Chargers can punch ticket to Jackson tonight
A little bit of history was made last Friday night in Ackerman on the hardwood and Choctaw County is looking to add more tonight.
Following the Lady Chargers’ first-ever berth in the Elite Eight in Jackson, the Chargers are on deck to get their shot tonight at the Ty Cobb Gymnasium when they host Amanda Elzy. Neither team has ever advanced to Jackson since Weir and Ackerman consolidated in 2013.
The Choctaw County boys are looking to make it a twoteam special in Jackson this weekend tonight. At 20-9, some people might not have expected the Chargers to be in this position, but head coach Gary Beals said they continue to overcome the odds.
“This group is a special group,” Beals said. “It’s not as talented as a couple of years in the past, but they understand their roles. This winning streak that we’ve had, everybody has played their part and know exactly what they’re supposed to be doing.”
The winning streak is one of nine-straight games. It carried Choctaw County into the Class 3A, Region 4 tournament in Nettleton where it blew past South Pontotoc and Nettleton to win it all and clinch home court.
Now the Chargers need a 10th-straight win to continue this run. It won’t come easy against a storied program like Amanda Elzy, which has won five in a row.
“They remind me a lot of the Kemper County teams,” Beals said. “They have a big kid about 6-3 and good athletic guards. They resemble Kemper County a lot. They’re aggressive and their offense goes through their big man.”
Choctaw County runs everything through one player as well. Senior Akeem Kirkwood has been as good as anyone in the area this season averaging 17 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals a game for the year.
Once again, Kirkwood will have to have a big game for his team to advance.
“Akeem is going to have to do everything,” Beals said. “He’s going to have to have a double-double for us to get to Jackson. (Amanda Elzy) is going to make it extra hard on him I’m sure.”
So another piece of history is on the line for a place with a proud history. Both Winona and Ackerman spent years accumulating titles in major sports before the two schools converged. Now as one, they’re looking to continue their new chapter.
Doing it in front of one of the better atmospheres in the area will put icing on the cake.
“It would be great for the community and county as a whole to get this win,” Beals said. “It goes to show you that this county has really embraced the school. I was worried about not playing on Saturday because it might hurt our crowd, but they have been showing up and they’re fully supportive. They’re loud and into the game from the time it tips to the end of the game.”
Game time tonight, at what’s expected to be a raucous environment at Ty Cobb, is set for 7 p.m.