The number 20 is an important part of sports. In baseball, the 20-game winner is looked at as having an outstanding season.

In football, teams always measure their success inside the 20-yard line (red zone).

In basketball, high school and college teams set a goal before the season of winning at least 20 games.

Natchez High’s boys basketball team did just that Tuesday night against Jefferson County.

The most impressive statistic concerning that feat is that the Bulldogs have won 20 games nine times in its 11 years of existence, beginning back in 1989.

Last year the Bulldogs finished with 19 wins.

That’s saying a lot considering the brand of basketball played in Mississippi the past several years, the number of high-profile tournaments Natchez has participated in and contests across the river with Ferriday and Vidalia.

Through the years, Natchez has been in the same district with the likes of Warren Central, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Clinton and Murrah.

This year, Natchez has had to compete against Provine, Forest Hill and Jim Hill.

Natchez was swept by Provine, took two from Jim Hill and split with Forest Hill.

The Bulldogs begin Division 6-5A Tournament play against Forest Hill next Tuesday at Natchez High.

A win Tuesday would assure the Bulldogs of a South State spot and another probable matchup with Provine.

Here’s another impressive statistic.

In its 11 years, Natchez has competed at South State eight times.

Even with all of the traditional good teams in the state, I don’t know if you could find a school with that kind of tradition year in and year out.

The Bulldogs went to the &uot;Big House&uot; (state tournament at Mississippi Coliseum) four times in its first five years.

Of course the most memorable season was 1993-94 when the most unlikely bunch of Bulldogs defeated Jackson Lanier for the state championship.

Natchez returned only one full-time starter in guard Timothy Hooker.

Lanier had Jerry Nicholls, Clinton was returning its two best players in Jerod Ward and Doug Williams. Forest Hill had Randy Bolden and Maurice Carter.

And defending champion Harrison Central returned most of its team from the year before.

Seven Bulldog players with experience were lost to graduation the year before and all-star guard Donald Jones moved to Texas.

Natchez lost its best player from last year in James West and Ja’Kel Foster moved to another state.

Foster was exceptional during the summer as a member of the Natchez team in camp competition.

He loves to play inside, something that has been an Achille’s heel for this year’s team.

So there are similarities between the 1993-94 basketball team and this year’s team.

That championship team did have Jimmy Walton and Javis Johnson, two of the hardest-working players who gave it their all each time out.

So there’s your challenge Bulldogs.

Natchez has not made it to South State the last two years.

This year’s team does not know the tradition the way past teams knew it and strived to keep it going.

But they can certainly start a new one.

And what a better place than Natchez High’s gym.

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 446-5172 ext. 232 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.

&160;