Team: West Point Current Record: 1-10 (0-1) Head Coach: Dashmon Daniel The Lowdown: Unfortunately, their record is what they are. This team consistently stays in the 20s in total scoring and has really only been involved in two games this year where they had a chance to win. They are likely not going to make the playoffs with they way they are playing now. | Team: Saltillo Current Record: 5-6 (1-0) Head Coach: Cassie Farris The Lowdown: This is the only team that could unseat New Hope or Oxford in the playoff hunt. They score around 40 points per game, better than West Point's but still a rather low number for high school. Saltillo's defense is going to have to carry them like they have in their five wins to have a shot at the 5A playoffs. | Team: New Hope Current Record: 13-1 Head Coach: Laura Lee Holman The Lowdown: Like West Point, their record is what they are - and that is a very good team. They are ranked #3 overall by the Clarion-Ledger for a reason. They have stood to threaten to run 5A for the past few years but have been unable to get over the hump. They got by Oxford all three times last year and are looking to do that again and finally reach the Big House in Jackson. Solid scoring along with a suffocating defense is what they are looking to use to run the table this year. | Team: Oxford Current Record: 6-9 Head Coach: Shayne Linzy The Lowdown: Much of Oxford's power has gone down with injuries. Kyla Malone and Aliyah Herod both have gone down with torn ACL's - two of Oxford's starters that were expected to start this year. The challenge that New Hope brings was already there, now they must do so with a very young group. This team is expected to make the playoffs. |
Now for the Boys preview, which I expect to be a complete war to get out of.
Team: West Point Current Record: 16-2 (1-0) Head Coach: Brad Cox The Lowdown: The real surprise team this year, even more so than before. They have beaten Tupelo twice this year and gave Provine a game. This team threatens normal powers Oxford and New Hope for a playoff spot. They've made the playoffs before with this region, but they are looking for a lot more this year. | Team: Saltillo Current Record: 12-5 (0-1) Head Coach: Craig Lauderdale The Lowdown: The surprises don't stop with West Point, Saltillo started 8-2 and gave defending 2A Champion Baldwyn everything they wanted. This is a scrappy bunch that focuses on their defensive play to win games. Don't sleep on them or they'll steal a game and even a playoff spot. Although this appears to be the weakest of the 4 teams, they do host the Region Tournament this year. | Team: New Hope Current Record: 6-7 Head Coach: Drew McBrayer The Lowdown: They won the region tournament last year with their home crowd behind them. However, they got knocked out of the first round and also did not win a region road game last year. Always a tough opponent year in and year out, if they have to face Saltillo in the region tournament, it will be a rough environment. | Team: Oxford Current Record: 12-5 Head Coach: Drew Tyler The Lowdown: Oxford may have one of the deepest teams in all of 5A this year, it is not often you can trust 10-11 players on your team to give quality minutes, but that type of depth is what has gotten Oxford to a good start. There isn't just one standout for Oxford, which is what makes this team dangerous. Their defense is a lot better than in recent years. |
I've said this a couple times on Twitter and just now earlier in this piece: Region 2-5A is going to be a WAR to get out of. In all seriousness, any two of these four teams could come out of the region tournament. Saltillo is the dangerous team because while they are seemingly the biggest underdog of the four teams, they do host the 2-5A region tournament in February. There is no dodging any team, every team will be tough to get through come that point. Oxford was the only team in the region to achieve a road win in the region last year - and it was against Saltillo. Home teams including the region tournament went 13-1 last year (and 1-0 this year).