Michael Odom , USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee Published 9:02 p.m. CT March 3, 2017 | Updated 15 hours ago<\/p>\n
South Side's Tamia Curry goes up for a shot against Crockett County in the Region 7-AA semifinals.(Photo: Pam Dietz\/The Jackson Sun)Buy Photo <\/p>\n
North Side, Jackson Christian and Jackson Central-Merry have hosted sectional games over the years. University School of Jackson and Trinity Christian Academy hosted sectional\/sub-state games this year. <\/p>\n
But an all-Jackson sectional hasn't been available for fans to go and watch. But Saturday that is exactly what Jackson basketball fans will get to see at South Side. <\/p>\n
Liberty will make short trek down to the Hawks' Nest to try and give South Side its first loss of the season. <\/p>\n
\"At this point of the season, you will fight, scrape and claw to get a win,\" South Side coach Brent McNeal said. \"It doesn't matter is it is good, bad or ugly, as long as you get a win. We expect to get everything that Liberty can give us on Saturday.\" <\/p>\n
The two teams played twice this season with South Side picking up wins of 30 and 21 points. <\/p>\n
\"We put no stock into that whatsoever,\" McNeal said. \"Those games were before Christmas. A lot of his kids played soccer and volleyball, so they were a little banged up early. We don't like to think of anything that happened before Christmas.\" <\/p>\n
Liberty Tech's Alexus Smith (21) looks to shoot against Haywood in the District 15-AA championship.(Photo: C.B. SCHMELTER\/The Jackson Sun) <\/p>\n
There has been a big difference in the Lady Crusaders prior to Christmas and post-Christmas break. Liberty was 1-7 when the Christmas break start, but they are 9-8 since that point with four of those eight losses coming against Haywood. <\/p>\n
South Side has won all 26 games that the Lady Hawks' have played in, including five wins in the postseason. <\/p>\n
\"We have to try to control us on Saturday and play like we have been,\" McNeal said. <\/p>\n
That South Side mentality is defense first and hope that the defensive pressure can create some easy baskets in transition. <\/p>\n
The Lady Hawks will look to players like Quanardra Miller, Makayla Transou, Nikindra Taylor and Cheyenne Cunningham to disrupt the Liberty offense. <\/p>\n
\"We can't get in early foul trouble,\" McNeal said. \"We can't let the emotion of the game get to us, and then we will let the chips fall where they may after 32 minutes.\" <\/p>\n
The South Side fan base has been growing as the postseason has rolled along, so expect a packed house as the Lady Hawks get to play at home to try and earn their first spot in the state tournament since 1994. <\/p>\n
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com<\/a> or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read the rest here:<\/p>\n Jackson has eyes on Liberty, South Side matchup - Jackson Sun<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Michael Odom , USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee Published 9:02 p.m. CT March 3, 2017 | Updated 15 hours ago South Side's Tamia Curry goes up for a shot against Crockett County in the Region 7-AA semifinals.(Photo: Pam Dietz\/The Jackson Sun)Buy Photo North Side, Jackson Christian and Jackson Central-Merry have hosted sectional games over the years. Continue reading