A Wednesday night clash with Greenwood High School has officially begun the State 4A basketball playoff competition for the Gentry High Lady Rams.
Although the results of that game were unavailable at press-time, the Lady Rams took a 15-12 record and a No. 3 Region 3-4A seed into the tournament hosted by the No. 2 seeded Greenwood High School squad.
Win or lose Wednesday night, the Lady Rams will return to Greenwood High this Friday to complete their tournament participation.
A victory Wednesday night will result in the Gentry squad taking on that same night’s winner of top-seeded Clarksdale versus either Yazoo City or Rosa Fort of Tunica.
Friday’s championship game will tip-off at 7 p.m. while the consolation game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
State playoff competition will then continue next Monday when the Lady Rams will do battle against one of the top four teams emerging out of this week’s Region 1-4A tournament.
While the higher seed of each game’s two competing teams will serve as the home team next Monday night, the Lady Rams’ competition will come from a high school hailing from either Corinth, New Albany, North Pontotoc High of Ecru, or Tishomingo High of Iuka.
The Tishomingo High squad is currently ranked as the fifth best 4A team in the state.
Should the Lady Rams win this first-round contest, they will move on to second-round action to be played February 22.
Meanwhile, in other action this past Friday night, the Lady Rams closed out their regular season schedule with a 64-34 non-regional victory over visiting Shaw High School.
Benefiting from good defense and three players reaching double digit scoring status, the Lady Rams greatly added to their 28-20 halftime lead during second-half play.
Outscoring the Lady Hawks 36-14 over the course of the final two periods of play, the Gentry squad earned its 30 point victory.
While Shacori Dawson’s 17 point, 10 assist double double paced the Lady Rams, freshman Taniyah Williams also posted 17 points on the scoreboard.
Following close behind with 16 points was Jaidra Green while Jada Delaney hit double figures in the rebounding category by pulling down a dozen errant shots.
