The road to the 2019 4A State Tournament has now officially begun for the Gentry High School basketball teams.
With both the 22-6 Rams and the 21-6 Lady Rams owning Region 3-4A regular season championship titles, the squads opened their play in the Region 3-4A Tournament Wednesday night at Tunica Rosa Fort High School.
While the Lady Rams were scheduled to play Greenwood High School, the Rams took on Clarksdale High School.
If the two local squads won those games, the Lady Rams will return to Rosa Fort High on Friday for a 6 p.m. championship game against Wednesday night’s winner of the Clarksdale – Rosa Fort match-up.
A loss would send the Lady Rams into Friday’s 3 p.m. consolation game.
In boys’ play, a Wednesday night Rams victory will earn a title game appearance on Friday against either Yazoo City or Greenwood High School.
That championship game is set for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off while the consolation match-up will begin at 4:30 p.m.
With berths in next week’s 4A state tournament play-in game already secured, the Gentry High squads will do battle against a squad hailing from Region 4-4A.
Teams representing that region include Kosciusko, Leake Central of Carthage, Louisville, New Hope, and Noxubee County of Macon.
While the Lady Rams will begin Monday night, the Rams will take the court next Tuesday night.
Their opponent and the location the Gentry High squads will play are dependent on the final seeding determined by this current week’s tournament play.
In last week’s final regular-season action, the Lady Rams swept by Shaw High School with a 58-23 score while the Rams handed the Hawks a 65-50 loss.
For the Lady Rams, it was Nyah Davis’ 17 point game which led the scoring during this 35 point win over the Shaw High squad.
As is her habit, Mercedes Hayes recorded another double double during this night’s play as she posted 11 points on the scoreboard while clearing 10 rebounds off the back boards.
Leading the scoring for the Rams in their 15 point win over the visiting Shaw High squad was Robert Bell, who added 15 rebounds to the 22 points he dropped through the basket.
Also reaching double digit scoring in this game for the Rams with an 11 point outing was Darrius Clark.
