NATCHEZ — The Natchez High School girls’ basketball team will celebrate its state championship with a downtown parade this week.

The parade will start at 6 p.m. Friday, and NHS principal Fred Butcher said he hopes a big crowd will come out and support the girls basketball team as they make their rounds around downtown.

“We want to show the kids that we appreciate them and show the community that we appreciate their support,” Butcher said. “Hopefully, it will be motivation (for more parades).”

Butcher said the parade will start on the bluff, head up Franklin Street and come back down Main Street.

Butcher said the Natchez-Adams School District is accepting floats and vehicles to participate in the parade, and anyone hoping to participate could pick up an entry form at the Natchez High School office.

A sign on both sides and on the back of the float or vehicle is required. The sign on the back must have the name of the club, organization or sponsor. The side signs will have the theme-related name.

No motorcycles or horses are allowed in the parade.

Butcher said a $25 participation fee is required that should be payable to Natchez High.

Deadline for the entry form is 3 p.m. Thursday, and line up is from 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Aside from vehicles, Butcher said he is hoping to fill the streets with music as part of the celebration.

“We’re trying to get about four bands to participate in it as well,” Butcher said. “We will also have our teacher of the year participating, Virginia Robertson.”

The Lady Bulldogs will headline the parade, and head coach Alphaka Moore will be the grand marshal and assistant coach Alia Frank will be the assistant marshal.

Frank, a first-year coach, had the chance to relive her high school days at Natchez High through the 2014 Lady Bulldogs.

Frank played on the 2009 team that made it to the Mississippi Coliseum but lost in the first round.

The return to the big house last week brought back memories.

“The night before the game against Canton High School, I had flash backs and I didn’t sleep well,” Frank said. “I didn’t want them to make the same mistakes we did.”

Frank used her previous experiences to prepare her players for what could lie ahead.

Once the Lady Bulldogs won the championship, Frank said she was filled with emotion to finally get the ring that has been missing from her collection.

“With a minute left on the clock, I knew we had the game even though we were down,” she said. “Tears ran down my face. It was an amazing feeling just knowing all we had been through to get to where we were. There was so much negativity with people saying we were all too young, but the fact the girls believed everything we said is amazing.”

Frank said the Lady Bulldogs garnered their own fan base through actions instead of words.

“I wanted to remind the girls to be prideful and to show some passion,” Frank said. “If you really care about the game, you have to make everyone else see it in how you play.”

Frank said she is expecting a huge turnout at the parade because of all of the support she witnessed throughout the season.

“The day after we won district, we got the girls shirts (to wear) before the next game and the day after (that game), all of the fans had the same shirt,” Frank said. “To fill the gym up every game was amazing. A championship team doesn’t exist unless you have that kind of support.”

Butcher said he wants the parade to be an inspiration for the community, and he hopes it won’t be the last parade.

“Hopefully, this will be the first of other parades because when you look at the possibility, we’re losing just two players on the team,” Butcher said. “Hopefully, it is just the beginning.”