McAdams boys basketball moved within one step of a return trip to the Mississippi Coliseum with 1A playoff victories over Simmons 71-58 and Resurrection 90-61.
That one step will be a home game against West Tallahatchie Saturday.
McAdams received a boost from the bench against Resurrection, with 17 points by Marcus Ball and 13 points and six rebounds by Jacquese Greer. Tyrick Davis had a game high 18 points and Jalen Greer 10 points and seven assists. Andrew Pickens led Resurrection with 17 points.
“We have to get a better performance out of our starters. They came out sluggish,” said coach Kenyon Ross.
The Bulldogs led 41-30 at the half, then broke the game open by outscoring the Eagles 27-13 in the third quarter.
“It was a close game for the first quarter. After that we picked up the defensive intensity,” Ross said. “We have a lot of depth. One of our game plans was to wear them down with our depth.”
The Simmons game was pretty much decided in the first quarter when McAdams took a 25-6 lead. Cameron Fleming had 23 points and Davis 18. The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the floor and made eight 3-pointers. Fleming was four of seven from behind the arc.
Saturday's game matches 1-6A champion McAdams against 1-5A winner West Tallahatchie. The Choctaws advanced to the third round with victories over French Camp 63-35 and Mount Olive 46-41.
Ross said West Tallahatchie is a well disciplined and well coached team. “They run a lot of different sets on offense and multiple defenses. They're going to come in with an attitude. Me being from the Delta, I know what to expect. Delta teams don't quit.”
French Camp is the one common opponent. McAdams defeated the Panthers 89-59 during the regular season and 73-41 in the region tournament.
“McAdams is very, very quick. Full court pressure the whole night,” said French Camp coach Robert Leathers. “They're very deep with a lot of talent. They have speed, they have quickness and they have experience.
“West Tallahatchie shoots the ball really well. They have some length and some size that maybe is going to give McAdams a little problem. But McAdams crashes the boards so hard. They come at you from a lot of different angles.”
Leathers said West Tallahatchie guard Roddarius Moss is a “big time shooter, a big time player. But I don't know if he has seen the speed that McAdams will bring to the table. McAdams can play. Ross is a good coach. He can scheme it very well.”
