2024-25 MHSAA 1A Boys 1st Round Schedule and Predictions
First Round
Tuesday February 11th, 2025
Projected winner in bold. (Record) #=MaxPreps class rank
Region 4 #4 Houlka (17-9) #8 travels 48 miles to Region 1 #1 Baldwyn (18-6) #2
This is the toughest 1-4 match-up in the first round. Having Houlka as a 4 seed would let me know that I’m in for a tough playoff run. However, Baldwyn is a part of the “Big 4” in the playoff run so they should get the win in the lower double digits at home.
Region 3 #3 Blue Mountain (5-18) #41 travels 18 miles to Region 2 #2 Pine Grove (16-10) #15
Tippah County tournament in the playoffs. Coach Britt Lindley brings his Cougars back to his home gym and he knows it’s a hard gym to win in. The Grovers will be out in full force for this one and will be the difference for the home win.
Region 1 #4 Wheeler (20-14) #11 travels 37 miles to Region 4 #1 West Union (24-5) #1
Hard 1-4 #2 in the first round. West Union is another one of the “Big 4” for 1A so you would expect them to pull out the home win. However, defensive mastermind Coach Rick Howell is on the other bench with a feisty group of Eagles ready to pull the upset. I’m still rolling with the Union County Eagles over the Eagles from Prentiss County.
Region 2 #3 Byers (13-13) #23 travels 31 miles to Region 3 #2 Potts Camp (4-22) #36
Potts Camp has really developed over the season and are much better than a 4 win ball club. Byers is in that next level of teams that could pull an upset any night over the “Big 4” and I don’t see them falling in the first round. They are too good of a team to be traveling in the first round.
Region 6 #4 Ethel (4-22) #40 travels 42 miles to Region 7 #1 Leake County (14-9) #10
Coach Hilton Harrell will be able to get the easy win in his 1st round game.
Region 5 #3 Shaw (16-9) #6 travels 173 miles to Region 8 #2 Enterprise-Lincoln (18-10) #14
Shaw appears to be the better team here but a 3 plus hour bus ride might be too much for them traveling down I55 to Lincoln County. This should be a very good game with Enterprise getting the home court win.
Region 7 #4 Stringer (9-19) #33 travels 92 miles to Region 6 #1 Velma Jackson (13-8) #9
Velma Jackson should be able to get the comfortable victory in the 1st round.
Region 8 #3 Lumberton (8-9) #31 travels 191 miles to Region 5 #2 South Delta (9-14) #25
This would normally be a close game but the travel will be too much for Lumberton to overcome. South Delta with the home win.
Region 2 #4 Ashland (10-16) #27 travels 79 miles to Region 3 #1 Coffeeville (18-6) #4
The best scorer in the state at home in the 1st round. Got to go with one of the “Big 4”.
Region 1 #3 TCPS (10-11) #16 travels 26 miles to Region 4 #2 Okolona (12-17) #20
This game will be much closer than people think. I can see it being a back and forth contest where the winner will be the team with the ball last. If I had a 1st round 1A game to attend this would most likely be the one to watch.
Region 3 #4 Strayhorn (1-16) #45 travels 78 miles to Region 2 #1 Falkner (13-11) #18
Falkner should get the easy 1st round victory in this one.
Region 4 #3 West Lowndes (13-11) #13 travels 107 miles to Region 1 #2 Biggersville (17-9) #3
The final “Big 4” gets a home game as the 2 seed and it is a very hard opponent. West Lowndes is in that second tier of teams that can knock any team off on any given night but I don’t see it happening in Biggersville.
Region 8 #4 Sacred Heart (10-13) #28 travels 184 miles to Region 5 #1 Simmons (9-14) #19
The distance ends up being too far for Sacred Heart as Simmons get the home win.
Region 7 #3 Mount Olive (6-14) #34 travels 111 miles to Region 6 #2 Nanih Waiya (15-8) #12
Nanih Waiya should get a solid low double digit victory in this one.
Region 5 #4 Leland (4-19) #32 travels 198 miles to Region 8 #1 East Marion (11-10) #24
East Marion rolls in the 1st round game as Leland makes the 4 hour bus ride.
Region 6 #3 McAdams (10-16) #26 travels 96 miles to Region 7 #2 Taylorsville (14-13) #7
Taylorsville gets the home victory but I think this game will be closer than it appears on paper.
Magnolia Hoops 