Scattershooting while wondering why my wife is still laughing about my New Year’s resolution to win a Yard of the Month honor this year:

— Natchez High boys basketball coach Mike Martin has a neat deal where he has members of the Natchez High faculty serve as honorary coaches.

The faculty member will speak to the team before the game, bring the game ball to the official before the tip-off, and then sit on the bench with the team.

Betty Minor served as honorary coach in Natchez’s 70-63 win over Forest Hill Friday.

&uot;Mrs. Minor gave a great speech before the game, and the boys were delighted because it was shorter than mine,&uot; Martin said.

— Natchez High’s win over Forest Hill was crucial not just because the Rebels were unbeaten in Division 6-5A play, while Natchez was 1-2, including a six-point loss in Jackson.

The division tournament will be held here beginning Feb. 14 and Forest Hill now has it planted in their minds that they lost on Natchez’s home court.

— Vidalia High will be thinking revenge Tuesday when the Vikings visit McCall.

This year McCall was moved into Vidalia’s district. Last year, McCall defeated the Vikings in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs and rubbed it in a little bit. Things should get interesting in north Louisiana.

— LSU head basketball coach John Brady had some kind things to say about Robert Cade after the Natchez High assistant coach opened his home and gym to LSU junior Lamont Roland.

Roland was the Junior College Player of the Year in Barton, Kan., last year and spent his summer in Natchez taking classes at Copiah-Lincoln-Natchez to become eligible to play this season.

Cade, then head coach at Ferriday, took Roland under his wing during the summer and Brady is forever grateful.

&uot;Lamont was in summer school up in Natchez trying to get some time in the classroom and Coach Cade was kind enough to let him play with some of his players over in Ferriday when Coach Cade was still coaching there,&uot; Brady said.

&uot;Coach Cade is a good man,&uot; Brady added. &uot;His influence on young people is as positive as influence can be. His daughters were friendly to Lamont and helped him through a tough time in Natchez because Lamont was there in a dorm by himself and didn’t know anyone. Coach Cade was kind enough to extend a hand and fed him from time to time, talked to him about his game and helped him out. I’ll always appreciate him for doing that for us.&uot;

— I was tickled to see Tennessee defeat Buffalo in the wild card game, even though I believe the lateral on the pass on the kickoff was forward.

I don’t understand Jeff Fisher’s offensive philosophy in that game, having Steve McNair hand off to Eddie George on first down right up the middle the majority of the game. I kept looking for Carl Smith.

McNair’s best games this year have come when he rolls out and improvises some.

Unless Fisher loosens the leash, the Titans will not get past Jacksonville Saturday.

— Did you see where seven more Notre Dame players were named in illegal involvement with the booster that got the Irish on probation, taking away two scholarships? I guess the NCAA will ask for the other wrist now.

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