Mercedez Jackson, center, is joined by parents Christina Jackson, left, Steven Jackson, right, and family during Mercedez Jackson’s Feb. 3 signing ceremony. She will play college basketball at East Mississippi Community College.

Kemper County senior point guard Mercedez Jackson hopes to cash in the experience gained from three years of varsity ball for a regional championship when the Lady Wildcats (9-14, 3-7) travel to Philadelphia to open tournament play. Kemper County plays Southeast Lauderdale (4-17, 2-7) today at 4 p.m.

Kemper County earned a 66-62 win against the Lady Tigers in January, but Southeast Lauderdale avenged that win with a 63-44 victory later in the month. The senior said her emotions will run high, knowing this season’s regional tournament will be her last.

“It hasn’t hit me yet, but it’s probably going to mess with me (today),” Jackson said. “This is my last season and I’m going to try to play my heart out because I don’t know whether it will be my last game or a step closer to the Big House.”

While Kemper County’s push to the state tournament and Jackson’s length of time in her Lady Wildcats’ jersey is contingent on the team’s postseason play, her future playing the sport has already been determined. Jackson committed to East Mississippi Community College Feb. 3. Christina Jackson, Mercedez’s mother, played softball for the Lions. Her father, Steven Jackson, attended the school, as well.

“My parents went there and it’s close to home — it’s like 10 minutes away from me,” she said. “I’m excited to experience basketball at a high level and get better. I like the way Coach (Sharon Thompson) coaches and makes everyone better.”

Despite the high stakes of the regional tournament, Kemper County coach Jennie Vance said her player is well-suited to handle the pressures. Vance inherited Jackson three years ago upon taking the job.

“It’s hard for us to run an offense without her,” Vance said. “The two times she’s been in foul trouble this year we’ve had trouble handling the ball. She brings a lot of experience. She’s had the pressure and she’s handled it. We trust her with the ball, and we need the ball in her hands if the game’s on the line at the end.”

A capable scorer, Jackson is averaging 12.9 points per game this year, the highest per-game average of her career. But she’s even more effective when distributing the basketball to teammates. She’s accumulated 90 assists, which leads the Lady Wildcats with 4.1 assists per game. Jackson’s assists accolades don’t just end in DeKalb. She ranks No. 6 in the state in Class 3A and No. 19 in all classifications. Jackson said she’s taken a more active role in contributing on the floor.

“This year, I haven’t just been saying it, I’ve been leading by example,” she said. “I try to talk through the games and help out and everything.”

Vance said Jackson has the tools to thrive in college basketball.

“I think she’ll do well at the next level — she has the speed and the quickness,” Vance said. “She has to work on her left hand some — I think she knows that. Her shooting has improved every year I’ve been here; she’s changed her shot around a lot. I think she’ll get better.”