FAYETTE &045; Juan Wyatt and Al Jefferson aren’t exactly best of friends.

But they know each other really well.

The big Jefferson County post will match up against Prentiss’ 6-9 post man Jefferson at 8 p.m. today as the Tigers host the Bulldogs in the nightcap of the Class 3A South State tournament tonight in Fayette.

Choctaw Central faces Raleigh in the opener at 6:30 p.m. The finals are at 8 p.m. Saturday.

&uot;The road to the South State championship goes through Al Jefferson,&uot; Jefferson County head coach Marcus Walton said. &uot;He’s one of the best big men in the state. He’s ranked nationally. He’s very strong down inside and does a little bit of everything. He and Juan tangled last year, and they also tangled during a couple AAU games in the summer. He and Juan are very familiar with each other.&uot;

While it makes for great drama, the matchup is more of a worry for the Tigers, who expect a much-improved Jefferson than when they beat Prentiss in the playoffs last year.

The Tigers will stick with the variety of zone defenses in hopes of just trying to contain him.

&uot;We’re just going to try to stop him straight up and not give him anything easy,&uot; Walton said. &uot;That’s the main thing. We know from last year when we played them on a play-in. It was a very exciting game from start to finish. But these are two different teams this year.&uot;

The Tigers may match up well at the other positions with speedsters Dewones Smith and Joshfer Nichols at the guard spots. Smith buried six 3-pointers Tuesday in a 53-51 win over West Lauderdale Tuesday.

The Tigers went with a variety of zone defenses then, and don’t expect any changes.

&uot;I’m taking it one game at a time,&uot; Walton said. &uot;I’m trying to get a game plan down. We’re not going to make any adjustments. The main thing is trying to make Prentiss adjust to us. This time of year you do what you do best. We’re going to try to get jump-started by our defensive pressure. We’re going to try get a few transitional baskets.&uot;

The environment at the JCHS gym should be a lively one since the Tigers got the big to host the tournament despite being No. 6 on the list.

Ahead of Jefferson County on the list to host were West Lauderdale, Franklin County, Forrest County AHS, Morton and Choctaw Central. The first four teams on the list are done for the season, and Choctaw Central’s girls are hosting the South State tournament.

Schools can’t host both, and Jefferson County got the bid to host the tournament.

&uot;This is the first time ever,&uot; said Walton, whose Tigers won the South State championship a year ago. &uot;We owe a lot to our administration for allowing us to have something like this. It pulls the whole community together &045; not just Jefferson County by the entire Miss-Lou. Any time you play at home, it’s a plus. We want to thank God for being here.&uot;