East Side High alumni game, mixer set for January

For the third straight year, the Community Foundation of Olive Branch is sponsoring its annual East Side Alumni Mixer and Basketball games. The games and mixer event to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month will take place on Jan. 27, 2024 at Olive Branch High School.  

The opponents this year for “East Side High” will come from Byhalia and its Henry High School Warriors.  

East Side High was the African-American high school in Olive Branch prior to its merger with DeSoto Agricultural High School to become the current Olive Branch High School.  

The current Conquistadors and Lady Quistors will don its East Side High Dragons black and old gold uniforms for the games, starting with the 6 p.m. girls contest. Their opponents from Henry High, will be the Warriors and wear blue and gold uniforms that are reminiscent of the African-American high school that later merged to become the current Byhalia High School. 

Both East Side and Henry were bitter rivals when they competed with packed gymnasiums and it’s expected Saturday’s contests will bring a similar large crowd to Charlie Bibbs Gymnasium.

East Side alums will receive free entry to the games starting at 6 p.m. East Side High, Henry High, and all associated with these historical high schools are invited to join. 

A mixer for East Side alumni will begin the activities at 3 p.m. at the front entrance of the high school.  

The Community Foundation of Olive Branch is asking everyone to support this great cause and a donation will help support a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving Olive Branch High School student for college.  

You can donate by Cashapp: $EASTSIDEHIGH or Zelle Mark Guy at 901-218-3749 or Diane Mason at 901-596-4698. 

We chronicled the first East Side High Throwback Night in the 2022 article “A step back in time.”