BOGUE CHITTO — Just as basketballs, hoops and popcorn are acommon sight during basketball season here, so is Harry Bracey withhis powerful voice of encouragement echoing throughout thegymnasium.

Bracey, complete with his overalls and interesting hat, hasbecome a fixture on the front row of the visitor’s side of CalhounGym.

“He’s an icon around here,” said Mickey Myers, who has coachedat Bogue Chitto for many years.

Bracey’s booming voice can be heard throughout the gym justabout anytime the basketball teams are playing. He fills theatmosphere with phrases like “Shoot It,” “Come On,” and “Turn It Upa Notch.”

His most famous line is heard every time Bogue Chitto makes abasket: “In There!”

Although Bogue Chitto fans are accustomed to hearing his cheersand sometimes join in the ritual, visitors to Calhoun Gym oftensearch the stands in an effort to find out who is the owner of thebellowing voice.

“I try to go to almost every game if I’m not working,” saidBracey. “I just love basketball. I love being on the winning sideat the end of the buzzer, and Bogue Chitto usually is.”

His words of excitement just come naturally when he’s watchingbasketball at Bogue Chitto, which has a long history of winninggames in a thrilling fashion.

He sometimes helps the teams secure wins when he “mentallyshakes up” opponents by simply cheering loudly and serving as amajor distraction.

“He heckles the opponents, and sometimes they let him take themout of the game,” said Myers.

Bracey’s cheers usually have the opposite effect on Bogue Chittoplayers, who can sometimes be seen grinning when he encourages along three-point shot.

“He means a lot to the program. He’s been an inspiration to usin terms of motivating the crowd and showing support,” said CoachTheo Black, who coaches the boys’ team.

Bracey’s support for Bogue Chitto basketball teams is special,because he no longer has any children playing for the school.

Sports, especially basketball, is an important part of theBracey family. Bracey played basketball at Eva Harris, and hisyoungest child, Cynthia Bracey Kees, was an outstanding basketballplayer who made a few trips to the coliseum before she graduatedalmost 10 years ago.

One of his two sons, Harry Bracey Jr., also played, while hisother son, Otis, was a trainer for the basketball teams.

Bracey is just one of the school supporters whose blood isfilled with basketball fever.

“We just have so many good fans here,” said Myers.

Bracey’s wife, Georgia, also enjoys watching Bogue Chittobasketball. During their 29-year marriage she has accompanied himto countless ballgames, but she won’t be found on the front rowwith her husband.

“She says I’m too loud,” said Bracey, laughing about how hiswife usually finds a seat with a friend a few rows behind him.

Bracey’s support goes beyond the games played Calhoun Gym. Hefrequently follows players to the junior college level and takeshis loud cheers with him.

He is glad he lives in an area with such a strong tradition inbasketball. Bracey has enjoyed the many trips he’s made to thecoliseum for the state tournament, just like this year.

“I’ve got all the programs from the all the years we’ve been tothe coliseum,” said Bracey, remembering when Bogue Chitto won thestate championship three years in a row during the 1980s.

He believes the basketball tradition will continue for manyyears to come, and he is looking forward to many more excitingballgames and trips to Jackson.