MCC basketball faces tough test this week

Lady Eagles vs #5 Trinity Valley (TX) (Wed 6:00 pm)
Eagles at East Mississippi (Thurs 7:30 pm)
Eagles/Lady Eagles @ Wallace State-Selma (Set 2:00/4:00 pm)

(MERIDIAN) – The Meridian Community College women’s basketball team started their season with an easy double-digit victory (79-66) over visiting Bishop State Saturday night. But the competition level will take a huge jump up this week as the Lady Eagles will face national power, Trinity Valley Community College out of Athens, TX. Tip-off at the Graham Gymnasium is set for 6:00 PM on Wednesday.

Trinity Valley will roll into town as the 5th ranked team in the nation starting off their season undefeated at 3-0. TVCC won their first game of the season by a score of 102-57 and last week they defeated 9th ranked Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

The Lady Cards will be led by pre-season All America, Gloria Brown who is averaged a double-double, and last season she averaged 12 points and 12 rebounds per game. Trinity Valley will also return Darriel Gaynor who averaged 10 points, 8 assist and 2 steals per game last season.

“They’re on their way to Florida, playing in a huge tournament down there and were looking for a game along the way,” said MCC head women’s basketball coach and athletic director, Hilary Allen.

“We’ve played them the past three seasons. Two years ago the game was tied with five minutes left but we eventually lost by nine and last year we were ahead by six at halftime, but they came out in the second half and hit 13 three pointers.”

“It’s been great for our program playing them, its something we point at during pre season conditioning getting ready to play them, it’s a great opportunity . We’re trying to get our program to there level so it’s a great chance to play an outstanding team. It’s a game we get to play at home which is huge.”

For the Lady Eagles to have a chance at knocking off one of the top teams in the country, Coach Allen looks to his experienced line-up to give him a chance.

“I’ve got a group of players that have already played a season of 30 games. We’ve got four returning starters plus a NCAA DI transfer, so I’m basically starting five sophomores and I think that’s an advantage for us.”

LaDerica Campbell is the transfer for MCC. She played one season at Jackson State University before transferring to Meridian.

In their only game of the season thus far, MCC was led by sophomore Tiara Logan out of Philadelphia with 18 points and Campbell with 14 points.

On the men’s side, Head Coach George Brooks and his Eagles are off to one of their better starts in recent memory with a perfect 3-0 record.

The Eagles have managed to win some close ballgames, average margin of victory has been five points.

Their opponent this week is no stranger, longtime rival East Mississippi. Although the teams did not meet last season, the programs are scheduled to play a home-and-home this season. The EMCC-MCC men will face off in Scooba at 7:30 pm on Thursday.

“Due to MCC joining the Miss-Lou conference and leaving the MACJC last season, they (EMCC) choose not to play us, but it just makes since to play the closest programs around so we’re looking forward to renewing this rivalry,” said Allen.

Likewise, EMCC has started off their season undefeated, going 4-0 thus far and will face Hinds Community College Monday night before hosting MCC Thursday.

MCC has been led by freshman Rashad Robinson, who is averaging nearly 20 points per game (19.6) in his first three games.

Both MCC men’s and women’s teams are undefeated and take their perfect records up against some stiff competition this week.