Ellisville, Miss. – The Northeast Mississippi Community College women's basketball program is ready to return to its rightful place in the postseason after the longest stretch away from the playoffs in three decades.
The Lady Tigers meet Hinds Community College in the opening round of the 2017 Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) State Tournament on Monday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. inside A.B. Howard Gymnasium on the Jones County Junior College campus.
Every Northeast game in the MACJC State Tournament will air live and in high definition on NEMCCTV. Tune in starting 15 minutes prior to tipoff for the pregame show by visiting www.nemcctv.com on any computer, tablet or smartphone.
The Northeast Broadcasting Network also includes Booneville based radio station WBIP. An audio simulcast featuring Jody Presley and Carter Smith, the Voices of the Tigers, can be heard on 99.7 FM and AM 1400 on your digital dial.
Search and follow @NEMCCTigers on Twitter for live in-game updates and interact during the matchup by using the hashtag #TigerPower across all social media platforms.
The Lady Tigers are back in the MACJC State Tournament following a three-year hiatus. Northeast, which has captured more state championships than any program in the league, qualified for the postseason as the North Division runner-up.
Northeast last reached the playoffs during the 2012-13 campaign. The Lady Tigers finished as the state runner-up to Copiah-Lincoln Community College and participated in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 23 Tournament that year.
The Lady Bulldogs are themselves concluding a lengthy postseason draught. Hinds (18-5) advanced to the MACJC State Tournament as the third placed seed out of the South Division.
Northeast head coach Brenda Mayes is happy to lead her alma mater to the playoffs in her second season at the helm after missing the state tournament by only one game last year.
"We've worked hard all year long," she said. "We didn't want anybody to control our destiny. We wanted to control it ourselves. I'm proud of them. I've just tried to encourage the ladies to push each other each day."
The Lady Tigers (15-8) feature four players that have averaged double figures throughout the entire campaign, including a trio of sensational sophomores that have set the tone all season.
LaKeiya Lane tops that group with 17 points per game. The Southaven High School graduate also guides Northeast with additional team-highs of 4.9 assists and 2.2 steals each outing.
"We all feel good," said Lane. "We know our task and we've got to get the job finished. We've got to play smart, play good defense because that wins the games and be aggressive."
Reigning MACJC All-State selection Shelby Wilbanks of Walnut continues to produce impressive numbers with 16.4 points and a team-best 8.4 boards. She has now scored in double-digits during 44 of her 46 career contests with the Lady Tigers.
"We've got good momentum going into the tournament because we know we've got a better team all around," Wilbanks said. "We've got a lot of good girls that come to do their jobs. We're just going to do our best and see what we can do."
Baldwyn High School alumnus Timaya Stewart rounds out the trio of upperclassmen for Northeast. The 5-7 guard posts 13.2 points and is an underestimated rebounder with 6.3 per game, which is presently third most on the squad.
Aundrea Adams is the fourth double-figure scorer for the Lady Tigers with 13.3 points. The Corinth product shoots 55-percent from the floor, which is second best in the Magnolia State and among the top 40 athletes in the country.
Sophomore guard Octavia Barnes paces Hinds with 11.9 points per matchup. Freshman center Twila Hill follows her with 10.7 points plus team-highs of 7.8 rebounds and two blocks.
Northeast currently ranks 13th in the NJCAA with 18.6 offensive rebounds each contest and 15th at 47.3 total boards per game. The Lady Tigers also register the 12th best assist figure in the nation with an average of 18.1.
The winner between Northeast and the Lady Bulldogs battles the victor between Holmes Community College and host Jones County in the semifinals on Wednesday, March 1. The women's championship contest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. one night later.