Bowling Green rolls past Silliman

Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas

The top ranked girls team in Class AA showed little signs of any holiday rust as the Bowling Green Lady Bucs crushed Silliman 54-17 in first round action of the Brookhaven Holiday Tournament yesterday. Junior guard Mackayla Dykes led all scorers with a game high 24 points as Bowling Green improved to 15-1 on the season and will battle undefeated Riverdale today in round two play.

(Above) Bowling Green's Mackayla Dykes led all scorers with 24 points

Bowling Green didn’t take long to flex their muscle as four different starters scored during the first four minutes of the opening quarter. Dykes drained a 3-pointer from the wing and Caroline Haik hit an 8 foot jumper from the baseline to get things going early on. Two consecutive backcourt steals from Ashley Foret and Ragen Moody resulted in lay-ins to give Bowling Green a quick 9-0 advantage.

Kaitlyn Weaver got Silliman on the board with a 17 foot jumper at the horn but the Lady Wildcats had seen Bowling Green post a 19-2 lead after one quarter of play.

Bowling Green quickly pushed the advantage to 25-2 to start the second quarter as Breanna McNeese and Ashley Foret combined for the first six points of the quarter for the Lady Bucs. Bowling Green would finish the half much the same as they started it, with a Mackayla Dykes 3-pointer, to give the top ranked Lady Bucs a commanding 30-4 halftime lead.

Melissa Crowe’s jumper from the elbow midway through the third quarter pushed the lead to 38-6 and Bowling Green ended the quarter on a Caroline Haik basket to wrap up the quarter on top 50-11.

(Above) Bowling Green's Melissa Crowe (#12) and Ashley Foret (#14) pressure Silliman's Ashley Hurst

Ashley Hurst and Addie Roberts led Silliman in the final quarter with baskets as the Lady Wildcats took a hard 54-17 loss at the hands of the top ranked team in Class AA.

Dykes led all scorers with 24 points, Caroline Haik, Melissa Crowe, Ashley Foret and Breanna McNeese all had 6 each and Ragen Moody, Lexie Volz and Kaley Creel had 2 apiece.

For Silliman Addie Roberts had 7 points, Kaitlyn Weaver 3, Kylee Dempsey, Bradleigh Brignac and Ashley Hurst each had 2 points and Sunne Pace 1.

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Riverdale remains perfect with narrow win
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas

The sixth ranked Class AA Riverdale Lady Rebels took on Class AAA foe East Rankin yesterday in first round action of the annual Brookhaven Holiday Tournament and came away with a narrow 60-55 double overtime win to remain undefeated at 15-0. Kallie Bethard had a game high 20 points to lead Riverdale to the win and a date with top ranked Bowling Green this evening.

Riverdale got out to an early 5-2 lead over the Lady Patriots in the early stages of the opening quarter but East Rankin would register an 11-2 run during a three minute span to take a 13-7 lead with 1:17 left in the quarter. Two Kristen Byrd baskets spurred the run and Karlie Coghlan’s soft floater in the lane capped the scoring to give East Rankin a six point cushion.

(Above) Riverdale's Morgan Garrett (#3) launches a 3-pointer in the second overtime period

Riverdale’s Rebekah Burleson slowed the run with a lay-in off an East Rankin turnover with 13 seconds left in the quarter but Rachel Savage’s fast break basket at the horn gave East Rankin a 15-9 lead after one quarter of play.

Riverdale answered with an 8-2 run to open the second quarter to knot things up at 17-17 behind Melissa Savell’s strong inside game but East Rankin battled back.

Karleigh Keeton hit a jumper from the elbow and then Keeton served up an assist to Kaila Knight to give ERA a 21-17 lead with 1:43 remaining in the half. Following a Kristen Byrd free throw that gave ERA a 22-17 lead both squads traded  baskets in the final 21 seconds to send the teams into the locker-room with East Rankin holding a 24-19 advantage.

Riverdale would trim the deficit to two points on three occasions during the third quarter but East Rankin fired back each time. The Lady Patriots got a critical 3-pointer from Karlie Coghlan from the top of the key with 31 seconds left in the quarter to send the game into the fourth quarter with ERA on top 33-29.

Riverdale caught fire early in the fourth quarter as Kallie Bethard converted a basket in the paint one minute into the quarter and Bethard drained a 3-pointer from the corner thirty seconds later to give Riverdale their first lead since the 4:29 mark of the opening quarter. The lead would change hands on four more occasions during the final six minutes of regulation but with the contest tied at 39-39 and 47 seconds remaining Bethard canned another 3-pointer from the corner to give the Lady Rebels a 42-39 lead.

(Above) Karlie Coghlan (#4) of East Rankin drives for a basket in the first half

East Rankin got a quick 10’ jumper from Kristen Byrd with 29 seconds left in regulation to trim the lead to 42-41. ERA quickly put Riverdale on the free throw line where Melissa Savell hit one of two free throws to make it 43-41 and 26 seconds remaining.

East Rankin got off an open shot with 10 seconds remaining but the ball hit the side rim right into the hands of Kaitlyn Busby who got around a Riverdale defender for the rebound and converted to tie things up at 43-43 with 7 seconds remaining.

Morgan Garrett’s long 3-pointer at the buzzer hit the front rim sending the contest into overtime.

East Rankin threatened to hand out Riverdale’s first defeat midway through the first overtime period as the Lady Patriots garnered a 51-47 lead after two Karleigh Keeton free throws at the 1:19 mark but Riverdale’s Morgan Garrett had other ideas. The senior canned a 3-pointer from the corner at the 1:04 mark and after ERA scored a basket in the paint to increase the lead to 53-50 Garrett hit another 3-pointer from the same spot to tie the game at 53-53 with 15 seconds remaining in the first overtime period.

(Above) Riverdale's Melissa Savell (#33) looks to drive in the second half

After an East Rankin turnover Riverdale’s shot attempt at the buzzer failed to draw rim and the contest went into the second overtime period.

Riverdale drew first blood as Kallie Bethard drained a 3-pointer from the wing 45 seconds into the period to give the Lady Rebels a 56-53 lead.

Kristen Byrd of East Rankin converted on a jump hook in the paint to trim the deficit to 56-55 with 2:41 remaining but Riverdale would close out by hitting on 4/5 free throws to take a hard fought 60-55 double overtime win.

Kallie Bethard led Riverdale with a game high 20 points, Morgan Garrett added 19, Melissa Savell 12, Rebekah Burleson 5 and Allie Brotherton 4.

For East Rankin (3-10) Kristen Byrd had 14, Karlie Coghlan 12, Kaitlyn Busby 10, Karleigh Keeton 8, Brittney Vinzant 7 and Rachel Savage and Kaila Knight 2 each.

Southern Sports & Travel 2011 Player of the Year

Simpson running back Cade Eiland

Simpson tailback Cade Eiland is the 2011 Southern Sports & Travel Player of the Year. Eiland rushed for over 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns and led Simpson to a perfect 14-0 season and the Class AA State Championship.

The senior, who has been at Simpson since the 3^rd grade, has epitomized what football is all about under head coach Billy Wayne Hankins.

“Cade is definitely one of the three or four best backs I have coached. He has a great combination of quickness and surprising power for his size. I think the thing that sets him apart from most is his vision. He has a knack for seeing the opening and when he does he goes,” said Hankins.

Eiland’s toughness was on full display last season when he suffered a torn ACL in the regular season finale against Lamar. The junior sat out the first round of the playoffs but re-entered the starting lineup in round two and recorded yet another 100 yard rushing performance despite the bad knee. “That kind of toughness is what we preach at Simpson, 99% of players would have been finished,” said Coach Billy Wayne Hankins. “Cade is very determined and always finds a way to get things done.”

Eiland had surgery to repair the torn ACL soon after the season ended but to Eiland the injury wasn’t all negative. “It was tough at first,” said Eiland, “but my getting hurt actually made me a better running back this season. I lost a little speed because of the injury but I ran the ball much harder to make up for that loss of speed. I knew I would have to break tackles and run harder to compensate.”

The improved Cade Eiland was never more obvious then when it mattered the most this season. Eiland ripped Trinity’s defense for 208 yards in a 23-7 South State championship win and in his final game Eiland punished defending state champion River Oaks for 213 yards in a 29-15 Class AA State title win.

“Although Cade wasn’t a vocal leader on the team he was a leader by example. Our other players always knew that when the lights came on Friday night they were going to get the best Cade had to give,” said Hankins.

Playing football at Simpson can be rewarding but there is always lots of pressure that comes with it. “There’s always a lot of pressure,” said Eiland. “People were predicting a state title before we had even played a scrimmage. That’s all people were talking about around town. It was the first thing people would ask us, are we going to win state?”

That kind of pressure is at times hard to manage but it comes with success. “You have got to win at Simpson,” said Eiland. "That’s how it is, we’re not going to lose. It’s a lot of pressure but we did it.”

Last season’s disappointment helped elevate Simpson’s team to another level. “We had a lot of juniors last season and after our playoff loss we all made the decision that we were not going to get beat this year. We were successful at instilling that mindset in our underclassmen and they took it and went with it.”

Most casual football fans don’t understand the physical toll inflicted on arguably the best running back in the MAIS over the course of 14 games. “On Saturdays I am beat up,” said Eiland. “It takes a few days before I’m over the bruises and beating that playing running back involves but I still love it.”

What Eiland also loves is the feeling he gets late in a football game when he can sense the defense is tiring and getting worn down. “It’s the best feeling in the world when I’m lined up in the backfield and can sense the defense is getting worn down,” said the senior. “I always look at the linebackers and I can tell who is worn out and I’m running right at them and when I break that tackle and I know I’m gone, that’s a great feeling.”  

While the state championship win over River Oaks was special it may not have been the most satisfying win for Eiland. That would be the south state win over much heralded Trinity. “We all knew Trinity was a good team but not many people thought we would beat them.”

The Trinity win was the most satisfying but the toughest this season was Simpson’s week nine 21-14 win over Class AAA MRA. “MRA was a very fast and hard hitting team and that was our toughest game this season,” said Eiland.

This past season has also been one in which a special bond existed between player and head coach. Eiland says his relationship with head coach Billy Wayne Hankins has been special. “Over the past year Coach Hankins has been a father figure to me, he has taken care of me like his own son and he always calls to make sure I’m doing the right things, grades are good and I’m staying out of trouble.”

That sentiment is the same when talking with Coach Hankins. “Usually the really great players are also quality people and that’s true with Cade. He and my son are close and to be honest he is like another son to me. Cade is a very special player but also more importantly a special individual.”

Eiland says he will be enrolling in college after graduation but he is undecided as to where. Now that his high school football days are over Eiland can focus a little more on some things he enjoys such as hunting, fishing and his friends and family.

Eiland understands how special the moment is. “I’m a senior and it felt great to win that last game. I know that 20 years down the road it’s going to mean so much to everybody because this is the biggest thing to ever happen to us.”

Eiland finished his career at Simpson with 5,725 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns.

The Latest...........
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Former Buccaneer commits to Texas Tech

Former Bowling Green Buccaneer Rashad "Shod" Fortenberry has committed to play football for Tommy Tuberville's Texas Tech Red Raiders. The 6'5", 283 lb Fortenberry has been at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and was an All-State selection in what many say is the toughest junior-college league in the country. 

Fortenberry, who lettered in football and basketball at Bowling Green, is projected to play offensive tackle for the Red Raiders.

                                                                                                              
McKenzie to miss season

Trinity senior Tip McKenzie is likely to miss the remainder of the 2011/12 basketball season due to a knee injury. McKenzie, who has signed to play football at Vanderbilt is sufferring from loose cartlidge in his knee and may require a scope.

From the Notebook………

>>Basketball is officially in full swing and already some very interested scenarios are taking shape, particularly with respect to Class AA girls. In the past several years Leake has dominated with Brookhaven not far behind but this season could be a very rare one in which five or six squads have a legitimate shot at winning a state championship. The same can be said about Class A girls basketball as some recent struggles from perennial power Delta has opened up the field of contenders to several.

>>An ongoing effort is being made to provide district standings in all three classes of basketball. Classes AAA and AA will be manageable but Class A presents a huge challenge that could result in lots of sloppy and inaccurate standings. There are far too many Class A schools that don’t know or don’t care enough to report scores to anyone, even their local paper. With no true database to track so many schools I’ve always wondered whether fudging takes place sometimes with regards to overall records. After all if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there…well you know the line!

>>Southern Sports & Travel will feature two games a week following Christmas and leading up to the busy tourney time in early February. The best possible matchups each week will be featured.

>>Two new sponsors will be added to Southern Sports & Travel soon. Without the schools and businesses who sponsor this site it would be impossible to maintain. Sponsorship and ad rates are posted on a link located on the left side of the page.

>>If there were any doubts about the rising popularity of soccer in high school athletics they can be put to rest. Here's a list of MAIS players in the college ranks:

**Johnny Saye - River Oaks- Now plays for Belhaven
**Johnathon Ray - Presbyterian - William Carey
**Dean Pace - Laurel Christian - William Carey
**Chase Bullman – Jackson  Prep - University of Alabama Birmingham
**Daniel Lang - Jackson Prep - Mississippi College
**Jarrett Albritton - River Oaks - Mississippi College
**Eljay Allen - Washington School - Delta State
**Cody Carpenter- Central Hinds - Millsaps
**Tripp Sims - Lamar - Meridian Community College
**Lee Brown - Copiah - Co-Lin CC
**McGee Ledbetter - Heritage - East Central CC
**Roy Miles - Starkville Academy - Itawamba CC
**Will Goodwin - Starkville Academy - Itawamba CC
**Peyton Smith - Magnolia Heights - Northwest CC

>>Special thanks to Robert Pace who has contributed soccer related data to Southern Sports & Travel.

>>If you have an interesting story pertaining to MAIS athletics or a photo that deserves some attention please email: aafandaman@yahoo.com

Heritage fires coach, dismisses Hollivay from team

Southern Sports & Travel

Reports are surfacing that Heritage Academy has fired head girls basketball coach Yolanda Moore. WCBI.com is reporting that Moore has been fired and that Rutgers signee Rachel Hollivay and Ashley Moore has been dismissed from the team.

Sources claim that Coach Moore and Hollivay got into a profanity laden argument during the first half of the Lady Patriot's game with MRA on Tuesday night in Columbus. Hollivay was said to have left the court and went into the dressing room and exited the gym in her street clothes with her father before halftime.

No word as of yet as to whether Hollivay is still enrolled at Heritage. The 6'4" senior was in her second season at Heritage after transferring from New Hope High.
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The Lady Patriots are coming off a 67-34 loss to MRA and are currently 2-5 on the season.

Freshmen propel Columbia to second half surge in win

Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas

The 10^th ranked Columbia Lady Cougars overcame a sluggish first half of play and erased an eleven point halftime deficit to take a 43-38 win over Silliman in Clinton, Louisiana last night. Freshmen Anna Wilks and Meredith Bass each had 11 points to pace Columbia as the Lady Cougars improved their season mark to 10-3.

With a starting five consisting of two freshmen, two sophomores and a senior the Lady Cougars looked to be showing their youth in a first half in which Silliman rolled out to a fast 6-0 lead on two buckets from Bradleigh Brignac and a fast break lay-in from senior Kylee Dempsey. Columbia didn’t notch a basket until the 4:54 mark when Sissy Price powered in a basket in the paint and Silliman would capitalized on a turnover prone Columbia squad to build a 13-4 lead after one quarter of play.

(Above) Columbia freshman Meredith Bass (#10) shoots over Silliman's Bradleigh Brignac

Silliman grabbed their biggest lead of the night as Ashley Hurst canned two free throws and Kayla Davidson hit on one of two from the stripe to give the Lady Wildcats a 16-4 lead just one minute into the second quarter but from that point on the young Lady Cougars began getting some offensive flow.

Columbia cut Silliman’s lead in half at 16-8 on two Anna Wilks free throws and Greta Carley’s basket in the paint with 6:06 remaining in the half.

Silliman pushed their lead back to eleven points at 22-11 on Kayla Davidson’s baseline drive and lay-in at the 3:34 mark but Columbia matched the Lady Wildcats point for point for the remainder of the quarter to go into halftime facing a 26-15 deficit.

Silliman threatened to blow the game open midway through the third quarter as they took a 32-19 lead on two Davidson free throws at the 3:15 mark but Columbia’s two freshmen got hot.

Meredith Bass drained a 3-pointer from the wing to cut the lead to ten at 32-22 and on their next possession Columbia’s other freshman, Anna Wilks, hit a 3-pointer from the same spot to pull the Lady Cougars to within seven points at 32-25 at the 2:26 mark. Bass then nailed a ten foot jumper and Wilks one-upped her fellow freshmen with yet another 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in the quarter to pull Columbia to within two points at 32-30 heading into the final quarter of play.

(Above) Columbia's Sissy Price (#15) pressures Kayla Davidson (#30) of Silliman

After a Wilks free throw narrowed the deficit to one point Columbia took their first  lead of the night at 33-32 on two Anna Wilks free throws with 6:17 remaining in the contest.

Silliman answered with an 18 foot jumper from Addie Roberts to put the Lady Wildcats on top 34-33 but they would see the lead no more as Columbia broke a 37 all tie on a Jacklyn Wilkes free throw with 2:42 left.

With 2:19 remaining Wilkes then served up an assist to senior Sissy Price in the paint to give Columbia a little breathing room at 40-37.

Following a Kayla Davidson free throw that cut the lead to 40-38 Columbia increased their cushion to four points at 42-38 on a Jacklyn Wilkes lay-in with 1:17 remaining in the game. Dianna Hobgood hit on one of two free throws with 8 seconds remaining to seal the deal for the 10^th ranked Lady Cougars who earned a big road win.

(Above) Silliman's Morgan Ohlinger (#15) drives in the first half

“We had some big three’s in the second half and our freshmen hit them,” said Columbia head coach Reid McCay. “With such a young team we’re going to have some ups and downs but anytime you can go into an opponent’s gym and get a win it’s a bonus.”

Anna Wilks and Meredith Bass paced Columbia with 11 points each, Sissy Price added 8, Jacklyn Wilkes 7 and Claire Herring, Dianna Hobgood and Greta Carley had 2 apiece.

The Lady Cougars will host Class AAA powerhouse Presbyterian on Saturday with district play looming.

Silliman (4-7) was led by Kayla Davidson with 13 points, Morgan Ohlinger added 7, Ashley Hurst and Addie Roberts 5 apiece and Kylee Dempsey and Bradleigh Brignac 4 each.

The Lady Wildcats will face WCCA in Woodville on Thursday.

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Silliman rolls at home behind Sones' 19 points

Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas

The Silliman Wildcats started fast and finished fast in a 62-38 home win over Columbia last night in Clinton. The Wildcats improved to 2-6 behind 6’7” center Riley Sones who had a game high 19 points on the night.

Columbia would grab their only lead of the night on a Brooks Robinson lay-in less than two minutes into the game to go up 2-0 but Silliman fired off 12 straight points as all five starters contributed in helping to build a 12-2 lead with 2:53 remaining in the opening quarter of play.

(Above) Silliman's Riley Sones (#32) had a game high 19 points

After Columbia’s Alex Price drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to halt the Silliman run the Wildcats reeled off three consecutive baskets to end the quarter with an 18-5 cushion.

Blake Dunaway’s offensive rebound and put back got Columbia to within eleven at 18-7 to start the second quarter but that would be as close as the Cougars would get the rest of the way as Silliman exploded. Wildcat junior Peyton Moody knocked down two straight 3-pointers from the wing to push the Silliman lead to 24-7 at the 4:20 mark of the second quarter. Colt Ducote followed with a backcourt steal and lay-in and Riley Sones sank a floater in the lane to cap a 10-0 run and give Silliman a 28-7 lead with 3:44 left in the half.

(Above) Colt Ducote (#11) of Silliman goes airborne

The Wildcats finished the half on a 7-0 run to take a commanding 39-12 lead into intermission. “We did some full court pressing and trapping in an effort to create an up tempo game. This is how we played last season and we’re getting back to it,” said Silliman head coach John Varnado. “We’ve had a slow start to the season and some of that is due to our murderous schedule with the likes of road games at Trinity, Brookhaven and Presbyterian but with some injuries and other matters out of the way we feel good going forward.”

Columbia managed to outscore Silliman 14-8 in the third quarter highlighted by a 7-2 run during the last 1:56 of the period but the Cougars still faced a 47-26 deficit heading into the final quarter of play.
Silliman maintained no less than a 21 point lead the entire fourth quarter en-route to the 62-38 win.

“Early on Columbia appeared to be in a diamond and one on our big guy,” said Varnado. “We have pretty good perimeter shooters and they have to make shots when we face gimmick defenses that try and shut Riley Sones down.”

(Above) JQ Austin (#2) of Silliman powers in for a basket 

Sones led Silliman with 19 points, Austin Gayle and Peyton Moody added 9 each, Colt Ducote 7, Lance Dautel 6, JQ Austin 4, Josh DeLee 3, Wesley Hoover and Thomas Miles 2 apiece and Aaron Arnoild with 1.

Next up for Silliman is a road trip Thursday night to Woodville to take on WCCA.

Alex Price led Columbia (6-7) with 16 points, Brooks Robinson added 6, Logan Cooke, Kalin McKenzie and Blake Dunaway 4 apiece, PJ Hammond, Justin Magee and Jonah Wood each had 2.

Columbia will host Presbyterian this Saturday.