Coach Vicki Rutland and Tiaria Griffin willrepresent Lawrence County in Saturday’s Mississippi Association ofCoaches High School All-Star Girls Basketball game. Tipoff is 1p.m. in Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum. Admission is$5.

    Sponsored by Mississippi Sports Medicine, the all-star gamesfeature rising seniors from across the Magnolia State. The all-starboys game tips off at 3 p.m. Games are sanctioned by theMississippi High School Activities Association.

    On Friday night, a full slate of activities are planned for theall-stars. There will be free throw shooting, 3-point shooting andslam-dunk contests in A.E. Wood Coliseum.

    The games are being held during the NCAA’s evaluation period so allcollege coaches are welcome to watch and evaluate the players.

    Rutland is fresh from directing her Lawrence County Lady Cougars toa runners-up finish in the Class 4A State Tournament. It was thefirst state tournament appearance in 30 years for the girlsprogram. They posted a 26=9 record, winning region and SouthMississippi championships before losing 71-61 to New Albany in thestate championship game.

    Rutland, a 1987 Forest Hill graduate, is starting her eighth yearat LCHS. She is a Delta State University graduate.

    Griffin, selected as The DAILY LEADER’s Most Valuable Player andMiss Basketball on the 2011 All-Area Girls Basketball Team, isconsidered one of the top college prospects in the Magnolia State.As a junior, she averaged 30 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 4assists per game. She is able to score inside and outside.

      Rutland and Terry D’Angelo of LongBeach are coaching the South girls. Coaching the North girls areStephanie Murray of Tupelo and Jemmye Ann Helms of West Point.Helms is a former Wesson coach.

    The South boys are coached by Frederick Barnes of Brandon and RandyBolden, of Meridian. North boys coaches are Jacky Rowsey ofBiggersville and Daren Coffey of Calhoun City.