[3/3/03]For those wanting to see a battle of big-time point guards, today is the day and the Mississippi Coliseum will be the place.

At 8 tonight, Vicksburg’s Devin Jones and Hattiesburg’s Terry Bryant will lead their respective teams into the Class 5A state tournament semifinals. A trip to face either Starkville or Wayne County in the state championship game awaits the winner.

Bryant, the Tigers’ 6-foot, 1-inch quick-as-lightning senior leader, averages about 18 points per game, but has scored in the 30s this season.

“I’ve watched him on film and he is extremely quick,” Vicksburg coach Dellie Robinson said of Bryant. “He shoots the ball real well and can take it to the hole either right-handed or left-handed.

We definitely will have our work cut out for us with him.”

Devin Jones scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds in leading the Gators past Moss Point in the quarterfinals six days ago.

“He’s a good point guard,” Hattiesburg coach Yama Jones said. “I am really not concerned with what Vicksburg does, I am more concerned with what we do.”

Yama Jones said as good as Bryant is, the Tigers sport a team loaded with depth, size and plenty of speed.

“We really don’t have a certain guy that we rely on,” said Jones, a former Alcorn State coach. “If one is having a down game, someone else is there to pick them up.”

The Tigers (30-3) go about eight deep and sport 6-6 junior Jay Lee and 6-7 junior Alton Robinson, who both average near double figures a game.

“They have about 6-6, all three play and they are all good athletes,” Robinson said. “These kids pose a different problem then teams like Columbus and Moss Point, those kids weren’t as athletic as the kids from Hattiesburg. These kids here can run the floor and shoot from the outside.”

Vicksburg counters with the deadly Jones at point guard and a supporting cast low on height, but not rebounding.

Against a taller Moss Point team, L.J. Scott snagged 16 rebounds as the Gators outrebounded the coast team nearly 2-to-1.

“All our kids can jump really well,” Robinson said. “When we block out, we can rebound with anyone we play.”

Vicksburg last played in a game of this magnitude in 1996 when it lost to eventual state champion Lanier in the Class 5A semifinals.

Hattiesburg, conversely, is making its third straight trip to the state tournament. Two years ago, the Tigers lost in the championship game and last year were eliminated in the first round.

Hattiesburg has lost to Prentiss, Gulfport and Pearl this season.

“They are 30-3 and have beaten some excellent teams,” Robinson said. “We have our hands full.”