MRA upsets top ranked PresbyterianSouthern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The 4th ranked MRA Lady Patriots came out of a 15-13 halftime deficit and pounded top ranked Presbyterian with a 15-0 third quarter run to upset the Lady Bobcats 44-28 in Class AAA Division I semi-final action on the campus of Jackson Prep yesterday afternoon. A balanced scoring attack and a stifling defense that caused major headaches throughout the second half for Presbyterian propelled a now healthy MRA squad to their 27th win of the season and a date with Jackson Academy in the finals this afternoon. Jackson Academy upset 2nd ranked Jackson Prep to earn the other finals spot. 
(Above) Anna Claire Henderson (#5) of MRA goes strong to the rim
Trista Magee would give Presbyterian an early 8-7 lead with a 3-pointer from the wing but Magee would leave the game after picking up her 2nd foul of the quarter at the 2:52 mark. The Lady Bobcats would add to their lead by hitting on 3 of 4 free throws but MRA would knot the game at 11-11 on a jumper from Haley Cox and an Anna Claire Henderson 8’ jumper at the buzzer to end the opening quarter of play.
Neither squad found the basket during a nearly four minute opening stretch of the 2nd quarter that saw each team turn the ball over on consecutive possessions. Erin Holifield’s assist to Monica Breland in the paint put Presbyterian on top 13-11 at the 4:17 mark and two Allison Dueitt free throws increased the lead to 15-11. MRA would capitalize on Presbyterian’s 5th turnover of the quarter as Haley Cox served up an assist to Marye Will Mitchell to pull MRA to within two points at 15-13 to end the half.
Presbyterian would get a basket from Erin Holifield ten seconds into the 3rd quarter to give the Lady Bobcats a 17-13 cushion but MRA caught fire both offensively and defensively. Anna Claire Henderson canned two free throws and junior Jessica Whitehead drilled two 3-pointers from the top of the key on consecutive possessions to give MRA a 21-17 lead with 6:28 remaining in the quarter. Marye Will Mitchell sank a 17’ jumper and Whitehead collected her third 3-pointer of the quarter to push the lead to 26-17 with just over four minutes left in the half. MRA completed a 15-0 run on a Mitchell 18’ jumper following a Presbyterian turnover to give MRA a 28-17 advantage. Presbyterian broke the run on Erin Holifield’s basket in the paint to close out the 3rd quarter with MRA holding a 28-19 lead.
(Above) MRA senior Caroline Kerley (#25) scored 10 pts in the win
Following a Trista Magee jumper from the baseline that started the scoring in the final quarter MRA produced a 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the afternoon at 37-21 with 3:18 remaining in regulation.
Presbyterian would pull to within thirteen points with just under two minutes remaining but MRA added three free throws in the closing seconds to take a big 44-28 semi-final win.
MRA received balanced scoring from its’ starting five. Caroline Kerley, Anna Claire Henderson, Jessica Whitehead and Marye Will Mitchell each had 10 points and Haley Cox added 4.
Presbyterian was led by Trista Magee’s 10 points, Erin Holifield added 6, Monica Breland 5, Logan Venus 4 and Allison Dueitt 3.
MRA improves to 27-8 while Presbyterian falls to 21-6.
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(Above) Anna Claire Henderson (#5) of MRA goes strong to the rimTrista Magee would give Presbyterian an early 8-7 lead with a 3-pointer from the wing but Magee would leave the game after picking up her 2nd foul of the quarter at the 2:52 mark. The Lady Bobcats would add to their lead by hitting on 3 of 4 free throws but MRA would knot the game at 11-11 on a jumper from Haley Cox and an Anna Claire Henderson 8’ jumper at the buzzer to end the opening quarter of play.
Neither squad found the basket during a nearly four minute opening stretch of the 2nd quarter that saw each team turn the ball over on consecutive possessions. Erin Holifield’s assist to Monica Breland in the paint put Presbyterian on top 13-11 at the 4:17 mark and two Allison Dueitt free throws increased the lead to 15-11. MRA would capitalize on Presbyterian’s 5th turnover of the quarter as Haley Cox served up an assist to Marye Will Mitchell to pull MRA to within two points at 15-13 to end the half.
Presbyterian would get a basket from Erin Holifield ten seconds into the 3rd quarter to give the Lady Bobcats a 17-13 cushion but MRA caught fire both offensively and defensively. Anna Claire Henderson canned two free throws and junior Jessica Whitehead drilled two 3-pointers from the top of the key on consecutive possessions to give MRA a 21-17 lead with 6:28 remaining in the quarter. Marye Will Mitchell sank a 17’ jumper and Whitehead collected her third 3-pointer of the quarter to push the lead to 26-17 with just over four minutes left in the half. MRA completed a 15-0 run on a Mitchell 18’ jumper following a Presbyterian turnover to give MRA a 28-17 advantage. Presbyterian broke the run on Erin Holifield’s basket in the paint to close out the 3rd quarter with MRA holding a 28-19 lead.
(Above) MRA senior Caroline Kerley (#25) scored 10 pts in the winFollowing a Trista Magee jumper from the baseline that started the scoring in the final quarter MRA produced a 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the afternoon at 37-21 with 3:18 remaining in regulation.
Presbyterian would pull to within thirteen points with just under two minutes remaining but MRA added three free throws in the closing seconds to take a big 44-28 semi-final win.
MRA received balanced scoring from its’ starting five. Caroline Kerley, Anna Claire Henderson, Jessica Whitehead and Marye Will Mitchell each had 10 points and Haley Cox added 4.
Presbyterian was led by Trista Magee’s 10 points, Erin Holifield added 6, Monica Breland 5, Logan Venus 4 and Allison Dueitt 3.
MRA improves to 27-8 while Presbyterian falls to 21-6.
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Post Game Comments: MRA Head Coach Stephen Force
