Photo: Olive Branch girls celebrate winning the Region 1-6A basketball championship Friday night. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Friday’s high school basketball action at Olive Branch and Lewisburg completed the region schedule and stepped the remaining into the MHSAA state basketball playoffs.
Trophies and bragging rights for the season were handed out, but entering the evening, all of the teams in the region championship games knew they would be playing their next game against an opponent to be determined next week at home. The teams in the consolation contests knew that regardless of the outcome, their next game would be on the road. Friday helped determine their seeding and destination for the next round.
As a result, the first round 7A boys’ playoff games on Saturday, Feb. 15 involving DeSoto County teams will have these matchups involving Region 1-7A teams:
DeSoto Central (R1-4) at Starkville (R2-1)
Tupelo (R2-4) at Horn Lake (R1-1)
Madison Central (R2-3) at Southaven (R1-2)
First round boys’ pairings for DeSoto County Region 1-6A squads on Saturday, Feb. 15 are as follows:
Callaway (R2-4) at Olive Branch (R1-1)
Center Hill (R1-3) at Columbus (R2-2)
Lake Cormorant (R1-4) at Ridgeland (R2-1)
The first round of the 7A playoffs for girls on Friday, Feb. 15 will have these pairings involving Region 1-7A schools:
Clinton (R2-4) at Hernando (R1-1)
Southaven (R1-3) at Tupelo (R2-2)
Horn Lake (R1-4) at Starkville (R2-1)
Girls’ first round pairings involving DeSoto County Region 1-6A teams on Friday, Feb. 14 will have:
Neshoba Central (R2-4) at Olive Branch (R1-1)
Center Hill (R1-3) at Vicksburg (R2-2)
Lake Cormorant (R1-4) at Callaway (R2-1)
Olive Branch boys’ basketball team after winning the Region 1-6A championship. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
At Olive Branch, the defending state 6A boys’ basketball champions defeated South Panola for the Region 1-6A championship 88-80.
Reece Garrison led all scorers with 22 points, while Xavier Poplar hit five three-pointers and finished with 19 points, all in the second half. Justin Pope, Jr. scored 15 for the Tigers.
The Conquistadors held double-digit leads in the second half but could never completely pull away. The Quistors led by 39-33 at halftime.
Coach Eric Rombaugh noted his seniors have now won four straight division championships in their high school basketball careers, which he said is difficult to do.
Starting the playoffs at home on Saturday will be a big advantage when they open the state playoffs against Callaway, Rombaugh said.
“It’s an advantage not to have to travel,” Rombaugh explained. “We’ve got a few days to prepare and I think we’ll be ready.”
The Olive Branch girls played determined basketball in beating South Panola 75-61 to win the Region 1-6A girls championship, also Friday night. Gabrielle Bowen led the Lady Quistors with a 20-point performance.
“I really like the growth I’ve seen from her,” noted Olive Branch coach Jason Thompson.
A close first half ended with Olive Branch putting a late run of points on the board for a 37-31 halftime lead and the Lady Quistors came out in the second half with the first six points of the half for a quick 43-31 lead just 1:10 into the third quarter. That lead became 61-45 Olive Branch at the end of the quarter.
“It was a great effort by the kids tonight, they really played possessed,” Thompson said. “They started right from the onset to the end of the game and they put it on full display.”
Key’Arria Jones led South Panola with 14 points.
Region tournament notes
Horn Lake exploded for 34 points in the fourth quarter to rally and beat Southaven 61-51 for the boys’ Region 1-7A championship.
Collin Flangan’s runner at the buzzer were the points that gave Oxford its 60-58 Region 1-7A consolation crown over DeSoto Central.
A forfeiture due to inadvertently inserting two suspended players into action before their two-game suspension was up late in the season meant Olive Branch was the second seed in the Region 1-6A girls tournament. South Panola became the number one and wore home jerseys Friday while Olive Branch wore road uniforms.
Horn Lake boys’ basketball team after taking the Region 1-7A title Friday at Lewisburg (Credit: Mary Scott/Oak River Media)
Friday, Feb. 7
Prep boys’ basketball playoffs
Region 1-7A finals at Lewisburg
Oxford 60, DeSoto Central 58 (consolation)
Horn Lake 61, Southaven 51 (championship)
Prep boys’ basketball playoffs
Region 1-6A finals at Olive Branch
Center Hill 40, Lake Cormorant 36 (consolation)
Olive Branch v South Panola (championship)
Hernando girls basketball team after winning the Region 1-7A championship (Credit @_duanecase on X/Twitter)
Prep girls’ basketball playoffs
Region 1-7A finals at Lewisburg
Southaven 41, Horn Lake 38 (consolation)
Hernando 48, South Panola 45 (championship)
Prep girls’ basketball playoffs
Region 1-6A finals at Olive Branch
Center Hill 72, Lake Cormorant 50 (consolation)
Olive Branch 75, South Panola 61 (championship)
Prep boys’ basketball – regular season
Lausanne Collegiate 66, Northpoint Christian 47
Northpoint: Myles Colom – 15, Jackson Ralls, Brennon Abernathy- 10 each
Congratulations to Alivia Kelley(Dyersburg State), Hadleigh Williams(GCCC), Marlee Griffin(NWCC), Rosa Ibarra(HCC), and Brisa Davis(ICC). A great group of young ladies! pic.twitter.com/0hUGqz7yb6
Tennis won their season opener 6-1 against Olive Branch. The match highlight included Jenna Claire Sanders and McKenzie Burkes 2 hours and 45 minutes 3rd set tiebreak win. The Jaguars host Magnolia Heights on Tuesday for their home opener. pic.twitter.com/eEjJctC78A
Congrats to Patriots tennis player, Skylar Ferrell, who signed today with @NWCC_Rangers to continue her academic and tennis career! pic.twitter.com/IhZ9GsYaoG
