Area teams to be well represented at MAIS All-Star games

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 9, 2017

Trinity Episcopal standouts D’Asia Mitchell and Jasmine Ivory will take part in this week’s MAIS All-Star basketball festivities, including a 3-point shooting contest at 4 p.m. today at Madison-Ridgeland Academy.

While Ivory is hopeful for a strong showing, Mitchell plans to take it one step further.

“We are not going to try, we are going to win it,” Mitchell said. “Get buckets.”

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The Trinity duo will be joined by fellow Saint David Jackson and boys head coach Andy Blair. Adams County Christian School will also be represented by seniors Bailey Boyd and Anna McDaniel.

“I’m happy because we have one more game left,” McDaniel said.

In addition to the 3-point shootout, events include a slam dunk contest, the MAIS A/AA and AAA/AAAA games.

Jackson, who finished the season with an average of 18 points, eight rebounds and 2.9 steals per game, will display his athletic prowess in the dunk contest starting at 4:30 p.m. today at Madison-Ridgeland Academy.

“We don’t have to worry about (Jackson) being shy,” Blair said.

Jackson said since he didn’t get the chance to participate in the football all-star game, he is especially excited to join the A/AA boys roster set to tipoff at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Jackson Prep.

“I’m going to have fun and enjoy the moment,” he said. “You have to beat the best to be the best, and I’m prepared to beat the best. I’m glad be there, it was one of my dreams.”

The ACCS girls will be featured in the AAA/AAAA game and will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at Jackson Prep with a slight twist. Boyd and McDaniel will face off on separate teams in the game.

“It’s going to be tough going against each other,” Boyd said. “We guard each other at practice.”

While the pair of Lady Rebels said there won’t be much smack talk, their competitive nature will still take over.

“I’ll probably grab her jersey or something,” Boyd said.

Mitchell and Ivory will round out all-star play in the A/AA girls game at 10 a.m. Friday at Jackson Prep.

Ivory said the honor will perhaps be even more special since she will be united with one of her teammates.

“At least we are going to know somebody and not go up there with a bunch of strangers,” she said.

The all-star selections will cap off a successful senior season for each player.

The Trinity boys and girls teams captured South State championships, while the Lady Rebels claimed their district title.

The Trinity boys finished with a 21-5 mark, including its third consecutive district championship. The Saints were ousted in the opening round of the MAIS AA State Tournament.

“My peers respected me, and it’s an honor to be included,” said Blair, who served his first year as head coach. “As heartbreaking as it is, there are only seven other teams that got there. I’m really proud of those guys.”

ACCS fell in the South State title game, but Boyd said she still had fun during her final campaign.

“It was the best year yet,” Boyd said.