L.J. Scott, a senior at Vicksburg High, left, drives around junior Chris Gables during the Gators’ first practice of the season on Monday. (The Vicksburg Post/C. Todd Sherman)

[10/15/02]An exception to a new ruling by the Mississippi High School Activities has one local basketball coach up in arms.

Mike Coleman, coach of the Vicksburg Missy Gators, had to turn down an offer from Choctaw Central to play in a classic, or building-fund game, in Philadelphia on Nov. 2.

The rule change states that, “basketball season for football-playing schools will not begin until the regular football season is complete.”

The Choctaw Central Classic is scheduled for Nov. 2, the day after the Vicksburg High football game against Forest Hill. VHS plays Warren Central in football the following week.

What drew Coleman’s ire is that after getting the ruling from the MHSAA, he told Choctaw Central officals that his team would be unable to play.

“It’s disappointing to find out that some 5As are getting to play but we couldn’t because we didn’t get the word that there were exceptions,” said Coleman, whose team played at the Choctaw Classic last season and lost to the host team.

“We got a notice that said we couldn’t play.”

However, Class 5A schools Meridian, Wayne County and Hancock County are all entered in the classic. Wayne County is scheduled to play Brandon in football on Nov. 8, while Meridian is slated to play Hattiesburg and Hancock County is set to play Oak Grove.

Dr. N.Z. Bryant, assistant director of the MHSAA, said Monday that Choctaw Central approached the 15-member executive committee this summer.

“(Choctaw Central) petitioned the executive board for permission and said that because it was a girls tournament, it had no effect on football,” Bryant said. “Evidently, it swayed the decision.”

Bryant said when Choctaw petitioned the executive board, they already had the teams they wanted for the tournament, but Coleman said he was called by Choctaw Central athletic director Willis Tullos just two weeks ago to see if the Missy Gators would be interested in the game.

The MHSAA changed the amount of games that could be played in a season to 20, with three tournaments. The Missy Gators are scheduled to play in the Vicksburg Warren County Coca-Cola Classic, the Warren Central Classic and the Northwest Rankin Tournament.

The Choctaw Central game would have given Vicksburg 29 games, which is permitted according to the MHSAA. Vicksburg will use the annual Red Carpet Classic as its building-fund game.

Warren Central’s girls were not invited to the Choctaw Classic although coach Donny Fuller said he would have declined because of the initial ruling.

It also throws the Coca-Cola Classic a week back. Last year, the first games of the Coca-Cola were on Nov. 2, the night of the Vikings’ 10th football game. The Coca-Cola Classic, played at both Vicksburg High and Warren Central, is scheduled for Nov. 12, 14 and 15,

Practices have been ongoing at Porters Chapel for the girls team and the boys will start the Tuesday after football season ends.

The Vikings, Lady Vikes and Gators started practice on Monday and the Missy Gators will start practice today.