WALNUT — The 2026 Tippah County Basketball Tournament will tip off this week at Walnut High School, bringing together Falkner, Ripley, Blue Mountain, Pine Grove and Walnut in a three-day showdown to crown county champions in both the boys and girls divisions.
Opening round games begin Wednesday, Jan. 8, with quarterfinal matchups setting the stage for semifinal action Thursday and championship games on Friday.
Girls Bracket
On the girls side, top-seeded Blue Mountain will face the winner of the Falkner-Ripley first-round game in the semifinals.
Falkner and Ripley are scheduled to meet Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The winner will advance to play Blue Mountain at 5 p.m. Thursday.
In the bottom half of the bracket, Walnut and Pine Grove will square off Thursday at 8 p.m., with that winner advancing to the semifinals.
The girls championship game is scheduled for Friday at noon.
Boys Bracket
In the boys tournament, Ripley enters as the top seed and will play the winner of Falkner and Walnut.
Falkner and Walnut are set to meet Wednesday at 8 p.m., with the winner advancing to face Ripley at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Blue Mountain and Pine Grove will face off in the other semifinal matchup after Blue Mountain opens tournament play Wednesday at 5 p.m.
The boys championship game is scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Community event
The Tippah County Tournament traditionally draws large crowds, as all five county schools compete on the same floor for bragging rights and postseason momentum.
All games will be played at Walnut High School, and fans are encouraged to arrive early due to expected attendance.
The tournament wraps up Friday with back-to-back championship games, concluding one of Tippah County’s most anticipated basketball events of the season.
