MERIDIAN —
When the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star girls basketball game tips tonight at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum, the South team will feature a local flavor.
Three local stars will be part of the 12-member South roster at 7 p.m., including Clarkdale’s Crystal Clay. Clay will be the tallest player in the game at 6-foot-2.
Clay led the Bulldogs into the Class 2A state playoffs last season, averaging 17 points and 14.4 rebounds per game. She shot 64 percent from the floor, while also blocking 3.3 shots per game. She also recorded 25 double-doubles in 29 outings, highlighted by strong performances down the stretch. In a big division win against Scott Central, the defending state champions, on Jan. 31, Clay scored 25 points and pulled down 22 rebounds. In the Bulldogs’ two playoff games, Clay averaged 28 points and 28.5 rebounds.
As a sophomore, Clay averaged 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds, recording 17 double-doubles. She averaged 13.6 points and 13.2 rebounds per game as a freshman with 20 double-doubles.
Joining Clay on the front line for the South, which trails the series 26-21 following last year’s 86-82 loss, will be Choctaw Central’s 6-foot center Kristen Dixon.
In leading the Warriors to the Class 3A state semifinals as a junior, Dixon blocked more than 12 shots per game in addition to being a scoring and rebounding force. Four different times, Dixon blocked 18 shots in a game.
That followed a sophomore season that saw Dixon block close to 10 shots a game in helping Choctaw reach the state championship game.
While Dixon and Clay do most of their damage down low, the third local basketball All-Star is Quitman guard Ameonia House. The 5-2 Panther led Quitman within one game of a trip to the state tournament in Jackson, averaging 12.8 points per game with 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals per outing. She shot 49 percent from the floor, including 46 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
On a senior laden Quitman squad in 2010-11, House averaged 5.3 points per game to go along iwth 2 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
The boys All-Star game, which has no local players, follows at 8:30 p.m. with the South leading the series 36-21 following last year’s 103-92 decision, its third straight win.
Tickets are $5 per person for all ages and is good for both games. Seating is general admission. The games are also available online through live streaming at www.ihigh.com/mac.
Tennis
One day after the All-Stars shine on the basketball court, they hit the tennis court at Parham Bridges Tennis Center in Jackson. The All-Star tournament begins at 1 p.m. with free admission.
Philadelphia’s Sadie Shields will be playing for the South girls team, while Newton County’s Russ Thompson and Will Thompson will represent the South boys team.
Union’s Bryan Norman is one of the two coaches for the North team.
Sports
MAC All-Star events to feature six locals
Basketball games slated for today in Clinton; tennis tourney Thursday
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