Call it a history-making, all-star extravaganza. For the firsttime in Mississippi Private School Association history, fourplayers from the same school will be playing in the MPSA’s All-StarBasketball Game.

Girls from Brookhaven Academy and Pillow Academy share thedistinction. The Lady Cougars are represented by Lauren Smith,Kelli Byrd, Mallory Logan and Kristian Davidson on the South AA-AAAteam. Pillow, the reigning Overall Tournament champion, isrepresented by Meagan Webb, Katie Buford, Mariclaire Fancher andClansey Flautt on the North AA-AAA squad.

If you recall, the BA girls were the defending Overallchampions. They lost to eventual champion Pillow in last week’sOverall quarterfinals by a narrow 54-50 margin.

This will be the final high school game for BA’s quartet. Addingsome sentimental quality to the contest is Brookhaven Academy girlscoach Barry Gray serving as an assistant to Troy Carnes of JacksonPrep. Jan Williams of Central Private also will assist with theSouth girls.

The MPSA showcase will be held at a different location Friday,moving to the Millsaps College campus in Jackson. MississippiCollege in Clinton has served as the site for several years, butdue to a possible conflict with MC’s NCAA Division III playoffgame, the venue was moved.

However, MC will host the all-star banquet this afternoon andtonight’s individual competition. The girls 3-point shootout beginsat 6 p.m., followed by the first and second rounds of the boysslam-dunk contests. The boys 3-point shootout is at 6:45 and thefinals of the slam-dunk are at 7:30.

Gray said Smith, Byrd, Logan and Davidson have meant a lot toBA’s basketball program. They have helped win four straight ClassAA State Tournament championships. “We will miss our seniors. Ihope our fans who have supported them in the past will come out tosee them play one more time.”

In the last four seasons, the Lady Cougars have lost only eightgames and won 151. “Our seniors made the program better,” saidGray. “I want to thank them for all their hard work. They set ahigh standard of excellence.”

Certainly, we enjoyed watching them play the game. They wereunselfish players, always happy to share the glory.

After leading BA to a 36-2 record, Logan and Byrd are retiringfrom athletics. They plan to attend Ole Miss this fall. Logan plansa double major in English and political science. Byrd is leaningtoward a career in physical therapy.

Smith plans to attend Samford (Ala.) University. She wants tomajor in English and minor in communications and journalism.

Davidson, standing 5-foot-11, plans to play college basketballat MC and pursue a career in nursing.

Gray, 41, is in his 10th year at BA. This is the sixth time forhim to coach the all-stars.

“You try to get them organized into groups that will playtogether,” said Gray. “That’s the hardest part.”

Lady Cougar fans hope to see all four of their favorites playingtogether at the same time tomorrow evening.

The A-AA games will be preceded by the Class A games, startingat 1 p.m., with the girls, and followed by the boys at 2:30.

Hodges on AA-AAA boys team

Brookhaven Academy guard Cole Hodges said he was looking forwardto playing for the South AA-AAA boys. “I’m very excited about theopportunity. I get to play with a bunch of kids I’ve been playingagainst for years.”

Hodges helped the Cougars win the AA state championship. Theywere eliminated from the Overall in the quarterfinals by JacksonAcademy.

Looking back on the season, Hodges said, “Our team was focusedand goal-driven. We knew we had something to prove. We playedtogether.”

Hodges, a 6-foot senior, said he wants to play either baseballor basketball in college. He’s a shortstop and pitcher inbaseball.

BA boys coach Dale Watts guided his Cougars to a 34-2 worksheet.He said Hodges, the only senior in the starting lineup, was a keyto his team’s success.

“Cole did a tremendous job leading this team,” said Watts. “Hesacrificed some statistics to fulfill his role. He went beyond thecall of duty.”

Hodges averaged 18.5 points per game and recorded a rarequadruple double, achieving double digits in points, rebounds,assists and steals.

“Cole was an outside shooting threat but he also worked oninterior defenses,” said Watts. “He had to guard folks who werebigger and stronger in the post area.”

For sure, Brookhaven Academy will have a special group in theall-star games. They’ll be well worth the price of admission.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O.BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mailsports@dailyleader.com