Karnina Bunch and Sha’Kayla Caples were rare freshman starters for Warren Central’s girls basketball team in arguably the two most important positions on the court – point guard and post player.

They’ve been three-year staples on The Vicksburg Post’s All-County team – Caples has won the player of the year three straight years – and have delivered the Lady Vikes to the state playoffs in two of the past three years.

Now in the summer before their senior seasons, the dynamic duo will be on the court again today for the 44th annual Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Classic at Mississippi College. No county boys player was chosen for the rising seniors event.

Tip-off for the girls game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at A.E. Wood Coliseum with the boys game to follow.

“I knew they had the potential to be very good,” Warren Central coach Donny Fuller said. “I don’t move players up as freshmen unless they are good enough to start and those two were good enough to start as freshmen.

“After this year, I’d love to see them both play in the Mississippi-Alabama game because there are not too many better than they are, but I am biased.”

In three seasons, each player’s game has improved. Bunch, the floor general, has become a legitimate 3-point shooting threat. She connected on 23 triples over an eight-game span at the State Games of Mississippi, usually finding herself open when opponents collapse down low on Caples.

When defenses shifted again to try to stop Bunch, it left them vulnerable for Caples’ prowess in the paint. She averaged a double-double last year and is one of the highest recruited players in Mississippi.

Despite Caples’ myriad postseason honors and attention from college coaches, Bunch has thrived albeit getting overlooked at times.

“If I were a point guard and I knew that I could throw it to 32 (Caples) and get an assist, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out,” Fuller said.

If you go1 p.m. – MAC girls game3 p.m. – MAC boys gameAt Mississippi CollegeAdmission: $5Ruleville’s Don Blankhead and Gentry’s Charlie Williams will coach the North squad, which leads the all-time series 23-20 and have won four straight games.

On the boys’ side, the South leads the series 33-20, but the North won last year 117-83 in the highest scoring Mississippi boys all-star game ever.

“I’m excited,” Bunch said. “It’s a good opportunity for college scouts to see you.”