1995

Uuco survivors set sights on top prize By Lee Baker Clarion-Ledger Steff Writer . '

JUNIOR COLLEGES

Now real juco basketball begins with the Region 23 playoffs Monday through Thurs– day at Mississippi College's Golden Dome. :After wading through lengthy seasons , , then division and state tournaments, the 16 teams rated the best in Mississippi and Lou– isiana now go for the big prizes - berths in the national championships. ,' Themen's championship will be played at nlutchinson, Kan., while the women will : play at at Tyler, Texas, both March 14-18. : The Pearl River Wildcats and the North– ~ west Mississippi Lady Rangers won the 111 state toumrupent to earn two ofthe berths in • the Region 23 tournament. ~ ' Region 23 field: The regional includes all : state playoffteams, plus another three wom– •en's teams and two men's teams from the •Mississippi Association of Community and 'Junior Colleges, plus three Miss/Lou Con– ~ ference teams - Bossier Parish and Merid– . ian men, Mary Holmes women.

The men begin play on Monday, starting at noon with Bossier facing Holmes, then Meridian-Northeast at 1:45 p.m., Pearl Riv– er-Northwest at 6 and Copiah-Lincoln– Jones County at 7:45. Women' s play begins Tuesday with Northea~t-Mary Holmes at noon, East Cen– tral-Coahoma 1:45 p.m., Northwest-Holmes 6 and Co-Lin-Pearl River 7:45. The semifi– nals are Wednesday with the champion– ships Thursday, women at 6, men at 7:45. . Notea: Pearl River's state title was the lOth for the Wildcats, dominant early in state juco history with titles in 1927-28-29, then in 1935,1945-47,1958,1960-65, before a 30-year drought was finally broken Tuesday in Decatur. Co-Lin has seven titles since 1949, most recently in 1988..... Holmes produced both MACJC 1995 bas– ketball coaches of the year - Bennie Kimble for the men and Larry Therrell for the women.

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