By Rocky Higginbotham

sports editor

The postseason has arrived for 15 area private school basketball teams.

While Leake Academy will begin district tournament play later this week and Lamar School is still a week away from postseason action — eight other area schools which belong to the Mississippi Private School Association are under the gun this week.

Heidelberg Academy will host the District 4-A Tournament which begins today, while three area schools are heading to the District 3-A Tournament which begins today at Calhoun Academy.

At Heidelberg, the host Rebels and Lady Rebels will join Wayne Academy, Newton County Academy, Sylva-Bay and Russell Christian in hopes of continuing their seasons in a 10-team tournament. The top four boys’ and girls’ finishers advance to the MPSA Class A South State Tournament next week at Central Hinds Academy in Raymond.

On the girls’ side, play begins at 1 p.m. today when Laurel Christian faces Ben’s Ford. The winner gets second-seeded Newton Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

Also today, the No. 8 seeded Russell girls face No. 9 seed Lamar Christian at 3:30 p.m., while third-seeded Wayne battles Christian Collegiate at 6 p.m. The Russell/Lamar winner battles top-seeded Alpha Christian Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Also Tuesday, host Heidelberg will battle Sylva-Bay at 1 p.m. The Lady Rebels are seeded fourth and the Lady Saints fifth.

Girls’ semifinals are set for 3 p.m. and 5:30 Friday, with the consolation and championship games Saturday at 3 p.m. and 5:30.

On the boys’ side, Russell’s 10th-seeded Warriors take on Christian Collegiate today at 2:15 p.m., with the winner getting No. 2 seed Laurel Tuesday at 4:45 p.m.

Newton’s No. 8 seeded boys take on ninth-seed Sylva-Bay this afternoon at 4:45, with the winner getting top-seeded Alpha Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.

Wayne’s No. 4 seeded Jaguars take on Lamar Christian tonight at 7:15, while Heidelberg’s No. 3 seeded Rebels battle Ben’s Ford Tuesday at 2:15.

Boys’ semifinals are Friday at 4:15 and 6:45 p.m., with the consolation and championship games Saturday at the same times.



District 3-A Tournament



Calvary’s No. 9 seeded Cougars will take on eighth-seeded Immanuel in first-day action at the 3-A tourney, which is being held at Calhoun Academy in Calhoun City.

The winner takes on top-seeded Kemper Academy Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.

Central Academy’s boys are the No. 6 seed and will battle third-seeded Winona Christian today at 5:15 p.m. Should the Vikings win, they’ll take on the winner of second-seeded Hebron and host Calhoun Thursday at 5:15 p.m. in the semifinals.

Boys’ consolation and championship games are set for 3:15 and 5:45 p.m. Saturday.

On the girls’ side, No. 2 seed Kemper faces No. 7 seed Central Tuesday at 4 p.m. The winner meets either No. 3 seed Calhoun or No. 6 seed Winona in Thursday’s 4 p.m. semifinal.

Girls’ consolation and championship games are slated for 2 p.m. and 4:30 Saturday.

The top four boys’ and girls’ finishers qualify for the MPSA Class A North State Tournament at Strider Academy in Charleston next week.