The 2017 Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Basketball Games were played Friday, March 17, 2017 at Dunn-Oliver Acadome on the campus of Alabama State University in Montgomery, AL.
MISSISSIPPI ALABAMA GIRLS' ALL STAR BASKETBALL GAME
2017  Mississippi 93, Alabama 86 – Mississippi MVP Myah Taylor of Olive Branch led the Magnolia State ladies in erasing an early 12-point deficit and pacing Mississippi to a 93-86 win over the Alabama All-Stars in the 27th classic played at the Dunn-Oliver Arena on the Alabama State Campus in Montgomery, Alabama.  With their second consecutive win—their third in the last four years, the Mississippi squad took over the series lead at 14-13.  Taylor had 25 points with five assists and four steals and helped slice the Alabama lead to 50-46 at the half.  Breonica Ducksworth of West Jones, the smallest player in the game, scored 17 points and had 7 steals and hit 7-of-9 free throws including 4 made from the charity stripe in the final minutes to clinch the Mississippi win.  Mississippi scored 9 of the game’s last 11 points after the game was tied at 84 apiece.  The Mississippi comeback overshadowed a record-setting performance by Alabama’s Unique Thompson of Faith Academy who had 34 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots and was named the Alabama MVP.  Thompson’s performance broke the Alabama scoring record in the series set by Sylacauga’s Shakayla Thomas in 2014.   The Mississippi guards forced 36 Alabama turnovers which led to 22 more shot attempts than Alabama.  Other double digit scorers for Mississippi included Keyara Jones of Heidelberg who had 14; Alayjah Sherer of Tupelo who tallied 11; and Jailin Cherry of Pascacoula who poured in 10 points.  Alabama’s other double digit scorer was Alexus Dye of Wenonah, who had a double-double with 21 points and 16 rebounds.      Â
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MISSISSIPPI ALABAMA BOYS' ALL STAR BASKETBALL GAME
2017   Mississippi 96, Alabama 91 – Led by Mississippi MVP Jarkel Joiner of Oxford, the Mississippi boys team defeated Alabama 96-91 in the 27th Annual Classic at the Dunn-Oliver Arena on the campus of Alabama State in Montgomery, Alabama.  The Magnolia State win was their second consecutive  victory over Alabama and cut the Alabama series lead to 14-13.  The boys win also marked the second straight year and ninth overall in which the Mississippi boys and girls squad claimed both games on the same date.  Mississippi MVP Joiner scored 24 points—12 in each half—and was 10-of-15 from the field to pace his squad.  Mississippi out-rebounded Alabama 62 to 37 to dominate the boards.  Mississippi led 47-45 at the half and proceeded to outscore Alabama 49-46 in the second half to claim the win.  Mississippi led 91-88 in the final minute, but Alabama missed a 3-point shot and a dunk in the last seconds.  Free throws by Mississippi then put the game out of reach.  The Alabama MVP was Herb Jones of Hale County who finished with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and three steals.  Other double digit scorers for Mississippi included Ledarrius Brewer of Meridian who had 12 points; Troymain Crosby of Laurel who added 17 points; and Dewayne Cox of Ripley who had 11 points.  Alabama’s other double figure scorers were Shy’m Cunningham of Midfield who tallied 18; Malik Burnett of Lee-Huntsville who poured in 12 points; and Javan Johnson of Austin who had 11 points and 6 rebounds.