nucleus to build on the next few years. They will be a force in a few years.
Alcorn Central (traveled 14 miles) 77
’25’s
Matt Oaks 5-8 PG 5 pts 1 three
JT Potts 6-2 G/F 9 pts
’26’s
Wilson McDonald 6-3 G 29 pts 2 3’s
Jayse Johnson 6-0 G/F 7 pts
Dylan Davis 6-1 F/C 11 pts 2 3’s
’27’s
Ty Whitten 5-9 G 9 pts 1 three 2-2 ft
Layden Sanders 6-2 3 pts
’28’s
Zane DePoyster 5-4 G 2 pts
Henry Mitchell 6-1 F 2 pts 2-2 ft
Ripley (traveled 30 miles) 56
’26’s
Aiden Rucker 6-0 G/F 2 pts
’27’s
Parker McAlister 5-8 G 12 pts 2 3’s
Kee-won Adams 5-9 G 15 pts 1 three 2-2 ft
Jamarien Sims 6-0 F 1 pt
Jessuri Yanez 6-0 G/F 2 pts 2-2 ft
’28’s
Kam Gaines 5-6 PG 9 pts
Jakolbe Adams 6-1 G/F 5 pts 1 three
Cole Rakestraw 6-1 F 10 pts
Most Outstanding Player
Wilson McDonald
Alcorn Central
6-3 ’26 G
29 pts 2 3’s
(B) Baldwyn Bearcats 7-2 #91 (1A #3 Baldwyn, MS) 53
North Side Gators 4-6 #101 (2A #11 Shelby, MS) 50
Notes: When you hear the phrase, “Next man up.”, it usually refers to players. Not this time. Coach Jason McKay was out attending the funeral of Baldwyn legend and his high school teammate Tim Jumper. Assistant Coach Childs was out attending the birth of his child. Next up was assistant Coach Conner McKay. McKay stepped in and not only filled the spot but proved he is ready to take over a program of his own. He masterfully let his team play through a cold stretch and got their attention when he needed to. It was his defensive substitutions that switched the momentum in this game in the second half. The younger Coach McKay toyed with several lineups before finding the right fit to match a very good North Side squad. His guys used the defensive momentum to get several layups and then the shots started falling. His options were shortened slightly by missing Dy’Lan Johnson (6-3 ’25 G Baldwyn) which was out for the All-Star football game. He was still able to mix in 8 or 9 quality players to find the right fit for this game. Carter Craven (6-1 ’28 G Baldwyn) got hot late in the game on his way to 20 points.
Take notice of this for North Side. They are loaded with juniors. The Gators have a good mix of guards to go with shooters, athletes and a long, lanky big. They have a chance to make a good playoff run this year but beware of them next year. They will be one of the favorites next season for the gold ball.
Baldwyn (traveled 24 miles) 53
’25’s
Dy’Lan Johnson 6-3 G DNP
’26’s
Trey Craven 6-2 G 9 pts 1 three
Ethan Johnson 6-2 F 4 pts
’27’s
Jaylan Ewing 6-2 C 13 pts
Colton Hayes 6-0 F 7 pts
’28’s
Carter Craven 6-1 G 20 pts 4 3’s
North Side (traveled 178 miles) 50
’26’s
Dai’Qwaunn Price 6-5 C 7 pts
Jamarcus Junearick 5-9 G 8 pts
Jermarius Jackson 5-10 G 18 pts 3 3’s 5-6 ft
Xavier Thomas 6-2 F 6 pts
Jamarion Johnson 5-10 G 11 pts 1 three
Most Outstanding Player
Carter Craven
Baldwyn
6-1 ’28 G
20 pts 4 3’s
(B) Saltillo Tigers 11-4 #64 (6A #10 Saltillo, MS) 49
Coffeeville Pirates 8-6 #89 (1A #2 Coffeeville, MS) 43
Notes: Coach Mitch Howell dug deep in the elder Coach Rick Howell’s bag of defensive tricks to help get this win. He mixed up several defenses in slowing down Stan Spearman (6-2 ’25 G Coffeeville). You look at 32 points for Spearman and think how was that slowing him down? It really was a great defensive performance against the states best scorer. Crayden Shannon (6-0 ’27 G/F Saltillo) earned Most Outstanding Player with 17 points. Matt Moore (5-7 ’27 G Saltillo) impressed me with his defensive performance guarding Spearman most of the game.
Why is every JUCO in Mississippi not all over Spearman? Oh yeah, I remember now. He’s a 1A player. I keep forgetting how the JUCO circuit overlooks the small A teams. This man can get buckets at any spot on the court. He has unlimited length and can get any shot he wants when he has the ball in his hands. For Coffeeville, they are a contender in 1A this year as long as Stan is on the court. He has the ability to take over and win any game.
Saltillo (traveled 35 miles) 49
’25’s
Grant Barlow 6-3 F 2 pts
’26’s
Jamarian “JJ” James 5-10 G 9 pts 3 3’s
Jeremiah Foster 6-4 F/C 4 pts
’27’s
Matt Moore 5-7 G 9 pts 1 three
Crayden Shannon 6-0 G/F 17 pts 3 3’s
Lennox White 6-2 C 2 pts
’28’s
Jack Howell 6-2 G/F 6 pts 2 3’s
Coffeeville (traveled 116 miles) 43
’25’s
Stan Spearman 6-2 G 32 pts 4 3’s 3-3 ft
’26’s
Tacorion Reed 6-1 C 2 pts
’27’s
Kashun Kincaide 5-7 F 2 pts
Devarin Scott 5-5 G 3 pts 1 three
Juelz Cooper 5-4 G 4 pts
Most Outstanding Player
Crayden Shannon
Saltillo
6-0 ’27 G/F
17 pts 3 3’s
(B) Biggersville Lions 5-4 #177 (1A #13 Corinth, MS) 80
West Bolivar Eagles 6-5 #116 (1A #5 Rosedale, MS) 41
Notes: I’d like to officially welcome Biggersville back to being contenders. They have not looked so great this season. But they are back. How did they make such a huge turn that fast. Xae Mayes (6-2 ’26 G Biggersville) was finally ruled eligible by the MHSAA and he is a huge difference maker. Yeah I know he only scored 7 points in this game but he can also drop 30 if he needs to. He is a difference maker on the defensive end as well as a missing piece to a point that runs the team. He has the ability to get teammates open looks and he creates space on the court. He gives the team a confidence that was missing also. I’m not sure how the brackets work out now but I see 1A North being West Union, Coffeeville, Baldwyn and now Biggersville is back in the mix.
Biggersville (home team) 80
’25’s
Jayce Haynie 5-7 G 11 pts 3 3’s
’26’s
Zialis Blackmon 6-6 G/F 21 pts 9-11 ft
Xae Mayes 6-2 G 7 pts 1 three
Brooks Seago 6-2 G 23 pts 3-4 ft 2 3’s
Jayce Taylor 6-2 F 16 pts 2-2 ft
’29’s
Jeremy Stafford 5-9 G 2 pts
West Bolivar (traveled 194 miles) 41
John Franks 4 pts
’25’s
Neyo Skinner 6-0 G 9 pts 3 ‘3s
Kavion Watson 6-1 F 6 pts 2 3’s
Nakevean Flowers 5-10 G 4 pts
’26’s
Montavius Reese 5-8 G 6 pts
’27’s
Jonathan Smith 6-0 G 12 pts 3 3’s
Most Outstanding Players
Brooks Seago
Biggersville
6-2 ’26 G
23 pts 3-4 ft 2 3’s
Zialis Blackmon
Biggersville
6-6 ’26 G/F
21 pts 9-11 ft
(B) Ingomar Falcons 13-5 #73 (2A #5 New Albany, MS) 68
Corinth Warriors 1-9 #227 (5A #22 Corinth, MS) 60
Notes: Ingomar is just Ingomar. They play so well as a team and they just find a way to win ball games. Olen Faulkner (5-10 ’25 G Ingomar) scored a team high 23 points in the victory.
Cayden Harris (6-0 ’25 G Corinth) and Braedyn Burress (6-2 ’26 F Corinth) looked good in the loss for Corinth.
Ingomar (traveled 52 miles) 68
’25’s
Cody Bost 6-0 G 6 pts 1 three
Jack Denton 6-1 F 14 pts
Olen Faulkner 5-10 G 23 pts 2 3’s
’26’s
Cooper Ball 5-8 G 6 pts
Cayden Madonna 5-10 G 3 pts
Brayden Tillery 5-10 F 14 pts
Corinth (traveled 10 miles) 60
’25’s
Cayden Harris 6-0 G 23 pts 5 3’s 4-4 ft
’26’s
Braedyn Burress 6-2 F 21 pts 2 3’s
Xavier Young 5-11 G 6 pts 2 3’s
Preston Crump 6-3 G/F 4 pts
’27’s
Jamir Burton 6-0 G 5 pts 1 three
Most Outstanding Player
Jack Denton
Ingomar
6-1 ’25 F
14 pts
(B) Olive Branch Conquistadors 11-5 #13 (6A #4 Olive Branch, MS) 59
Coahoma County Red Panthers 12-4 #25 (3A #2 Clarksdale, MS) 57
Notes: A very good Olive Branch team escaped with the win in this one. I watched Coahoma County play last week and they did not look like a 3A contender at all. It could’ve been the early game time last week that had them sluggish but they showed up to play in this one. Coach Moore forced OB into playing his game plan by slowing the game down and not letting them get out and run like they love to do.
Olive Branch (traveled 81 miles) 59
’25’s
James King 6-0 G 17 pts 2 3’s
Taiveon Mitchell 5-10 G 5 pts 1 three
Reece Garrison 6-2 G 16 pts
’26’s
Antonio Hassell 5-8 G 2 pts
James Hill 5-10 G 3 pts
Xavier Poplar 5-7 G 5 pts 1 three
Vonkerious Reed 6-2 G/F 9 pts 1 three
Coahoma County (traveled 162 miles) 57
’25’s
Eddrick Turner 5-7 PG 4 pts
Ken Sims 6-0 SF 7 pts 2 3’s
’26’s
Darrell Norwood 6-0 F 15 pts 1 three
Caleb Hearn 6-5 F 18 pts
’27’s
R Riley 5-11 3 pts
Tarrius Weeks 6-4 C 8 pts
’28’s
Jamarrius Johnson 5-6 PG 3 pts 1 three
Most Outstanding Player
Reece Garrison
Olive Branch
6-2 ’25 G
16 pts
(B) Pontotoc Warriors 9-8 #86 (5A #9 Pontotoc, MS) 67
Independence Wildcats 10-4 #93 (3A #8 Independence, MS) 57
Notes: This was a very even match up. MaxPreps has the rankings very close to each other and I’d say they are right on with these two teams. Pontotoc took advantage of a six point swing late in the game to get the win.
Pontotoc (traveled 63 miles) 67
’25’s
DJ Birks 6-0 G/F 12 pts 1 three 3-3 ft
Mackinly Brown 6-3 F/C 18 pts
Martylan Boston 5-11 G 3 pts 1 three
’27’s
Landon Souter 5-10 PG 11 pts
Omaree Scott 5-10 G 11 pts 2 3’s
’28’s
Chayton Johnson 6-1 G 12 pts
Independence (traveled 93 miles) 57
’25’s
Tarrell Wilson 6-3 F 14 pts 2-2 ft
Jax Wilson 5-9 G 14 pts
Ja’Barri Newson 6-3 G/F 5 pts 1 three
Jamal Jamison 6-0 G/F 2 pts
Brandon Avant 6-3 F 2 pts
’27’s
Kylan Higgenbottom 6-1 G/F 20 pts 3 3’s 3-3 ft
Most Outstanding Player
Mackinly Brown
Pontotoc
6-3 ’25 F/C
18 pts
Boys
Head Coach-The best coaching job that I saw during this time period.
Conner McKay Baldwyn
Best Game-The best game that I saw during this time period.
Olive Branch 59 Coahoma County 57
Top 5 Teams-The top five teams that I saw during this time period.
- Olive Branch Conquistadors 11-5 #13 (6A #4 Olive Branch, MS)
- Coahoma County Red Panthers 12-4 #25 (3A #2 Clarksdale, MS)
- Biggersville Lions 5-4 #177 (1A #13 Corinth, MS)
- Alcorn Central Bears 10-6 #118 (3A #11 Glen, MS)
- Saltillo Tigers 11-4 #64 (6A #10 Saltillo, MS)
Magnolia Hoops Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes that I saw during this time period based on stats.
2025: Stan Spearman 6-2 ’25 G Coffeeville
32 pts 4 3’s 3-3 ft
2026: Wilson McDonald 6-3 ’26 G Alcorn Central
29 pts 2 3’s
2027: Kylan Higgenbottom 6-1 ’27 G/F Independence
20 pts 3 3’s 3-3 ft
2028: Carter Craven 6-1 ’28 G Baldwyn
20 pts 4 3’s
2029: Jeremy Stafford 5-9 ’29 G Biggersville
2 pts
Magnolia Hoops Starting 5
The top five players that I saw during this time period based on stats.
- Stan Spearman 6-2 ’25 G Coffeeville
32 pts 4 3’s 3-3 ft - Wilson McDonald 6-3 ’26 G Alcorn Central
29 pts 2 3’s - Brooks Seago 6-2 ’26 G Biggersville
23 pts 3-4 ft 2 3’s - Olen Faulkner 5-10 ’25 G Ingomar
23 pts 2 3’s - Cayden Harris 6-0 ’25 G Corinth
23 pts 5 3’s 4-4 ft
Katie Roberts Photography Senior Squad
The top five seniors that I saw during this time period based on stats.
- Stan Spearman 6-2 ’25 G Coffeeville
32 pts 4 3’s 3-3 ft - Olen Faulkner 5-10 ’25 G Ingomar
23 pts 2 3’s - Cayden Harris 6-0 ’25 G Corinth
23 pts 5 3’s 4-4 ft - Mackinly Brown 6-3 ’25 F/C Pontotoc
18 pts - James King 6-0 ’25 G Olive Branch
17 pts 2 3’s
Magnolia Hoops 