While the other three Marion County schools participate in district tournaments in this week, Columbia Academy is already onto the South State playoffs.
Both the Cougars (19-10, 6-0) and Lady Cougars (22-9, 6-0) claimed District 4 titles after going undefeated and received first-round byes in the playoffs as No. 1 seeds.
With time off while other teams duke it out for the right to play Columbia Academy, both squads spent Monday and Tuesday working on themselves.
“Yesterday, we worked on us,” head coach Dale Watts said. “Tomorrow, we’re going to prepare specifically for our opponent. It only gives you one day, but that’s better than no days.”
What has helped the Cougars over the past month is adapting to different playing styles depending on the opponent, and it remains an area of focus.
“We’re working on things I think are our weaknesses and that is our perimeter defense and being able to change our game,” Watts said. “We need to be able to be explosive and run the floor and slow it down to protect the ball (depending on the opponent).”
The Lady Cougars, on the other hand, are focused on other aspects.
“We’ve been working on half-court execution offensively and (overall) defense,” Watts said. “Those are the two things we’re really focused on.”
Watts said how the bracket sets up on the boys side is worrisome.
“There’s no doubt we’re on the side of the bracket with the best team. Hillcrest Christian is the No. 1 ranked team according to The Clarion Ledger in AAA. If we win Thursday, we’ll have to play them Friday,” he said. “They’re extremely good.”
The Lady Cougars have a much clearer path to a South State title, however.
“It’s up in the air. There’s teams I haven’t seen but from what other coaches tell me, there are several — and I think we’re among them — that are capable of winning the tournament,” Watts said.
The Cougars await the winner of Tuesday’s matchup between Park Place Christian and Central Private School, while the Lady Cougars will take on the winner between Riverfield Academy and Central Private.
Watts, who was interviewed on his way to Natchez to scout Columbia Academy’s opponents, said it would help to see them play in person a lot.
“I watch a lot of film all year long on our opponents, but a lot of times it’s just hard to look at film and tell exactly how quick they are or how good they really are. If I can get my eyes on them and look at them, then I can evaluate their teams a lot better in person,” he said.
The Lady Cougars will tip off Thursday at 4 and the Cougars will tip off at 7:45. The South State AAA Tournament is being played at Adams County Christian.
Pictured Above: CA’s Ras Pace (13) makes an acrobatic, wrap-around pass to the waiting arms of Owen Harper. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
