JACKSON — The first week of the MHSAA State Basketball Tournament saw only one of the eight area entrants get eliminated from the championship hunt.

While the Meridian boys fell 59-43 to Grenada in the Class 5A quarterfinals, the Bay Springs boys and the Newton and Southeast Lauderdale girls both posted opening-round wins. Wayne County’s girls assured themselves of a berth in the Class 4A state finals with a 68-47 semifinal victory over Northeast Jones.

Play for area teams resumes tonight with the Philadelphia Lady Tornadoes (26-3) taking on Newton (30-8) in a Class 2A semifinal showdown at 6:30 p.m.

Philadelphia has a five-game win streak and has won 16 of its last 17 games. Two of the Lady Tornadoes’ losses were to Choctaw Central with the third coming to Bay Springs.

Leading players for Lady Tornadoes’ head coach Jason Gentry are 5-foot-8 sophomore Danielle Cole, 5-foot-7 sophomore Tiara Logan, 6-foot-2 senior Natonya McWilliams and 5-foot-7 senior Shenique Brass.

Top players for Newton head coach Crandal Porter are 5-foot-10 senior Tawayatha Evans, 6-foot senior Whitney Thames, 5-foot-5 senior Chotsani Henderson and 5-foot-8 junior Nicole Williams.

The 31-6 Bay Springs boys play Hollandale Simmons (28-7) on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in Class 2A semifinal action. Simmons had a first-round bye, while Bay Springs put a 56-29 quarterfinal whipping on Ashland.

Coach Ronald Norman’s leading players include 5-foot-10 Labarton Jones, 6-foot Regis Huddleston and 6-foot-3 James Newell. All three are seniors.

In Class 3A girls’ action, two-time defending state champion Choctaw Central (31-6) meets Hazlehurst (29-6) in a 6:30 p.m. semifinal contest on Tuesday. Southeast Lauderdale (33-3), the 2005 state runner-up, takes on Byhalia (26-6) in another semifinal on Thursday at 1 p.m.

The Lady Warriors of Choctaw Central will be making their ninth trip to the Big House since 1996 when they beat West Tallahatchie for the Class 2A state championship. They’ve added four other state titles since then.

Top players for head coach Walter Wilson’s Lady Warriors are 5-foot-8 junior Mystee Dale, 5-foot-5 senior Deonna Isaac, 5-foot-6 senior Shyatesa York, 5-foot-8 senior Ria Willis and 5-foot-8 senior Kristi Willis.

They’ll meet a familiar foe in Hazlehurst. In the 3A South State Tournament, the Lady Warriors knocked off the Lady Indians 64-48 behind 26 points from Dale.

Top players for Hazlehurst are 5-foot-6 senior Sheba Smith, 5-foot-11 senior Jalissa Sandifer and 6-foot-1 senior Yashunda Williams.

Southeast Lauderdale head coach needs just two more wins to reach the 400 club. To get No. 399, the Lady Tigers will have to deal with Byhalia’s 6-foot-3 senior Ashley Wilson and 6-foot senior Jalisa Bronson.

Miller’s top players include Tiawana Pringle, Martika Ivy, Lucy Ruffin and Marqueta Reed.

The 30-5 Meridian Lady Wildcats see their first action in the tournament Wednesday night in the semifinals when they play Murrah (27-4) at 6:30 p.m. Murrah defeated Jim Hill 71-56 in the quarterfinals last week.

The Lady Cats are making their 11th trip to the state tournament since 1984. They’ve reached the title game four times, including last year, but are still looking for their first championship.

Top players for coach Stephanie Murphy are Brittany Davidson, Whitney Hood and Amber Walker.

Meridian has won its last 12 games and 20 of its last 21.

Wayne County’s 31-1 Lady War Eagles take on unbeaten Tunica Rosa Fort (35-0) for the Class 4A championship on Thursday at 7 p.m. Wayne County whipped Northeast Jones 68-47 in semifinal action, while Rosa Fort rallied from an eight-point deficit to down Indianola Gentry 54-48 in the other 4A semifinal.

Wayne County is riding a 25-game win streak. The Lady War Eagles’ only loss was to Meridian on Dec. 1.

Top players for coach Gina Skelton include Lauren Pittman, Tamara Reed, Domaneshia Chambers and Shameka Russell.