The Mississippi Sports Medicine All-Star girls and boys basketball games are tonight at A.E. Wood Coliseum, on the campus of Mississippi College in Clinton.
The girls tip off at 6, with the boys immediately following. This will be the 13th year Mississippi Sports Medicine has sponsored the event.
Participating for the South girls is Bogue Chitto rising senior guard Mattie Avants.
Coaches for the South girls are Bogue Chitto’s Christi Terrell and Bruce Baker of Hinds AHS.
As a junior, Avants averaged 9.3 points per game. In 35 games, she scored 42 3-pointers She also had 164 rebounds, 83 assists and 84 steals.
“I’m honored, excited and surprised all at the same time to be playing in the All-Star game,” she said.
Avants said she was proud of her team’s effort last season. The Bobcats were 28-7 overall and made it to the Mississippi Coliseum for the 1A tournament.
“The most satisfying thing to me was that we never gave up and worked as a team,” Avants said. “I couldn’t have asked for better teammates. We have a rich tradition here at Bogue Chitto, and I was beyond happy to be able to keep that tradition going.”
Terrell had high praise for her guard.
“Mattie is a great young lady that loves to play to win,” Terrell said. “She is very coachable and is a team player. Mattie is a good shooter who helps in ball-handling and rebounds. Having good teammates like she has only makes her and Bogue Chitto better. The girls all work together so well and look out for each other.”
Avants said she and her Bobcat teammates are already planning for a return trip to the Big House next season.
“My goals and plans for next year is to be a leader for my team,” Avants said. “Another team goal is to make it back to the Big House. I hope to show that it doesn’t matter where you come from. If you have the heart and will and you have God first, you can do anything.”
The South will practice twice before tonight’s game.
The finals of the 3-point shooting, free throw shooting and slam dunk contests begin at 5 p.m.
Terrell said she is excited about coaching tonight.
“It is an honor to be selected to coach the South All-Star girls team,” Terrell said. “I am very excited and looking forward to the game. I am thankful for this opportunity. This will be my first All-Star game to coach in. I am so glad the Mississippi Association of Coaches gave me the opportunity to be a part of this event. I played in the All-Star softball game and received Co-MVP while at Bogue Chitto.”
The Bobcats lost out to Byers 72-35 in the first round of the 1A Tournament.
“I’ve coached at Bogue Chitto for nine years now and loved every minute of it,” Terrell said. “It’s great being able to coach at the school I graduated from. I love the girls I coach. They work hard and they want to win. The three seniors that recently graduated — Rhegan Welch, Lauren Wallace and Adrienne Wallace — had the honor of playing in the Big House three years in a row, which is a big deal. We set our expectations high because we strive to be the best we can be. It is a team effort and I am proud of the girls for giving their best. “
Terrell said she and the team are aiming higher this coming season.
“Next year our expectations are to exceed the previous year. I will have two senior starters returning, along with one sophomore and three freshmen that played last year. We have a good group coming back,” Terrell said.
Tickets are $5 per person for all ages, good for both games, and seating is general admission. Admission is free to active MAC members along with their spouses and children.
In 2012, the North girls defeated the South 74-62 to increase their series lead to 27-21.
The South boys won their fourth straight All-Star game in the series 102-95 to extend their series lead to 37-21.
The South boys are led by Micoe Cotton of Moss Point and Preston Wilson of Brookhaven.
