MCC Basketball set for home openers

from combined reports
The Meridian Star

Meridian Community College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will take the floor tonight in their first home action of the 2006-07 season when both MCC squads host Wallace-Selma.

The women’s game will tip off at 6 p.m. in the Ivy Sports Center, followed by the men at 8 p.m.

The MCC men are 0-1 after a tough road loss at highly-touted Holmes, while this will be the season-opener for the Meridian women. Wallace Selma’s Lady Patriots are 1-0 after a 64-51 win at LSU-Eunice.

Tonight’s action is also the first of back-to-back home twinbills for the MCC teams, as Meridian will host East Mississippi Monday beginning at 6 p.m.

There are 14 regular-season home dates for MCC this season.

The Lady Eagles are hoping for a return trip to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament under veteran coach Hilary Allen.

“We’ve been conditioning really well and practicing hard,” Allen said. “We’ve still got some things that I want to implement into our game plan, but so far I am very exited about this season.

“I think that we are very talented this year and I look for us to run a lot. We’re going to try and press and get some fast break offense going.”

Sophomore point guard Holly Dial of Brandon echoed the sentiments of her head coach.

“We’re not as tall as be were last season,” Dial said. “But I believe that we’re going to be just as fast as anyone.”

Men’s coach George Brooks expects some exciting play out of his squad, as well.

“We’re very strong and versatile,” said Brooks, who is entering his ninth year as the Eagles’ head coach. “This team has a lot of athleticism.”

Freshman Chris Leggett of Meridian High School — The Meridian Star’s 2005-06 All-Area Player of the Year — will look to aide the Eagles in the upcoming season after originally signing with Pensacola (Fla.) Community College.

“Chris has been wonderful so far,” Brooks said. “In fact, he may be our best player with the ball in his hands. He just has to pick up on a few things on the defensive side and setting screens.”