Local basketball teams advance to quarterfinals
Eleven area basketball teams are still alive in the state quarterfinals as of Wednesday, with several huge matchups upcoming late in the postseason.
In MHSAA action, Germantown boys and girls, Madison Central boys, Ridgeland boys, Canton boys and girls, and Velma Jackson boys advanced to their classes’ respective quarterfinals.
The Germantown boys beat Oxford by a score of 66-24 in the 7A Sweet 16 and will now take on region foe Tupelo in the quarterfinals at on Friday at 1 PM at Mississippi Valley State. The Germantown girls also earned a 45-38 win over Oxford in the 7A Sweet 16 and will take on Starkville in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at Mississippi Valley State, with tip-off set for 7 PM.
The Madison Central boys advanced to the 7A quarterfinals with a 42-36 win over Southaven in the Sweet 16. The Jaguars will now take on Starkville in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at Mississippi Valley State, with tip-off set for 8:30 PM.
Ridgeland’s boys team is looking to avenge last year’s 6A title game loss and came one step closer to doing so with an 84-62 win over Lake Cormorant in the Sweet 16. The Titans will now take on Warren Central in the quarterfinals on Friday night at Mississippi Valley State, with tip-off set for 8:30 PM.
Canton has both their boys and girls teams in the 5A quarterfinals, with their girls picking up a 68-33 win over Lafayette and the boys winning 63-48 over Clarksdale. The Lady Tigers will take on New Hope on Thursday at 7 PM, while the boys will play Gentry on Thursday at 8:30 PM, with both quarterfinal matchups taking place at Mississippi Valley State.
The Velma Jackson boys advanced to the 1A quarterfinals with a 57-55 win over South Delta in the Sweet 16. The Falcons will take on Shaw on Wednesday in the quarterfinals at Raymond High School, with tip-off set for 8:30 PM.
On the MAIS side, four local teams qualified for the MAIS overall state tournament. The Jackson Prep girls and Jackson Academy boys earned first-round byes, while the MRA girls and Jackson Prep boys won their first round matchups.
The Jackson Prep girls will take on Pillow Academy in their quarterfinal matchup on Monday at 10 AM, while the Jackson Prep boys advanced to the quarterfinals with a 64-53 win over Heritage Academy and will take on Hillcrest Christian in the quarterfinals on Monday at 6 PM.
After a first-round bye, the Jackson Academy boys will take on Simpson Academy in the quarterfinals on Monday at 3:30 PM.
The MRA girls won their first round matchup over East Rankin Academy by a score of 42-34 and advance to take on DeSoto School in the quarterfinals on Monday at 12:30 PM.
All MAIS overall state tournament games will take place at Mississippi College.