With region play beginning soon after the end of the holiday break, several area high school basketball teams will be in action this week at various events around the state.

Bogue Chitto

Both Bogue Chitto basketball teams will take the court this week at the annual McComb Christmas Classic. The tournament begins on Wednesday, Dec. 27 and goes through Friday, Dec. 29.

On Wednesday, both BC squads will face South Pike High School. The girls’ matchup begins at 3 p.m. and will be followed by the boys’ pairing. The South Pike girls are 10-4 and the SP boys, coached by former Copiah-Lincoln CC assistant coach Jake Reed, are 5-9 overall.

Bogue Chitto last played against Franklin County before the holiday break. The BC girls moved to 13-0 with a 47-27 win over Franklin County. The Bogue Chitto boys’ team avenged its lone loss of the season by beating Franklin County 53-46 and moving to 12-1 on the season.

Both Bogue Chitto teams are coached by Marc Howard.

On Thursday, the Bogue Chitto girls will take on 7A Meridian High at 3 p.m. The BC boys’ team will follow with a 4:30 p.m. matchup against North Pike. The Bobcats beat North Pike 53-49 the week before Christmas.

The final day of tournament play has Bogue Chitto facing off against Natchez High. The girls’ game will begin at 3 p.m. and be followed by the boys’ matchup.

Brookhaven Academy

The Brookhaven Academy girls are playing in the annual tournament hosted by Copiah Academy. Coach Ron Kessler’s team will play three games between Wednesday, Dec. 27 and Friday, Dec. 29.

BA played a pair of pre-holiday games at an event hosted by Jackson Prep last week. The Cougars (16-6) lost 46-38 to the home team from Prep and 41-16 to the Hartfield Academy Hawks.

The defending MAIS 5A state champs from Brookhaven will get tournament play started at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday against Bayou Academy from Cleveland. 

On Thursday, Brookhaven Academy will face Central Hinds Academy at 5:30 p.m. Central Hinds defeated BA 57-46 on Nov. 13.

The final day of the tournament will begin with a breakfast time tip for the Cougars as they’ll play Riverfield (La.) Academy at 10 a.m. on Friday.

The next home game in John R. Gray Gymnasium for the Cougars will be a game against Copiah Academy on Jan. 6. BA plays on the road at district foe Parklane Academy on Jan. 2 and at fellow district opponent Oak Forest Academy on Jan. 5.

Brookhaven High

Both of the Brookhaven High teams will be playing in the annual JPS Coca-Cola Holiday Invitational which takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 26 through Thursday, Dec. 28. Games will be held at JPS member schools Lanier High and Forest Hill.

The Panthers won’t take the court until Wednesday when both BHS squads play at Lanier. Ole Brook will take on the host school, with the girls’ game taking place at 3:30 p.m. and the boys’ matchup to follow. The Lanier boys’ team is currently 4-10, while the girls are 7-3.

The Panthers last played a week ago in the region opener against South Jones. BHS went on the road and split in Ellisville with the Braves. 

Coach Preston Wilson and the BHS girls won the first game of the night 45-42 at SJ to move their record to 7-7.

Coach Charlton Grey and the Ole Brook boys’ team had an eight-game winning streak snapped at South Jones as they lost 57-48.

The first game of the day on Thursday is the Brookhaven girls’ squad facing Murrah High at 12:30 p.m. at Lanier. That game will be followed by the same two schools meeting in a boys’ matchup.

The Murrah boys’ team is currently 3-11 while the girls’ team from Murrah is 2-13. Which is a sad turn of events for a school that was once synonymous for championship basketball in Mississippi.

BHS will return to the friendly confines of Sinclair Gymnasium with a region pairing against Provine on Jan. 5.

Lawrence County

The Lawrence County Cougars, both the girls’ and the boys’ teams, will make the short trip south of McComb to play in the Parklane Academy Hoops Classic on Dec. 29-30.

On Friday, the LC girls’ team will get things started by playing MAIS member Madison-St. Joe at 3 p.m. A matchup between the same boys’ teams will follow at 4:30 p.m.

Action tips on Saturday with LC playing Hillcrest Christian at 11:30 a.m. in a girls’ contest. The boys’ matchup between the same schools is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

Loyd Star

The Loyd Star boys’ basketball team (10-2) and coach Seth Britt will play a pair of MAIS foes on Dec. 28-29 at Amite School Center.

On Dec. 28 at 11:15 a.m., the Hornets will take on the Silliman Institute Wildcats. On Friday, Dec. 29, the Hornets will take on the homestanding Rebels from Amite School Center at 6:45 p.m. ASC is led by former Enterprise and Parklane head coach Josh Bass.