[JACKSON, MS] On Friday and Saturday, the 2nd Annual MS/AR Cross-State Classic was held in Jackson, MS at Mississippi Basketball & Athletics, also known as the MBA. There were Arkansas and Mississippi homeschool teams invited to compete. From the MSAHA, the Hattiesburg Forerunners, Scott County Flames, Laurel Knighthawks, Meridian Flyers, Mt. Zion Lions, and the Muddy River Counselors showed up for the tourney. From Arkansas, represented was the Saline County Warriors, Faulkner Falcons, and the Little Rock Flames.
The Counselors began by facing the Little Rock Flames. As one of the top homeschool basketball programs in the country, this was a huge test for the Counselors. Little Rock started off hot and the Counselors kept the deficit at 12 until the Flames started to begin to pull away late in the third quarter. The Counselors dropped the ball game 91-54.
Muddy River then had the Meridian Flyers early Saturday morning. The Flyers are in a rebuilding year after losing both Elliot Tulip and Isaiah Davis. But they held an 8-5 lead early over the Counselors as Muddy River had a slow start. But the Counselors picked up and ended up cruising to an 82-42 win over the Flyers.
The last game was the tightest one. The Counselors took on the Faulkner Falcons. The Counselors ran out to a lead early taking a 20-12 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter was marked by the Falcons coming back and pulling Muddy River within striking distance with only a 32-29 deficit at halftime. The third quarter was a defensive battle, but the Counselors began pulling away at the end of the quarter, taking a 44-35 at the end of three.
In the fourth, Faulkner tried to press to force some turnovers but the Counselors made them pay and accelerated to a 60-48 win over the Faulkner Falcons.
The Counselors (4-2)[1-1] will next head to Hickory to face the Meridian Flyers on the road.
