The Mississippi Junior Golf Association Tournament teedoff todayat the Brookhaven Country Club. It includes 84 golfers from acrossthe state, age 8-17. It will be an 18-hole stroke-playtournament.

Leading the local contingent are Jacob Ross, age 8-9 division;Jennings Mills and James Michael Patti, 10-11; and Phillip Hammondand Austin Mills, 14-17.

Ross recently won his age division in a tourney at GreatSouthern Golf Course in Gulfport. Mills was runner-up in the 10-11division.

According to BCC general manager and PGA pro Ronny Ross, the BCCwill host a 36-hole Gulf States Junior Tournament, next Tuesday andWednesday. Another large turnout of around 120 golfers, includingplayers from Mississippi and Louisiana, will compete.

Brookhaven boys basketball coach Ronald Hines had a vision. Heunveils the real thing Saturday in Brookhaven’s Sinclair Gymnasiumwhen the Southwest Mississippi Jamfest makes its debut. It willfeature some of the top players in the Magnolia State, engaging ina trio of basketball games.

“We have some of the top players in the state who have committedto coming here,” said Hines. He checked off the names of MontaEllis and Charles Rhodes of Jackson Lanier and Christian Marshallof Jackson Wingfield.

Those are three high profile players. Also expected are CharlieWhite of Jackson Provine, Stanford Speech of Jim Hill as well asseveral local standouts.

Representing Brookhaven are Scott Pickett, Micah Tanner, JoaquinSmith, Rodney Daniels, Jermaine Culver, Genario Richardson, JasperHall and Phillip Tobias. From Loyd Star are Jared Britt, SidneyChester and Rufus Humphries. From Lawrence County are David Clarkand Justin Lewis.

Also from this area are Michael Blackwell of Bogue Chitto,Herman Johnson of Wesson, Joshua Nichols of Jefferson County, ZachTillman of Franklin County, Tony Brinson and John Thompson ofMcComb and Kevin McCoy of South Pike.

“We are inviting 60 kids and we plan to play three games,featuring 10-minute quarters,” said Hines. The first game tips offat 2 p.m. There will be a $3 admission charge.

Hines said the event is sanctioned by the NCAA, meaning DivisionI coaches are welcome to attend and scout the players. He said hehad received several inquiries from college basketball coaches.

“I’ve received calls from Mississippi State, Grambling, Southernand Alcorn.”

Judging from the weather report, it will be a sweltering,sweat-soaked afternoon but the basketball should beexceptional.

Just around the corner are the North-South High School All-StarBasketball Games, sponsored by the Mississippi Association ofCoaches and Mississippi Sports Medicine. They will be played nextThursday night at A.E. Wood Coliseum, on the Mississippi Collegecampus in Clinton. Girls tip off at 6:30 p.m., followed by the boysat 8.

Lincoln Countians in the contests are guard Jessica Melton ofBogue Chitto and forward Luke Lofton of West Lincoln. NeighboringHazlehurst will send Aiesha Collins to the game. Melton andCollins, both recognized as Most Valuable Players on The DAILYLEADER’s All-Lincoln County and All-Area Girls Teams, have bothsigned with Co-Lin.

The MAC’s All-Star tennis tournament will be played next Friday,July 18, at Parham Bridges Tennis Center in Jackson. Brookhavenclaims a record number of participants in Stuart Misner, boyssingles; Sadie Corban, mixed doubles; and Lane Lofton and JudsonLangston, boys doubles. Misner, Lofton and Langston won statechampionships in Class 4A. Corban and eighth grader Elliott Warrenreached the state finals of mixed doubles, helping the Panthers wintheir second team championship in three years.

Football fans can wet their appetites next Friday night when theBernard Blackwell All-Star Football Classic kicks off at MadisonCentral. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m., preceded by the introduction ofplayers at 7 p.m.

Franklin County will be represented by offensive lineman BrandonHalford and Coach Anthony Hart. Naturally they will be part of theSouth squad.

Other South players from this area are LeMoine Robinson, adefensive lineman from Hazlehurst; Joe Taylor, linebacker fromSouth Pike; and Jerry Bates, wide receiver from Amite County.

South head coach is Marcus Boyles of Wayne County. Besides Hart,other assistants are Rocky Gaudin of Hancock, Steve Jones ofColumbia and Todd Mangum of Wayne County. Team manager is WhitneyDavis of Pearl.

North head coach is M.C. Miller of Noxubee County. Assistantsare Dennis Allen of West Point, Junior Graham of Weir, EugeneSanders of Leland and M.C. Taylor of Noxubee County. The game issponsored by Entergy.