Additional Links: Division 1-3A Tournament Bracket | TigerFest Tournament Schedule
Booneville, Miss. - One of the top softball events in the entire nation returns to the Northeast Mississippi Community College campus after a one-year hiatus due to inclement weather.
Northeast welcomes 11 of the top programs from the Magnolia State and the entire nation for the TigerFest Tournament that runs from February 19-20 at Booneville City Park.
"Our tournament field is probably one of the best we've had in the past 14 or 15 years," said Tigers head coach Jody Long. "We've got some really talented teams and we've got some good matchups put together."
The annual competition also features the inaugural home games this year for Northeast. The Tigers are scheduled to participate in rigorous slate of five matchups over the two-day period.
Northeast christens the tourney at 11 a.m. in a meeting with Lincoln Trail (Ill.) College. The Tigers also face East Central (Mo.) College and Mineral Area (Mo.) College as well during the first day.
The tourney resumes at 9:30 a.m. the following morning, but Northeast does not take the diamond until 11:15 a.m. versus Wabash Valley (Ill.) College. The Tigers wrap up their portion of contests against Three Rivers (Mo.) Community College.
A total of 28 games are on docket for this weekend on David Carnell Memorial Field and the two adjacent stadiums with Arkansas State University and Itawamba Community College concluding the action at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The lineup of squads coming to the City of Hospitality includes Jefferson (Mo.) College and Wabash Valley, which both qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Tournament one season ago.
High School Basketball
A busy week on the Booneville campus officially begins on Tuesday, February 16 as Northeast hosts the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Division 1, Class 3A Tournament.
This event signals the start of postseason play at the prep level. All five institutions featured in the field are from the nearby counties of Alcorn, Prentiss and Tishomingo.
Belmont High School and Kossuth High School open the tourney with a pair of elimination contests. The semifinals are slated for Wednesday with the consolation and championship games two days later.
Sandwiched in between those dates is a critical Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division doubleheader as the Lady Tigers and Tigers battle Holmes Community College at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 18.
It is a big night with sophomore recognition for cheerleaders, dancers and basketball players between matchups. It is also five-county appreciation night with students from high schools inside Northeast's traditional service area receiving free admission.
The brand new hospitality suite that was part of the recent renovations to legendary Bonner Arnold Coliseum will be dedicated in honor of Northeast Sports Hall of Fame inductee Earline "Woodsie" Woods with a ribbon cutting at halftime of the ladies contest as well.