Change is on the horizon for Marion County public schools with the announcement of the 2025-27 districts by the MHSAA. While there are similarities with the previous time period’s regions, the new batch brings forth intriguing matchups across all sports.
We’ll start with West Marion because there wasn’t a whole lot of movement in its district. Region 8-3A still consists of the Trojans, Tylertown, St. Patrick and St. Stanislaus (and Our Lady Academy), but the big change comes in the form of Presbyterian Christian (PCS) taking Perry Central’s spot in Region 8-3A. 2025 will mark the first year that PCS performs in the MHSAA after making the jump from MAIS.
While it is unclear what type of competitors PCS will be on the gridiron due to the Bobcats rarely playing public schools across the last few years – a pair of season openers against West Marion in 2017 and 2018 notwithstanding – basketball and baseball is where PCS can immediately make a big-time impact in region play. The baseball team was one game away from taking down perennial powerhouse Jackson Prep in the MAIS Class 6A State Championship last season, and the PCS Lady Bobcats were a game away from claiming both a state championship and an MAIS Overall Tournament championship in 2023. The boys’ basketball team was no slouch either, going 25-11 with a 9-3 record against public schools last season.
With all due respect to Tylertown, the quartet of West Marion, PCS, St. Stanislaus and St. Patrick will make for one of the most highly contested district title races in the entire state across the next two years once the new regions take shape.
The biggest movement out of the county’s three public schools comes with East Marion, who makes the jump from Class 1A to Class 2A.
For East Marion fans, just think back to how the sports schedules looked like in 2019 and 2020. It’s the same exact district except Sacred Heart takes the place of St. Patrick. There may be more familiarity with North Forrest, who shared the same region as East Marion from 1999-2016 prior to that two-year stint, plus Collins and East Marion have played in football twice in as many years.
It will be a stronger district in football for the Eagles than the previous two years as there are no gimmes. The Eagles should be strong contenders, but it won’t be easy. As for basketball, it’s the same story as East Marion should be the favorite on the boys’ side – but anything can happen.
As for the new Region 7-4A, I’m not sure there’s a more competitive district in all of Class 4A once the next school year begins. Let’s just look at it from a football standpoint first as it’s the biggest sport in the state. Columbia: 8-3, second round of the playoffs. McComb: 6-5, third round. Poplarville: 11-2, playing in South State Friday. South Pike: 9-2 and a one-possession loss to Seminary in Round 1 of the 3A playoffs. Lawrence County: a playoff team with five winning seasons in the last seven years. McComb, South Pike and Columbia each have multiple state championships with Lawrence County earning one in 1999. Poplarville might be the best team in the district, and they don’t even have one yet. If the Hornets come up empty this postseason and want to win their first across the next two years, they’ll have to earn it.
The district makes life on the diamond a whole lot easier for the Columbia baseball team, who were always seemingly fighting for third place behind Purvis and Sumrall. With those two Lamar County foes moving up to Class 5A, the Wildcats hold a much better standing in their new district. Basketball and softball will be fun to watch as well. These teams can play.
As far as the best matchups I’m looking forward to, it has to start with Columbia and Poplarville being district mates again. Every time these two meet in football, it’s a war. Nov. 16 was proof of that.
The battles we’ll see on the Region 8-3A baseball diamond will be must-see. How will the pitching of the Trojans match up against a consistent power like PCS? If the battles between West Marion and CA are any indication, it should be fun to watch.
Strangely enough, East Marion retaining Sacred Heart is what caught my eye the most. The pair have entertaining matchups across several sports, and I’m glad that their rivalry can continue. As for the rest of the group, I want to see how Perry Central continues to do in football, and I know contests against old foes like North Forrest and Collins will be fun for the schools’ fanbases as well.
But before we get to that, we have a lot of basketball and all of baseball and softball to get through first. Let’s hope to see some fireworks before play begins next September.
