So the high football season around here wasn’t much to brag about. Except for outstanding seasons from Vidalia and Ferriday, there wasn’t a whole lot to cheer about on Friday nights. However, the hoop scene should be a different story altogether.

Natchez High’s boys and girls are off to good starts.

The good news is that Natchez High is hosting the Division 6-5A Tournament this season.

Believe me, in a division with the likes of Jackson Provine, Forest Hill and Jim Hill, you need every advantage you can get.

Natchez’s boys lost to Provine at home earlier this month. It was one of the Bulldogs’ worst outings of the season, yet Natchez still had a chance to win at the end.

Natchez does not have the size of most 5A teams, but the Bulldogs are getting it done with defense, hustle and execution.

David Haywood has been exceptional inside. And when Jamal Bouldin is on from the outside, it’s a winning combination.

The Bulldogs are the type of team that has to have nine or 10 players play well each night out, and that’s been the case most of the season.

The Lady Bulldogs defeated Provine in their meeting. Natchez is having to fill the tall shoes of Erica Bennett, now at Co-Lin, but there are some outstanding young players who are up to the task.

Cathedral High’s boys have been a pleasant surprise early in the year. The Lady Wave are also playing well.

The move up to 2A proved to be a monumental task for the football team, but the basketball squads faced some of the toughest competition in the state in 1A.

The Green Wave and Lady Wave could be a surprise entry into the playoffs come February.

Adams County Christian School’s boys will take their lickings, but you won’t find many teams playing as hard. The Jackson teams are loaded, as usual.

AC’s Lady Rebels got a big win over Madison-Ridgeland Academy and seem primed to make that big step up into the upper echelon of South 5A.

When AC’s girls are on, they can play with anybody.

Trinity Episcopal has one of the best combinations in single A in Bobby Craig and Kris Thomson.

The Saints will be hard-pressed to repeat their accomplishments of last year, but still have the talent to go a long way.

The Lady Saints are playing exceptional ball under Melanie Hall.

Sarah Kirby seems to be ahead of her game and Sara Greer’s game is as good as it gets.

If the younger girls come around, Trinity’s girls will have a lot to say about who plays where in February.

Vidalia’s basketball team was kicking tail before the football team ended its season.

The chemistry now needs to get right for what should be a banner season for Vidalia basketball, as well.

The Lady Vikings have been building toward this season for a while and with only one senior should still turn some heads in February.

Ferriday High’s boys are led by Jason Scott, one of the better players in the state. The Trojans will just get better as the year goes along. The district championship will be settled in Concordia Parish.

The Lady Trojans are young, but Lisa Abron’s enthusiasm is sure to carry over. Don’t carry Ferriday’s girls out.

Speaking of young, more than half of Huntington’s girls team should probably be playing on the junior varsity squad.

But there’s still talent and this team is just building toward an impressive future.

Huntington’s boys should be as feisty as their football team, which is saying a lot.

Let the playoffs begin.

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached at 446-5172, ext. 232, or by e-mail at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.