Play began Tuesday in the Region 5-1A basketball tournament hosted by McAdams, and will continue with the semifinals Thursday and championship and consolation games Friday. Play begins each day at 4 p.m.
The tournament will determine which of the region's six teams will qualify for the state tournament, along with who and where they play. The four teams that made the semifinals qualify for state and the top two will have home court in the opening round. Region 5 will match up with teams from Region 7 in the opening round.
The boys opening round games in the region tournament had third-seed French Camp playing sixth seed Noxapater and fourth seed McAdams against fifth seed Nanih Waiya, For the girls, it was third seed Ethel against sixth seed Noxapater and four French Camp against five Nanih Waiya.
Waiting to see who they will play Thursday are the top two seeds. West Lowndes is number one for boys and girls. Second seeds are McAdams girls and Ethel boys.
McAdams girls went 8-2 in region play losing twice to unbeaten West Lowndes. The Lady Bulldogs take a four-game winning streak into the tournament after finishing the regular seasons last week with victories over French Camp 50-46, and Ethel 45-34.
McAdams led French Camp 40-29 though three quarters and held on for the win behind balanced scoring. Makeria Griffin led the Lady Bulldogs with 13 points and six steals. Kiara Brown had 11 points and four steals, Shatikka Greer seven points, Wel'Asia Roby six points and eight rebounds and Iyania Malone contributed 10 rebounds, five steals and four points.
Jasmine Bonty had a big game for French Camp with 16 points and 17 rebounds.
McAdams led 22-8 at the half on its way to the victory over Ethel. Brown had 20 points, Griffin 10 rebounds, seven points, four assists and four steals.
Coach Michael Huffman is pleased with the way his team is playing entering the region tournament, with eight wins in the last nine games, the only loss coming against West Lowndes. “I like our post play. We were a little one dimensional with the guards outside. Now we're becoming more balanced.”
West Lowndes girls are 20-0, the only unbeaten team, boys or girls, in the state, with every win by double digits. The closest region game was a 46-31 victory over Nanih Waiya.
BOYS
The Bulldogs split games, defeating French Camp 62-50 and losing to Ethel 64-60.
McAdams and French Camp both finished 5-5 in region play and split their two games. But French Camp earned the third seed as a result of a victory over Ethel.
Carl Hathorn received praise from his opposing coach after the victory over French Camp. “He has done a fantastic job,” Robert Leathers said, noting McAdams' youth and improvement during the season.
