The Poplarville Hornets boys basketball squad will be traveling to New Orleans on Wednesday for an afternoon contest against the Hancock Hawks. 

The teams will be facing off in the Smoothie King Center, the home arena of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Poplarville Head Coach Chareck Cable said he was approached by a representative for the Pelicans who invited them to come to the arena and play. Cable reached out to Hancock High School Head Coach Charles Moore and they scheduled the match-up.

After the game, the Hornets will stay and watch the Pelicans face off against the visiting Oklahoma  City Thunder in a game that has NBA playoff implications.

“I want my team to see how NBA players prepare for a game,” said Cable, “It will also be good to get these guys used to playing in an arena.”

Poplarville’s junior varisty team will play at 2 p.m. and the varsity boys will tip-off at 2:30.