Bolivar and Middleton Basketball Hit the Court for the First County Game
Tonight, it will be Hardeman County basketball at its finest as Bolivar Central High School (BCHS) takes on Middleton High School (MHS) in the first high school only county basketball game of the season. For the night, there are no trophies or championship titles to win. Instead, the winners of the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams will walk away with bragging rights and the county fans will come together to support its high school basketball players as a community.
“Going forward into the game versus Bolivar, I am looking for more fans from the community to participate,” said Coach James Burkley who has coached basketball at MHS for 21 years. “This game is great for the community, and I hope it brings togetherness to our county.”
Although they are in different districts with MHS in 1A District 14 and BCHS in 2A District 13, both teams have much in common. They both are first place in their districts, are called Tigers, have a love/hate rivalry with non-conference team Fayette Ware High School, and proudly represent Hardeman County in every home and away games they play.
The last time the schools played basketball against each other, it was a split with the Middleton Tigers boys winning both the boys’ games and the Bolivar Lady Tigers winning both the girls’ games. Although BCHS would like to turn that around and finish the night with both the girls and boys winning both games, Coach Cameron Crisp shared similar sentiments about the evening.
“We’re looking forward to a fun and competitive game,” said Coach Crisp. “We just want the community to come out and support both programs and bring positive energy for both the girls and boys.”
Last week, the BCHS boys’ team was 4-3, and the MHS girls were 3-4 and boys 7-1.
“Hardeman County is one big family to me, especially when it comes to basketball. Both schools have awesome athletes that will bring back the excitement that we missed when we did not play each other in the past,” said Coach Burkley. “I hope these games bring Middleton and Bolivar fans together as a whole. This brings something for our community to look forward to each year.” Let’s go BCHS and MHS Tigers!
Bolivar and Middleton will play tonight at 6 p.m. at BCHS (313 Harris Street, Bolivar, 38008) and again on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Middleton (138 Florida Avenue, Middleton, 38052).
Pictures courtesy of BCHS and MHS Yearbook staffs.
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