Former Bogue Chitto and LSU basketball star Cornelia Gayden isspearheading a worthy project, certainly deserving of some freepublicity. Gayden wants to expand the health and wellness programat the Pine Grove Community in Pike County, located west of McComb,just off Highway 98.

“Our vision is to expand existing programs and add more programswhich will benefit the people we serve,” said Gayden. “We have hadtremendous participation in our current programs and we wish toexpand our project so more people can benefit from ourservices.”

Gayden’s first fundraiser is a benefit banquet set for Sept. 16,at the Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center. Featuredspeaker will be LSU men’s basketball coach John Brady who directedthe Tigers to the Final Four last season.

Certainly, Gayden knows her basketball. At LSU, Gayden starredfor the Lady Tigers and played for the late Sue Gunter. She holdsseveral 3-point field goal records. I remember her scoring 50points for the Lady ‘Cats in a game against Brookhaven in about1990.

Activities begin at 6 p.m., on the SMRMC’s sixth floor. Ticketsare $50 each. Tables which seat 8 people are $1,000. All proceedsgo to the Pine Grove Community Wellness Center Fund.

For more information, contact Gayden at 601-730-0731.

Professor Hoopla B.S., was busy cleaning out his closet whenlast contacted. He was hoping for some cooler weather so he couldwear his camouflage jacket. It’s been so hot the last month thatcamo shorts and T-shirts are the norm when stepping outside.

It looks like another warm weekend of football as the juniorcolleges crank up tonight and Mississippi State hosts SouthCarolina in an ESPN Thursday night special. Hoopla predicted thewinners of 8 high school games last week and got 6 right.

Here’s a preview of this week’s winners, starting with fourThursday nighters.

Northwest at Co-Lin: If history repeats itself,the Wolfpack will produce another surprise victory over the Rangersfrom Senatobia. Co-Lin 23-20.

Southwest at Itawamba: The long bus ride toFulton will fatigue most teams. In a defensive struggle, theIndians prevail. Itawamba 13-6.

South Carolina at Mississippi State: Bulldogsare capable of authoring an upset in Starkville but the Gamecockswill escape, minus a few feathers. South Carolina 17-10.

Alcorn State at Louisiana-Monroe: Braves aretomahawked by the newly named Hawks. La-Monroe 41-14.

Brookhaven at South Pike: It looks like anotherclose game for the Panthers who win by a whisker. Brookhaven14-12.

Brookhaven Academy at Oak Forest: YellowJackets are difficult to defeat in Amite, La. Oak Forest 28-20.

Bogue Chitto at Madison St. Joe: Providing somebig offensive plays, the Bobcats eke out a victory. Bogue Chitto19-17.

Enterprise at Loyd Star: Renewing the StingBowl rivalry, the Hornets notch their second win over a Class 1Aopponent. Loyd Star 34-12.

West Lincoln at Wesson: Coach Tommy Clopton’sCobras appear capable of contending for the region championship ifthey continue improving. Wesson 37-20.

Lawrence County at Franklin County: Largelinemen and speedy backs give the Bulldogs too much ammo for theCougars to handle. Franklin County 28-14.

Copiah Academy at Natchez Trinity: In abarn-burner, the Colonels collect a win over the Ridley-led Saints.Copiah 23-20.

Hazlehurst at Wilkinson County: Thelong-awaited debut of the defending Class 3A state championsunfolds in Woodville. Vernon Perry makes a successful coachingdebut. Hazlehurst 44-6.

McComb at Amite, La.: Tigers have their handsfull when they cross the state line. McComb 13-7.

Raymond at North Pike: Jaguars use theirhome-field advantage in another close game. North Pike 27-19.

Parklane Academy at Centreville Academy:Pioneers try to avenge a jamboree setback. Parklane 10-8.

In Magnolia State college action Saturday,Delta State should sink West Virginia Tech 37-13, Jackson Stateshould dump Pal Quinn 33-15, Mississippi College should sackMillsaps 21-14, Valley State should sack Arkansas-Pine Bluff 22-10,and Florida should dump Southern Miss 31-14. On Sunday, Ole Missedges Memphis 20-17.

Belhaven has an open date to recover from a 27-24 overtime lossto Concordia at Selma, Ala.

Write to sports editor Tom Goetz, c/o The DAILY LEADER, P.O.BOX 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or e-mailsports@dailyleader.com