Newton High School’s Autumn Taylor pulls up for a jumper in a quarterfinals contest against New Site.

Area teams will be well-represented at this year’s MCA North/South All-Star basketball game in Clinton.

Newton’s Autumn Taylor, Meridian’s Nique Cherry-Walker and Zaria Jones, and Quitman’s Chequira Bonner and Shonte Hailes each will represent their school on the South girls team, while Quitman’s Darius Hicks will play on the South boys team.

The games are slated for Friday at Mississippi College and will also feature a free throw, 3-point and dunk contest.

MERIDIAN SENDS TWO

Alongside senior Kashari Gordon, Nique Cherry-Walker and Zaria Jones helped guide  Meridian to an 18-11 record and a Region 5-6A regular-season title.

“Both of them are very athletic,” Meridian coach Patricia Wilson said. “Zaria Jones consistently had double-doubles all year long in rebounding and scoring. She does a great job in the paint, and also she has a defensive presence. They both rebound well, and Nique is just athletic; she’s scrappy and she’s all over the floor.”

Jones said she was overwhelmed when she received the news of being named to the North/South game.

“I was surprised, but it was very exciting news,” Jones said. “To be honest, I didn’t even know there was a North/South game. I thought there was just the Mississippi/Alabama game. I didn’t know there was one for eleventh graders.”

Cherry-Walker transferred to Meridian from Laurel last summer, and quickly adapted to her new surroundings.

“When I transferred, I already knew Zaria and Kashari from (AAU) basketball,” Cherry-Walker said. “But meeting these girls has been a great experience, and we had the best season that I’ve ever had. Just playing with them, we all got along so well and we just bonded and played well together on the court.”

Jones demonstrated her ability in a big way in Meridian’s 35-30 regular-season, division-clinching win over Brandon as she scored a team-high 15 points. Meridian will look to rely upon that similar production and output next season from the 5-foot-9 post player.

    “Kashari and (Demetrius Smith) were seniors this year, but me and Nique were still leaders on the team,” Jones said. “We have to set an example for our team and hope they follow it. Everybody on the team takes criticism well, and we all have a great bond.”

Cherry-Walker said having a teammate by her side at the all-star game will be a comfortable feeling.

“I won’t be as scared as I would if I was going by myself,” Cherry-Walker said. “I’ll have somebody that I played with and talked to regularly, and it will allow us to be comfortable talking to the other players and get to know them.”

BONNER, HAILES GET ONE MORE GAME

    

Chequira Bonner and Shonte Hailes and the rest of the Quitman Lady Panthers came that close to playing in the MHSAA Class 4A title game.

But Bay High’s Jamaya Galloway last-second, off-balance shot fell through to beat Quitman 49-47 in the state semifinals game.

Instead, the two juniors will have to settle with playing their final game together this season as members of the South squad.

“This means a lot,” Hailes said. “This is an opportunity to showcase our skills. We had a great season. We overcame a lot to get where we did. People doubted us the whole year and never thought we’d make it as far as we did. But we did pretty good, and it came down to a lucky shot.”

Meanwhile, Bonner played a pivotal role in helping the Lady Panthers reach the semifinals, as she scored eight of her 12 points in the first half of Quitman’s 46-40 win over Pontotoc.

“We are going to win a state championship next year,” Bonner said. “That’s a guarantee. I’m going to step up and be a leader, and work on my game so I’m ready for next year.”

Hailes echoed Bonner’s sentiments, as she said the sole focus on the 2015-16 campaign is bringing a gold ball back to Quitman.

“We’re from a small town,” Hailes said. “To get three players nominated (to play in the all-star game), that’s excellent.”

HICKS HEADLINES BOYS GAME

QUITMAN — Darius Hicks is widely regarded as the top junior player in the state of Mississippi.

Hicks’ play throughout the MHSAA Class 4A tournament certainly proved his worth.

The 6-foot-8 powerful big man posted averages of 14.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks throughout Quitman’s run to a state finals appearance — the school’s first since 1989.

“It means a lot to him to go and kind of put himself on display with the best talent the state has to offer,” Quitman boys coach Chris Coleman said. “He’s a force (inside). He’s a beast, and he loves the contact down low. He doesn’t shy away from contact.

“He took a pounding during the playoffs. But he got right back in there every time and he wanted the ball again.”

Perhaps Hicks’ most dominating effort came in a revenge game against Raymond in the second round. The Rangers knocked the Panthers out of the playoffs the year prior.

“It’s going to be a good experience to be able to play against some of the best players in the state,” Hicks said. “I’m not looking to prove anything; I’m just looking to have fun.”

Additionally, Hicks said he plans to participate in the event’s slam dunk contest.

“I’m going to do the first dunk that comes to my mind,” Hicks said.

As Hicks and Coleman set their sights on another playoff run in 2015-16, Hicks will be asked to shoulder more of the load as Quitman loses its top four guards to graduation.

“I’m going to have to be more of a leader,” Hicks said. “I’m going to have to take on more of a scoring role. Me and (fellow junior forward) Thurston McCarty are going to have to do everything we can to help us win.”

AUTUMN’S DISBELIEF

NEWTON — Autumn Taylor didn’t believe she was selected to the North/South game.

Literally.

“When (Newton coach Marcus Luckett) told me, I thought he was messing with me,” Taylor said. “He came and got me out of class, and he was very serious so I thought he was joking. Then he showed me, and I was shocked, because I didn’t think they were looking at me and put me on a team like that.”

Taylor was the catalyst on a Newton team that finished 29-5 and advanced all the way to the MHSAA Class 2A semifinals.

Luckett said Taylor’s most valuable attribute to the Lady Tigers is her ability to play multiple positions.

“She allowed us to do several things, because she can play the 1 through the 5,” he said. “That’s a blessing when you have a kid that can do that. She allowed me to game plan differently depending on the opponent. If we’re playing a team with legitimate post players, and we’re able to put her at the 5, we can spread the floor out and she can go 1-on-1 with the bigs. What she brought to the table allowed us to take advantage of mismatches.”

Taylor best demonstrated her versatility in a second-round playoffs 61-41 win over Taylorsville. The junior tallied 23 points, 11 steals and nine rebounds in helping send her squad on to Jackson and the quarterfinals.

“I’m more excited than anything,” Taylor said. “Players around my area rarely get looked at. I’m proud of myself for myself for not stopping. I’m so thankful to my parents, God and everyone around me that has helped motivate me. My coaches and teammates.”

As Taylor sets her sights towards her senior campaign, becoming a Dandy Dozen is at the top of her list of goals.

“It’s an honor to represent Newton and Newton High School,” she said. “Hopefully I can represent more down the road. I want attention to come to our school and our area. I want everyone to know that Newton is on top.”