NATCHEZ — Natchez High’s Rashonae Rice and Vidalia High’s Tierra Bell weren’t ready to hang up their basketball jerseys at the end of their senior seasons.

Now, both are heading to college, not only to further their education, but also to step onto the hardwood again and play college basketball.

Rice will attend Meridian Community College, while Bell heads to Little Rock, Ark. to attend Philander Smith College.

“It has been an ongoing feeling,” said Bell of her excitement to play at the next level. “I’ve always wanted to play in college. I wasn’t ready to stop, so I finally made my decision.”

For both Bell and Rice, their respective schools are what sold them in their decisions.

“The campus, location and academics are great,” Rice said.

Bell, who recently visited Philander Smith, said that aided her in the decision making process.

“A lot of thought went into my decision,” she said. “I liked my visit. They showed me around and I got to meet a lot of people there.”

Bell, who was one of Vidalia’s top players this past season, said she isn’t only excited for herself, but also for the potential doorway she opened for others.

“I’m very excited, not only for myself, but also the school and getting the name out there,” she said. “Hopefully it won’t be as hard for the girls under me to get a scholarship.”

Rice, who was the starting center for the MHSAA Class 5A State champion Lady Bulldogs, brought pride to not only her coach and school, but also her family.

“I’m elated,” said her father Jarrius Rice. “I just hope she goes and makes the best of it and gets her education.”

Natchez head coach Alphaka Moore also expressed her excitement.

“I’m very happy and proud that she has chosen the school she wants to go to and that she is able to further her education and play the game she loves,” Moore said.

For Bell, she isn’t sure what position she will fall into at Philander Smith, but said just being able to play the game will help her settle in.

“It’ll be hard because I don’t know my teammates yet and will have to make new bonds,” she said. “But playing basketball, you make new bonds really fast.”