As we approach the middle of January, it’sobvious that the high school basketball races for regular-seasonregion titles are heating up. Seeding in next month’s regiontournaments is critical.

    For sure, a No. 1 seeding can help a team avoid early eliminationfrom the state playoffs. In Brookhaven High’s case, the Panthersand Lady Panthers have their backs to the wall. They need to winthe rest of their region games, starting with Friday night’s homedate against the talented Pearl Pirates in Sinclair Gymnasium.

    The Panthers, coached by Preston Wilson, are having a good year,sporting a 15-5 record. However, they have lost their first tworegion tests on the road, falling last Friday at McComb by a 58-54margin and losing a 78-74 squeaker at Jackson Wingfield Tuesdaynight.

    Turnovers doomed their road venture in the Capital City. Wilsonknows his team must take better care of the basketball, shoot moreaccurately and raise their intensity level on defense. Hedoesn’t  have a genuinesuperstar so the scoring load is spread around.

    Glen Buie has been a productive scorer in recent outings. Ross Hilland Fred Trevillion are showing improvement after moving from thefootball field to the gym. Ryan Thibodeaux can score inside andDennis Jordan has shown streaks of brilliance.

    Now it becomes a matter of putting it all together against thesetough region foes.

    The Lady Panthers (11-9, 1-1) won over McComb but lost a 70-62overtime test at Wingfield, Coach Freda Craft’s team seems to beimproving but they need more consistency.

    Senior Tiakara Kelly carries the big gun for BHS but the slenderguard needs support. That could come from Christen Benson, ShareekaHill, Fredericka Fairman and others. Most of all, they need morerebounding power to cash in those putbacks on the offensiveboards.

    BHS still has several region home dates left. Those games willdetermine how the Panthers and Lady Panthers are seeded in theRegion 6-5A Tournament, starting Feb. 7 in Sinclair Gymnasium.

 

    In Class 2A, Region 7-2A newcomers Bassfield and Amite Countyappear to be the teams to beat. Bassfield has an awesome footballprogram and the Yellowjackets are staying in shape by playing someroundball, too.

    Wesson is making its presence felt in girls and boys region action.Coached by Rusti Magee and Rusty Newman, the Lady Cobras and Cobrascould capture the No. 2 seed with a little help from Bassfield.Loyd Star’s girls have an outside shot at No. 2 seeding but theyare fresh from a big, home floor loss to Amite County.

    Enterprise will host the Region 6-2A Tournament next month. Perhapsthe Yellow Jackets can author an upset or two.

    Region 7-1A shapes up as a real dogfight, especially in the boysbracket. Newcomers Piney Woods and Hinds AHS are flexing theirmuscles and West Lincoln’s Bears have asserted themselves. PineyWoods and Hinds AHS both dropped down from Class 2A.

    West Lincoln, coached by Lane Young, lost a 61-52 home courtdecision to Piney Woods on Dec. 11. The Bears whipped Hinds AHS72-56 last Friday night on their home floor.

    Senior forward De Price heads a talented West Lincoln team. JuniorsJared Case, Lucas Burris, and Darius Clark, plus sophomores SamBivens and LeKeith Ward, and freshman Duane Marshall give the Bearsa variety of offensive weapons.

    We asked Cathedral boys basketball coach Peter Arnold if there arestrong backboards in Cathedral’s gym, site of the Region 7-1ATournament. He nodded yes and smiled.

    For sure, there will be plenty of slam dunks from Piney Woods, WestLincoln and Hinds AHS to wow the crowds.

    In the 1A girls bracket, Hinds AHS appears to have the No. 1 seedsecured. The No. 2 spot is up for grabs.

    The Region 7-4A Tournament will be held at South Pike in Magnolia,starting Feb. 7. The South Pike and Columbia boys are favored.Lawrence County’s Cougars could be in contention, too.

    In the 4A girls bracket, Coach Vicki Rutland’s LCHS Lady Cougarsappear to be the team to beat. Seniors Mary Margaret McLaurin andTaylor Brister captain the squad. They could be challenged by NorthPike.

    In Region 7-3A, teams are preparing for the regional tournament inthe cozy confines of Jefferson County’s gymnasium. The Hazlehurstboys are favored in this tourney. Franklin County’s girls should betitle contenders, too.

    Franklin County (12-4, 2-0), coached by Charles Moore, counts onKeke Collins, Toni Robinson, Latroya Griffin and Brianna Grayson tolead the team’s attack.

    

    Meanwhile, in the MAIS District 5-AA Tournament , BrookhavenAcademy’s boys and girls are expected to be seeded No. 1 as theycontinue their march through the regular season. Adams CountyChristian School in Natchez will host the district test, startingFeb. 10. South State is the following week at Simpson Academy.

    The BA Lady Cougars (19-3, 2-0) are under the  direction of first-year coach GingerDuease. Seniors Terah Winborne and Laura Beth Wright lead thesquad. Carey Crozier, Madison Warren, Destiny Allen and CarolineStewart are major contributors.

    The Cougars (17-1, 2-0), guided by veteran Dale Watts, are led byseniors Brock Smith, Brennan Miller and Christian “Bubba” Keene.Junior Gage Posey and sophomore Zach Smith are team leaders.

    At Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Coach Gwyn Young’s Lady Wolvesmust be considered a South Division favorite. They return just onestarter in guard Keosha Bradley from last season’s state andregional championship team that finished sixth in the NJCAANational Tournament in Salina, Kan.

    Coach Young has a talented group of freshmen who are trying to fillsome big shoes and maintain the tradition.

    

    Write to sports editor Tom Goetz by Email:tgoetz@dailyleader.com