BOGUE CHITTO – With Tuesday night’s wins in the opening round of the District 7-1A tournament, the Bogue Chitto Bobcats and Lady Bobcats advance to Thursday’s night’s semi-finals. The wins also assure the BC teams a trip to the North State Tournament.

Roberts paces Bobcats 

Brock Roberts hit 20 points, including four 3-pointers Tuesday night to lead the Bobcats to an easy 71-27 win over Mississippi School for the Deaf at the Bobcat Palace. The Bobcats, 11-18, now advance to the district tourney semi-finals Thursday where they’ll face 11-13 St. Aloysius at 8:30 p.m.

Roberts, who had never played basketball before this year, is enjoying his team’s late-season success. “This gives us a chance to keep playing,” said Roberts, one of six seniors on Coach Mark Pitts’ squad. “I’m glad I came out and played this year – the other seniors talked me into it,” he said. Tuesday night’s 20-point performance was a career high.

Coach Pitts, in his first year at Bogue Chitto, said he has enjoyed coaching the senior-laden team. “We’re coming together at the right time,” he said. “But, our competition will get a lot tougher Thursday night.”

The Bobcats split with St. Al during the regular season. “We’ll have to play defense and get good shots,” said Coach Pitts. “I like our chances.”

A win Thursday night will send Bogue Chitto to Friday night’s championship game.

In Tuesday night’s win over MSD the Bobcats led from the beginning and stretched it to 36-11 at halftime. Roberts had 15 in the first half.

Dakota McGary had 8 points for BC; Will Fauver and Dennis Rogers hit 7 each; and Jeremiah Perkins, Damien Terrell, and Jeremy Blackwell had 6.

Marques Vickers led MSD with 10 points. The Bulldogs finished 3-20.

Lady Bobcats roll 

Coach Christy Terrell’s Lady Bobcats rolled over Mississippi School for the Deaf Tuesday night, 65-19. The win sends the BC girls to Thursday night’s semi-finals where they’ll face Pelahatchie at 7 p.m.

In Tuesday night’s win the Lady Bobcats got 14 points from Zariah Matthews, 13 from Christian Black, and 10 each from Mattie Avants and Karlie Williams.

Bogue Chitto, now 23-6, led 47-14 at halftime after jumping out to a quick 12-0 lead.

Cathedral advances 

The Cathedral girls advanced to Thursday’s semi-finals with a 48-42 win over St. Aloysius in Tuesday night’s District Tourney opening round. Elizabeth Smith led Cathedral with 16 points. St. Al got 20 points from Alyssa Engel. Cathedral will face No. 1 seed Hinds AHS at 4 p.m. Thursday.

In Thursday’s other semi-final contest, Pelahatchie will face Hinds AHS at 5:30 p.m.