Teams participate in holiday tourneys
Multiple area schools played in Christmas tournaments over the holiday season, with a lot of important wins, as teams start to shift their focus towards region play.
Jackson Academy hosted the JA Christmas Classic with the girls picking up a 49-44 win over Hamilton Christian (LA) and the boys picking up a 75-45 win over Hamilton Christian (LA).
The Jackson Prep girls picked up a 69-44 win over Kirk Academy in the JA Christmas Classic and a 71-57 win over Vicksburg in the Jungle Bells Classic at Madison Central. The boys won 71-61 over MUS (TN), 72-58 over Hueytown (AL), and suffered an 80-42 loss to Hoover (AL) in the Big Orange Classic championship game in Hoover, Alabama.
MRA girls basketball won 60-54 over Briarcrest (TN), lost 37-36 to Rockvale (TN), won 73-46 over Memphis East (TN), and won 47-20 over Memphis Central (TN) in the Collierville Dragon Fire Classic. The MRA boys fell 69-64 to Tennessee High, won 69-52 over George Wythe (VA), and lost 69-52 to Greeneville (TN) in the Arby’s Classic in Bristol, Tennessee.
St. Joseph travelled to the Copiah Academy Christmas tournament, with the girls falling 30-26 to Bowling Green (LA) and the boys winning 55-40 over Simpson Academy.
Tri-County Academy played in the Canton Academy Christmas Tournament, with the girls winning 32-21 against Washington School and 35-32 against Columbus Christian, while the boys beat Washington School 44-31 and Park Place Christian 72-44.
Canton Academy hosted the Canton Academy Christmas tournament, with the girls falling 59-22 to Riverfield Academy and 49-12 to Copiah Academy, while the boys defeated Riverfield Academy 54-23 and lost 63-42 to Copiah Academy.
The Madison Central girls hosted the Jungle Bells Classic and they defeated Harrison Central 59-39 and Hancock 41-36. The Madison Central boys travelled to Gulfport for the Gulfport Christmas Tournament and defeated Pass Christian 69-66, fell 62-51 to Gulfport, and beat Ocean Springs 56-41.
Germantown’s girls team picked up a 48-37 win over North Pike in the Pearl Christmas Tournament, while the boys team travelled to Pine Bluff, Arkansas and defeated Little Rock Hall (AR) 75-46 and Springdale Harber 65-63 at the King Cotton Classic.
The Ridgeland girls team was in action over the holiday weekend and defeated Forest 45-37 in the Jungle Bells Classic.
Canton’s girls team also participated in the Jungle Bells Classic, falling 62-32 to Hancock, before bouncing back and picking up a 40-38 overtime win over Brandon.
Both the Velma Jackson boys and girls teams competed in the Pearl Christmas Tournament, with the girls falling 37-29 to Newton and 54-33 to North Pike, while the boys lost 48-42 to Magee and 77-46 to Pearl.