Travis inks with Mississippi Delta

Austin Travis of Brookhaven Academy has signed with Mississippi Delta Community College to play baseball.

Seated left to right: Chris Travis (dad), Austin Travis, June Travis (mom)

Standing left to right: Casey Edwards (Brookhaven baseball coach, Michael Avalon (Ms Delta Comm College)

Dixon signs with Arkansas State

Abbey Dixon  of West Memphis has signed with Arkansas State University to run track.

Above: (Mom) Pam Dixon, Abbey Dixon , (Dad) Cord Dixon

Standing: Personal coach Jay Mathis, (Sister) Allison Dixon

From the notebook...........

>>It would be hard to argue that this isn’t the busiest time of the year for those who cover and follow MAIS athletics. With the four week post season basketball tournament stretch, the start of baseball and the boys soccer championships taking place it can be overwhelming. With that being said, web traffic to Southern Sports & Travel has increased 150% compared to this time last year and with the huge spike in viewership comes the opportunity to make improvements to Southern Sports & Travel.

>>Technology has been an important ingredient in obtaining the necessary growth to maintain Southern Sports & Travel. Twitter and Facebook have been critical in reaching new visitors and connecting to MAIS followers who otherwise would not have known about the website.

Another sign of the advancement of technology is the increase in portable devices that are used to visit the website. While most traffic is originated from a home or business nearly 25% comes from IPhones, Androids, iPads or other mobile devices.

>>Southern Sports & Travel will provide full coverage of the Overall semi-finals and finals games on Friday and Saturday. Twenty seven games have been covered and written about over the past eleven days.

>>It's noteworthy to mention that the Class AA boys and girls finals on Saturday included coaches with a combined 34 state championship wins. Leake's Doyle Wolverton (15), Marshall's Craig Dailey (11) and Brookhaven's Dale Watts (8).

>>I would be remiss if I didn’t give a big “Shout Out” to Kirk Academy for the tremendous job they did in hosting last week’s Class AA State Tournament. Kirk Academy not only did a fantastic job in hosting the tournament, they also did a great job in showcasing their beautifully renovated gymnasium.

>>I had the opportunity to visit the Class A State Tournament at Delta Academy in Marks, Mississippi last Thursday. It was my first visit to Delta and it took no more than ten seconds once I entered their facility to appreciate the history and atmosphere. On top of that, the place was packed!

>>Soon after basketball is done time will be spent uploading tons of game photos to the Southern Sports & Travel Facebook page.

>>A big “Thank You” to a new Southern Sports & Travel sponsor, The Bank of Holly Springs.

>>Please continue to send in signing photos of MAIS players who will be furthering their athletic endeavors at the next level. All of the photos shown on Southern Sports & Travel are sent directly to me and while I occasionally hear from a coach about a particular player who has or is signing sometimes I never receive a signing photo.

Tri-County tops second ranked Glenbrook to win state

Tri-County Academy
2011-12 Class A State Champions

Starkville Lady Vols, State Champions

Southern Sports & Travel

The Starkville Academy Lady Vols won the school’s very first state championship in girls basketball on Saturday afternoon in Pelahatchie, Mississippi but the two day stretch of basketball that it took to achieve that milestone will be one to remember.

In Starkville’s semi-final matchup with perennial power Jackson Academy on Friday the Lady Vols found themselves down by 14 points with just 4:09 remaining in regulation but put on a furious rally to force the game into overtime where they held Jackson Academy scoreless and won 34-30.

In Saturday’s Class AAA state championship game with then top ranked MRA the Lady Vols found themselves in a similar situation. Down by ten points as the third quarter was winding down Starkville produced a 20-4 run that extended into the fourth quarter and propelled them to a 47-35 win.

“Two of the best come from behind wins I’ve seen in my 35 years of coaching,” said Starkville head coach Glenn Schmidt, who is in her ninth season at Starkville.

“We had a big 3-point shot in the fourth quarter of the Jackson Academy game that was critical and our girls did a great job of applying pressure defensively,” said Schmidt. “The two wins were a result of a combination of things. Our guards provided a big spark in the MRA win and our post play was very good.”

Also critical in the title game with MRA was Starkville’s effectiveness at the free throw line. The Lady Vols hit 19/22 at the line and Starkville also won the battle in another important area, rebounding.

Starkville (34-5) will enter this week’s Overall Tournament as the top seed in Class AAA and will meet the number two seed from Class AA, Bowling Green, on Wednesday at 3:00.

“Bowling Green is playing this week, so that tells me a lot about them,” said Schmidt. “They’ve played tough competition and are well rounded and a good defensive team.”
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Photos courtesy of Jim Lytle

Cook signs with Mississippi Delta

Tyler Cook, a senior pitcher for the Marshall Academy Patriots, signed a baseball scholarship Thursday, Feb. 16, with Mississippi Delta Community College.

Pictured at the ceremony in the school library are (seated) Tyler Cook with father Tim Cook (right) and Ashley Cook; and mother Missy Bray (left) and Elton Bray, along with his little brother, Tanner; and (standing, from left) his grandmother, Bettie Williams; Delta assistant coach Patrick Taylor; MA head coach Bart Jenkins; Delta assistant coach Jake Mills; and his grandmother, Helen Cook. Classmates and fellow Marshall athletes were also on hand for the scholarship signing. Cook will join MA teammates Elgin Lafever and Evan Hickman on the Trojans’ squad next season. They signed with Mississippi Delta on February 3.

Marshall defends title, tops Brookhaven

Southern Sports & Travel

The Marshall Patriots have held down the number one spot in the Southern Sports & Travel Class AA rankings the entire year and last night they proved worthy of that top billing as they successfully defended their title by downing second ranked Brookhaven 64-50 before a packed Kirk Academy gymnasium.

The win last night is the school’s fourth state championship in boys basketball and head coach Craig Dailey’s eleventh overall.

Brad Bennett and Dakota Dailey combined for 34 points and Marshall produced an 18-7 third quarter to propel the Patriots to their second straight Class AA State Championship.

(Above) Marshall freshman Dakota Dailey (#12) drives to the basket in the first half

Brookhaven wasted no time in racing out to a 6-0 lead to start the contest as Brennan Miller canned two free throws and converted in the paint and Zac Smith went baseline to give the Cougars an early advantage with less than two minutes gone in the quarter.

Marshall made themselves known on a Peyton Lewis baseline basket at the 5:37 mark and the Patriots would draw even with Brookhaven at 10-10 on a Chase Ferrell driving lay-in with 2:07 left in the opening quarter.

Marshall grabbed their first lead of the game at 14-12 on Brad Bennett’s fast break bucket as time expired in the quarter.

A Kevin Fitzpatrick steal and basket extended Marshall’s lead to 16-12 fifteen seconds into the second quarter and the Patriots got a driving baseline lay-in from Aaron McAlexander to take their biggest lead at 18-12 with 7:10 remaining in the half.

Brookhaven then erupted firing off an 11-2 run. Brock Smith’s floater in the lane capped the run and gave the Cougars a 23-20 edge with 2:39 left in the second quarter.

That would ultimately be Brookhaven’s last lead of the game as Marshall began imposing their will on both ends of the court.

Peyton Lewis tied the game at 23-23 with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Brad Bennett followed with a 3-pointer from the wing to give Marshall the lead at 26-23 at the 1:37 mark.

With Marshall holding a 28-25 lead Brookhaven would get a huge basket to end the half as Matthew Evans drove the lane and scored at the buzzer to pull the Cougars to within one point at 28-27.

While Brookhaven didn’t regain the lead the Cougars stayed within striking distance and with nearly four minutes gone in the third quarter Marshall was clinging to a 35-32 lead but the Patriots closed strong.

(Above) Marshall's Peyton Lewis (#22) and Brad Bennett (#4) have Brookhaven's Brock Smith  contained

Peyton Lewis drained another 3-pointer and following a Brookhaven turnover Brad Bennett hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Patriots their biggest lead at 41-32 with 2:19 left in the quarter.

Two Dakota Dailey free throws pushed the Marshall lead to 43-32 and after Brookhaven’s Gage Posey scored a basket off an inbounds play the Patriots went up by twelve points at 46-34 to end the third quarter as Bennett drilled another 3-pointer.

Brookhaven trimmed the deficit to seven points at 47-40 on a Matthew Evans assist to Brock Smith with 6:19 remaining in regulation but the Cougars could get no closer.

With 3:50 remaining and Marshall holding on to a 50-42 lead the Patriots would outscore Brookhaven 14-8 en-route to a 64-50 final.

Junior Brad Bennett and freshman Dakota Dailey each had 17 points to lead Marshall. Kevin Fitzpatrick added 9, Peyton Lewis 8, Aaron McAlexander 7 and Chase Ferrell 6.

Brookhaven (32-4) was led by senior Brock Smith with 14 points, Gage Posey added 10, Matthew Evans, Bubba Keene and Brennan Miller all had 8 each and Zac Smith 2.

Marshall (36-3) will be paired up with Class A opponent West Memphis on Tuesday at 4:00 in Overall Tournament play while Brookhaven will tackle Class AAA Champion Jackson Prep Wednesday at 7:00.

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Post Game with Marshall head coach Craig Dailey

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Leake wins seventh straight title 

Southern Sports & Travel

Winning a state championship is a tough task to accomplish. Defending a state championship is equally tough. Winning seven straight championships had never been done in the forty two years of MAIS state tournament competition, until now.

The top ranked Leake Rebelettes held back second ranked Bowling Green 52-44 to win the school’s seventh consecutive state championship before a thunderous throng of Leake supporters yesterday in Grenada, Mississippi.

Hannah Peoples and Mary Grace Key combined for 30 points and Leake dominated the boards as they improved to 38-2 on the season heading into next week’s Overall Tournament where the Rebelettes will take on Class A #3 seed Hebron.

Yesterday’s championship game had all the makings of a donnybrook through the first quarter of play.

(Above) Leake's Chloe Thaggard (#15) pulls down an offensive rebound in the 1st half

After Leake had built an early 6-2 lead two minutes into the contest Bowling Green began hitting some baskets.

A Mackayla Dykes 3-pointer from the wing at the 4:31 mark got the Lady Bucs to within a point at 8-7 and another Dykes 3-pointer with 1:08 left in the quarter knotted the game up at 14-14.

Leake would finish off the quarter on a Mary Grace Key offensive rebound and put back and a 3-pointer from the wing from Hannah Peoples with 22 seconds remaining to give the Rebelettes a 19-14 lead heading into the second quarter.

Peoples hit on one of two free throws to start the second quarter and the junior guard made Bowling Green pay off a turnover with another 3-pointer to give Leake their biggest lead at 23-14 with 6:33 remaining in the half.

After Bowling Green’s Caroline Haik sank one of two free throws Leake reeled off another six points to cap a 15-3 run and take a 29-17 lead at the halfway point.

Bowling Green came out strong in the first three minutes of the third quarter and pulled to within six points at 32-26 on a Reagan Moody 3-pointer from the wing with 4:58 left in the quarter but Leake’s defense starting wearing on Bowling Green.

(Above) Hannah Peoples (#5) of Leake drives to the basket in the second quarter

Chloe Thaggard went glass from the post position to extend the Leake lead back to eight points at 34-26 and the Rebelettes jumped back to a 38-26 advantage on an Anna Kay Nowell free throw and a Mary Grace Key 3-pointer from the corner at the 2:40 mark of the quarter.

Leake finished off a 9-0 run on a Hannah Peoples driving basket, plus one, to extend their lead to 41-26 with 1:44 left in the third quarter.

Bowling Green closed out the quarter on a BreAnna McNeese basket and two Caroline Haik free throws to get the Lady Bucs to within eleven points at 41-30.

Bowling Green appeared to have taken a momentum surge midway through the fourth quarter as the Lady Bucs got a fast break basket from Melissa Crowe to get to within eight points at 44-36 with 4:31 left in regulation but sophomore Mary Grace Key closed the door with a big 3-pointer from the corner to push Leake’s lead back to eleven points at 47-36.

Bowling Green would have no answer for the Leake spread offense down the stretch as junior guard Anna Kat Nowell did what she has done the entire post season, put on a ball handling clinic.

Fellow junior guard Hannah Peoples led all scorers with 18 points, Mary Grace Key added 12, Chloe Thaggard 8 and Anna Kat Nowell and Hannah Moore 7 each.

Bowling Green was led by freshman Reagan Moody with 12 points, Mackayla Dykes had 11, Caroline Haik 9, Ashley Foret 6, Melissa Crowe 4 and BreAnna McNeese 2.

Leake will take on Hebron Tuesday at 2:45 in Overall Tournament play while Bowling Green (34-3) will battle Class AAA Champion Starkville Wednesday at 3:00.
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.Post Game with Leake head coach Doyle Wolverton

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Mt. Salus dethrones Delta to win state

The Mt. Salus Lady Eagles defeated defending state champion Delta 52-48 to win the Class A State Championship.

Front left: Genuine Byrd, Deepali Bajaj, Amia Green, Jena Bishop, Christine Davis, Smile Kaur

Back left: Coach Joe Smith, Coach Robert Davis, Kapish Cheema, Allie Sandifer, Anna Grace Govero, Sh'Keithia Evans, Michaela Harper, Alex Latham, and Head Coach Rod Morris.

Leake gunning for number seven

Southern Sports & Travel

The number one ranked Leake Rebelettes broke open a 28-28 second half tie with a 15-4 run to defeat third ranked Simpson 62-46 and advance to today’s Class AA State Championship game.

Leake will be aiming for their seventh consecutive state championship, something no other MAIS school has ever done.

Sophomore Chloe Thaggard scored a game high 20 points to led Leake into today’s final against second ranked Bowling Green.

Simpson got the start they had hoped for in taking an early 5-3 lead on a Brittany Gardner basket in the paint with two minutes gone in the first quarter.

With Simpson holding on to a slim 9-8 lead Leake cashed in on a Lady Cougar turnover when Hannah Peoples hit a 17 foot jumper from the wing with three seconds remaining to give the Rebelettes a 10-9 lead heading into the second quarter.

Leake made Simpson pay for another turnover as Chloe Thaggard went glass from the post to give the Rebelettes a 12-9 lead nearly three minutes into the quarter but Simpson went head to head with the defending champs and grabbed a 19-18 lead on a Callie Martin baseline basket with 1:09 left in the half.

(Above) Leake's Chloe Thaggard (#15) launches a jumper

Leake’s domination on the boards kept the cold shooting Rebelettes in the game and a Chloe Thaggard offensive rebound and put back with 29 seconds sent the lead back in Leake’s direction at 20-19 heading into intermission.

Simpson came out in the early stages of the third quarter and played their best basketball of the afternoon.

Kasey McWilliams hit a 3-pointer fifteen seconds into the third quarter to give Simpson a 22-20 lead and after Hannah Peoples knotted the game up at 22-22 on a lay-in Simpson took their biggest lead of the game at 26-22 following an Abby Dunston fast break bucket and two Brittany Garner free throws.

That four point swing seemed to provide a wake up call for the defending champions.

Leake reeled off a 19-3 run over the next six minutes and forced six Simpson turnovers to take a 41-29 lead.

Auguste Knight’s 3-pointer with seven seconds left in the quarter closed out the scoring as Leake had built a 41-32 lead with one quarter left to play.

Simpson remained within ten points during the first three minutes of the fourth quarter but the Lady Cougars couldn’t shake the turnover bug and Leake was more than willing to capitalize on it.

(Above) Hannah Peoples (#5) of Leake gets resistance from Simpson's Brittany Gardner (#34)

Leake took their biggest lead of the game at 55-50 on Anna Kat Nowell’s driving lay-in with 2:01 remaining and finished off the game with a Mary Grace Key bucket to take a 62-46 win.

Chloe Thaggard led Leake with 20 points, Mary Grace Key added 16, Hannah Peoples 15 and Anna Kat Nowell 11.

Simpson was led by Auguste Knight with 11, Brittany Gardner added 10, Lauren Griffin and Kasey McWilliams had 7 each, Abby Dunston 5, Hallie Stubbs 4 and Callie Martin 2.

Leake improves to 37-2 while Simpson slips to 27-10.

Simpson will play Brookhaven this afternoon at 1:00 in the consolation matchup.

The winner of that game advances to next week’s Overall Tournament.

Bowling Green earns shot at Leake

Southern Sports & Travel

Bowling Green and Brookhaven are quite familiar with one other. The two have battled on the hardwood five times this season leading up to yesterday’s Class AA semi-final meeting in what would be the most important between the two.

The sixth meeting between second ranked Bowling Green and fourth ranked Brookhaven would be for the opportunity to play for a state championship, something Brookhaven does frequently and a feat Bowling Green hasn’t attempted since 1991.

After eight lead changes and six ties Bowling Green would get two critical baskets from juniors Mackayla Dykes and Caroline Haik in the final 1:19 to take a hard fought 35-32 win to advance to today’s championship game.

Bowling Green got out to a strong start against Brookhaven. Mackayla Dyke’s assist to Melissa Crowe on a fast break bucket gave the Lady Bucs a 6-3 lead at the 5:43 mark of the opening quarter.

Brookhaven would battle back to knot the game at 9-9 on a Carey Crozier post move with 3:20 remaining.

(Above) Bowling Green's Reagan Moody (#13) attempts a shot in the closing minutes of the first half

The Lady Cougars took their first lead of the afternoon at 12-11 on a Madison Warren 3-pointer from the corner and after yielding the lead back to Bowling Green Carey Crozier notched a bucket with 3 seconds left to send Brookhaven into the second quarter holding a 14-13 edge.

Points came at a premium in the second quarter as Bowling Green hit two free throws and Brookhaven one and each squad hit only one shot from the field in a low scoring and physical quarter of play.

Terah Winborne’s 15 foot jumper at the 5:24 mark gave Brookhaven a 17-15 lead and the only other basket came less than a minute later as Mackayla Dykes went strong to the basket and scored to tie the contest at 17-17 midway through the quarter and the score would remain the same as the half came to a close.

Bowling Green quickly grabbed the lead at 19-17 as Melissa Crowe converted in the paint and after the teams swapped turnovers Bowling Green increased their lead to 21-17 on a Caroline Haik 10 foot baseline jumper at the 4:52 mark.

With Bowling Green maintaining a three point lead at 25-22 and 2:15 remaining in the quarter Brookhaven pulled even on a Terah Winborne assist to Laura Beth Wright, plus one.

Carey Crozier’s free throw gave the Lady Cougars a 26-25 lead with 9 seconds remaining but Bowling Green eighth grader Ashley Foret navigated her way through the Brookhaven defense to score a bucket as time expired in the quarter to put the Lady Bucs on top 27-26.

Brookhaven took just fifteen seconds to regain the lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Mary Jordan’s offensive rebound and put back gave the Lady Cougars a 28-27 lead which would be their last of the contest.

Reagan Moody drilled a 3-pointer from the corner to put Bowling Green back on top at 30-28 at the 7:22 mark.

(Above) Brookhaven's Carey Crozier (#24) attempts at shot with one minute left in the game

Laura Beth Wright sank a jumper from the elbow to tie the game for the sixth time at 30-30 with 3:13 remaining in regulation.

Brookhaven was unable to capitalize on a Bowling Green turnover at the 2:34 mark and it proved costly as Mackayla Dykes pulled down a rebound and drove the length of the court for a lay-in to give the Lady Bucs a 32-30 edge with 1:19 to play.

Carey Crozier would convert one of two free throws with 59 seconds remaining to trim the Bowling Green lead to 32-31.

Following a timeout Bowling Green converted on the biggest basket of the game as Ashley Foret served up an assist to Caroline Haik in the paint with 29 seconds left to extend the lead to 34-31.

Brookhaven came out of a timeout and missed on a 3-point attempt.

Both squads hit on one of two free throws in the last 7 seconds as Bowling Green held on to a 35-32 win.

Bowling Green (34-2) was led by Caroline Haik with a game high 12 points, Reagan Moody added 8, Melissa Crowe 6, Mackayla Dykes 5, Ashley Foret 3 and Lexi Volz 1.

Brookhaven (31-6) was led by Laura Beth Wright with 10 points, Carey Crozier 9, Madison Warren had 8, Terah Winborne 3 and Mary Jordan 2.

Bowling Green will face six time defending champion Leake this afternoon at 2:15 while Brookhaven will battle Simpson at 1:00.

Marshall to defend title

Southern Sports & Travel

The Marshall Patriots will get the opportunity to defend their Class AA title tonight after defeating third ranked Central Private 63-55 in the first game of the boys semi-finals at Kirk Academy in Grenada, Mississippi last night.

Peyton Lewis and Dakota Dailey each scored 17 points and Marshall overcame a three point deficit heading into the fourth to advance to their second consecutive state championship game.

The first three minutes was dominated by turnovers and what appeared to be the pressure of the moment but once Marshall’s Peyton Lewis scored on an offensive rebound and put back it was on.

With 3:47 left in the opening quarter and the game tied at 4-4 Marshall looked to separate as Peyton Lewis went glass and Dakota Dailey drained a 3-pointer from the wing to give the Patriots a 9-4 lead. After a Dailey free throw on a technical foul Central Private finished the quarter strong.

(Above) Peyton Lewis (#22) of Marshall had 17 points on the night

Lance Wicker would convert on a basket, plus one, and Simpson Anderson hit a long 3-pointer at the horn to pull the rebels to within two points at 12-10.

Central Private took the lead for the first time at 13-12 on a Simpson Anderson 3–pointer from the top of the key thirty seconds into the second quarter but Marshall fired right back with a Peyton Lewis bucket in the paint to reclaim the lead at 14-13 with 6:37 left in the half.

An Alex Overs driving lay-in, plus one, at the 6:28 mark would give Central Private a 16-14 lead and one they wouldn’t relinquish the remainder of the half.

Overs canned two free throws with less than one minute left in the half to close out the scoring with Central Private holding a 24-21 lead.

After Marshall’s Peyton Lewis hit an 8 footer in the lane to pull the Patriots to within one point at 24-23 to start the third quarter Central Private extended their lead to 29-23 on a Simpson Anderson 3-pointer and an Alex Overs basket.

Central Private maintained the lead throughout the first six minutes of the quarter but with the Rebels on top at 35-32 with 2:12 left the Patriots pulled even on a deep 3-pointer from the wing from Marshall freshman Dakota Dailey.

(Above) Marshall's Aaron McAlexander (#10) gets an easy bucket in the first half

Central Private once again closed the quarter with a critical basket. This time it was Luke Fryoux who would nail a 3-pointer at the horn to give the Rebels a 38-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Marshall caught fire in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.

Dakota Dailey went hard to the rim and scored to pull Marshall to within one point at 38-37 and Peyton Lewis drilled a 3-pointer from the wing at the 6:41 mark to give the Patriots a 40-38 lead.

Marshall capitalized on back to back Central Private turnovers to extend their lead to seven points at 51-44 with less than three minutes left in regulation.
Central Private answered with a Simpson Anderson 3-pointer and a Syrshawn Fitch fast break basket at the 2:03 mark to get back to within two points at 54-52 but Marshall  would go 7/7 at the free throw line down the stretch to hold on and take a 63-55 win.

Peyton Lewis and Dakota Dailey each had 17 points to lead Marshall (35-3). Kevin Fitzpatrick added 13, Aaron McAlexander 7, Brad Bennett 5 and Chase Ferrell 4.

Simpson Anderson led Central Private (28-7) with 16 points, Lance Wicker and Alex Overs each had 12, Piers Carroll 6, Syrshawn Fitch 4, Luke Fryoux 3 and Mitch Van Asten 2.

Brookhaven back in finals

Southern Sports & Travel

The Brookhaven Cougars were absent from the Class AA title game last season and saw their string of six consecutive state championships snapped but after a convincing 46-25 semi-final win over Bowling Green last night the Cougars will once again vie for a state crown.

Senior Brock Smith scored 20 points and sophomore Gage Posey added 12 as second ranked Brookhaven improved to 32-3 and will battle top ranked and defending champion Marshall tomorrow night at 7:15.

Brookhaven wasted little time in getting up on Bowling Green rapidly.

Gage Posey hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Brennan Miller canned one from the same spot to give Brookhaven a 6-0 lead with just over two minutes gone in the opening quarter.

Bowling Green’s Jerrel Mark got the Bucs on the board with an offensive rebound and put back at the 5:06 mark but Brennan Miller hit his second 3-pointer to increase the lead to 9-2.

Brookhaven closed the quarter on a Brock Smith 8 footer off the glass to give the Cougars a 13-6 edge.

(Above) Brock Smith (#3) of Brookhaven led all scorers with 20 points.

Brookhaven outscored Bowling Green 9-0 in the second quarter to take their biggest lead at 22-6. Bowling Green wouldn’t register a basket in the quarter until Patrick Roublow converted a lay-in, plus one, with 49 seconds left in the half.

With Brookhaven holding a thirteen point advantage at 26-13 midway through the third quarter the Cougars ran off eight straight points to take a commanding 34-13 lead with 1:19 left in the quarter.

Bowling Green would get a 3-pointer from Austin Knight and a Patrick Roublow basket to close the quarter down 34-18.

Brookhaven all but sealed the win in the first minute of the fourth quarter as Brock Smith and Matthew Evans converted on fast break opportunities to take a twenty point lead at 38-18.

Brookhaven grabbed their biggest lead of the night at 44-22 on Brennan Miller’s transition bucket with 5:22 remaining.

Brookhaven was led by Brock Smith with a game high 20 points, Gage Posey added 12, Brennan Miller 8, Matthew Evans 4 and Bubba Keene 2.

Bowling Green (23-13) was led by Patrick Roublow with 9 points, Mac McElveen had 6, Jarrel Mark 4, Austin Knight 3, Sawyer Jenkins 2 and Caleb Fruge 1.

Bowling Green will take on Central Private in the consolation game today at 6:00.

Claiborne eliminates Porter's Chapel

Southern Sports & Travel

The Claiborne Rebels used a 9-2 opening third quarter run and got 26 points from 6’2” sophomore Calvin McKinney to upset third ranked Porter’s Chapel 62-60 yesterday in round two action at the Class A State Tournament in Marks, Mississippi.

Claiborne advances to today’s semi-finals where they will face second ranked Glenbrook this evening at 6:00.

With the exception of a 14-14 first quarter tie Porter’s Chapel controlled the entire first half and held a 31-26 advantage with 2:15 remaining in the second quarter but Claiborne’s Calvin McKinney was just getting warmed up.

The sophomore drained a critical 3-pointer from the wing to trim the deficit to two points at 31-29 to close out the scoring in the first half.

Claiborne came out of intermission on fire.

David Lewis drilled a 3-pointer from the wing thirty seconds into the third quarter to give Claiborne their first lead at 32-31 and Kyle Acklin hit a baseline jumper to put the Rebels up 34-31.

(Above) Claiborne's Al Laghari (#3) and Talbot Buys (#34) of PCA fight for a rebound

Lewis extended the Rebel run with a driving lay-in at the 6:00 mark and Calvin McKinney converted a Porter’s Chapel turnover into a transition basket to give the Rebels a 38-33 lead with 4:19 remaining in the quarter.

Porter’s Chapel roared back with seven straight points and reclaimed the lead at 40-38 on Alton Burden’s floater off the glass at the 1:29 mark.

Back came Claiborne with a backdoor bucket from Taylor Tuggle and a 3-pointer from David Lewis to put Claiborne on top 43-40 but PJ Lassiter brought the Porter’s Chapel faithful to their feet with a long 3-pointer at the horn to knot the game at 43-43 to close out the third quarter.

The first four minutes of the fourth quarter would produce two ties and four lead changes but at the 3:51 mark Claiborne would take the lead at 52-50 on a Kyle Acklin offensive rebound and put back, plus one.

Acklin’s basket was followed by Calvin McKinney’s driving basket, plus one, at the 2:54 mark to give Claiborne their biggest lead of the game at 55-50.

McKinney drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:12 remaining in regulation to again extend Claiborne’s lead to five points at 60-55 and force a Porter’s Chapel timeout.

(Above) Claiborne's David Lewis (#1) in a pinch

Porter’s Chapel came out of the timeout and got two Taylor Rushing free throws at the 1:12 mark and the Eagles cut the Claiborne lead to one point at 60-59 on a steal and lay-in from Ted Brisco with 54 seconds left.

Claiborne looked to Calvin McKinney to preserve the lead and the sophomore did just that as he converted on a driving lay-in to give the Rebels a 62-59 lead with 21 seconds remaining.

Porter’s Chapel got to the free throw line with 11 seconds left and hit on the second of two free throws to narrow the deficit to 62-60 and junior Ted Brisco stole the Claiborne in-bounds pass and immediately called timeout with 10 seconds remaining and Porter’s Chapel with possession and a chance to tie or win the game but the Eagles two shot attempts were unsuccessful during a wild final 10 seconds.

“Porter’s Chapel is a tremendous team,” said Claiborne head coach Wade Heigle.

“We had a hard time matching up against them because they are Class AAA athletic and each time we thought we had them they would hit a shot.”

“I was proud of Calvin McKinney today, he carried us offensively.”

McKinney led Claiborne (19-9) with a game high 26 points, David Lewis added 15, Kyle Acklin 9 and Al Laghari and Taylor Tuggle 6 each.

Porter’s Chapel (26-5) was led by Ted Brisco with 20 points, Kawayne Gaston added 17, PJ Lassiter 13, Alton Burden and Talbot Buys 4 each and Pete Harris 2.

Black Knights hammer Generals

Southern Sports & Travel

Top ranked West Memphis may have looked a bit sluggish at times but the Black Knights did what was necessary in getting a 60-30 win over tenth ranked Newton last night at the Class A State Tournament being held at Delta Academy in Marks, Mississippi.

Russ Fitzgerald and Grant Campbell combined for 30 points as West Memphis improved to 30-4 and will take on fourth ranked Tri-County tonight at 7:15 in semi-final action.

“We had a poor shooting night but we won tonight with defense,” said West Memphis head coach Jeff Dalton.

“I told the guys before the game to just find a way to advance. I’m hopeful we can come out tonight and be effective on both ends of the floor. We are excited for the opportunity.”

West Memphis looked sharp in the early going.

After Newton grabbed an early 3-2 lead the Black Knights produced a 13-2 run fueled by juniors Grant Campbell and Russ Fitzgerald to take a 15-5 advantage with 1:35 remaining in the opening quarter of play.

Newton’s lone highlight of the first quarter came on a spectacular slam dunk from Tre’ Collins with just over three minutes left.

(Above) Russ Fitzgerald (#22) of West Memphis works for 2 of his 17 points

Newton pulled to within six points at 15-9 on a Tre’ Collins free throw followed by Nick Pennington’s 3-pointer from the corner with 1:01 left but the Generals were over matched and would get no closer.

West Memphis pummeled Newton with a 16-3 run to start the second quarter and take their biggest lead at 33-12 with eleven seconds remaining in the half.

Newton’s Nick Pennington drilled a 3-pointer at the horn as both teams headed into the locker room with West Memphis holding a 33-15 lead.

West Memphis extended their lead to 43-20 on a Russ Fitzgerald basket in the paint, plus one, with 2:29 left in the third quarter.

The Black Knights finished the third quarter with two Jordan Blann buckets to increase the lead to 47-23 after three quarters of play.

West Memphis was led by Russ Fitzgerald with 17 points, Grant Campbell added 13, Jordan Blann 10, Zach Jones 8, David Lewis 5, Taylor Turnage 3 and Eric Giersch and Zane DeVazier with 2 each.

Newton (17-11) was led by Tre’ Collins with 10 points, Tanner Smith , Stephen Armstrong and Nick Pennington 6 each, and Dillon Williams, Clay Upton and Nate Johnson 1 apiece.

Delta outmuscles Lamar Christian

Southern Sports & Travel

Two time defending state champion Delta Academy has advanced to a familiar spot once again as the second ranked Lady Raiders overpowered Lamar Christian 59-27 behind Morgan Shook’s 35 points to advance to today's semi-finals..

Delta (34-9) jumped all over the Lady Lions in the early going as Morgan Shook accounted for 18 of Delta’s 23 first quarter points and the Lady Raider pressure defense forced five Lamar Christian turnovers in the first five minutes of the contest.

Lamar Christian managed to cut the deficit to thirteen points at 28-15 with two minutes left in the half but Delta’s Emma Haynes drained a 3-pointer from the corner to round out the scoring in the first half of play with Delta holding a 31-15 lead.

(Above) Delta's Morgan Shook (#20) finds room to drive in the second quarter

Delta ripped an 11-0 run to start the third quarter as Emma Haynes drilled two consecutive 3-pointers and Morgan Shook hit three free throws and converted on a transition basket to give the Lady Raiders their biggest lead at 42-15 three minutes into the quarter.

The defending champs then outscored Lamar Christian 8-4 to close out the third quarter with a commanding 50-19 lead en-route to a 59-27 win.

Shook led all scorers with 35 points for Delta, Emma Haynes added 15, Kendall Gurley had 4, Brandi Doss 3 and Emily Jamison 2.

Jessica Hobson led Lamar Christian (19-8) with 13 points, Madison Jones, Ashley Hopson and Madison Mault each had 4 and Rachel Engle 2.

Delta will take on third ranked Tri-County today at 2:15.

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Post Game with Delta head coach Barry Finnie

Mt. Salus advances with win over Marvell
Southern Sports & Travel

Anna Grace Govero and Michaela Harper each scored 14 points to lead sixth ranked Mt. Salus to a 57-41 win over Marvell in round two action from Delta Academy in Marks, Mississippi on Thursday.

Mt. Salus improves to 21-5 and advances to the semi-finals where they’ll face fifth ranked Hebron today at 1:00.

Mt. Salus also got 8 points from Allie Sandifer and Christine Davis, Jena Bishop added 7 and Sh’Keithea Evans 6.

Taylor Wilkison led Marvell (18-25) with 13 points, Caroline Gibbons added 9, Celia Bonner and Taylor Miller 8 apiece and Tate Lawson 3.

Hebron sends top ranked Claiborne home

Southern Sports & Travel

Hebron shocked top ranked Claiborne 37-33 behind the play of 6’3” senior Tori Nichols who scored a game high 18 points and recorded blocked ten shots.

The Lady Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 start before Claiborne converted a basket with four minutes gone in the quarter.

Hebron took a 12-8 lead into the second quarter and Tori Nichols went to work. Nichols scored an easy basket in the paint to start the second quarter and then blocked a shot on the other end, recovered the ball and took it the length of the court for a lay-in at the 6:03 mark of the quarter to give the Lady Eagles a 16-8 advantage.

Nichols then sank and 8 footer from the baseline to push the lead to 18-8.

Hebron would take a 21-12 lead into halftime before stunned Claiborne supporters.

(Above) Hebron's Tori Nichols (#34) records one of her ten blocks in the game

Claiborne managed to trim the deficit to seven points at 31-24 heading into the final quarter of play and the Lady Rebels starting chipping away at the Hebron lead.

Hannah Colvin’s 3-pointer from the wing got Claiborne to within four points at 33-29 with 4:46 left in regulation and Kameron Simpson followed with two free throws to make it a one possession game at 33-31 but Hebron would hit on 4 of 6 free throws down the stretch to preserve a 37-33 upset win to advance to their first ever state semi-final.

“This is the farthest our school has ever gone,” said Hebron head coach William Cotton.

“Our girls played the defense we needed to play and our girls did well at the free throw line,” said Cotton.

Nichols led Hebron (24-10) with 18 points, Alaina Hill added 10 and Subrina Oswalt, Beverly Blake and Ruth Foster each had 3 points.

Claiborne (24-3) was led by Kameron Simpson with 13 points, Ragan Beard added 7, Chele Atkins 6, Hannah Colvin 5 and Chelcy Swint 2.

Top ranked Marshall narrowly escapes upset

Southern Sports & Travel

They’ve been atop the Class AA rankings all season long but the defending state champion Marshall Patriots were ever so close to seeing their season end last night in the Class AA State Tournament in Grenada.

Marshall needed all they could muster to hold off fifth ranked Trinity and take a narrow 47-44 win to advance to the semi-finals where they will face third ranked Central Private on Friday at 6:00.

Freshman point guard Dakota Dailey scored 12 points and senior Kevin Fitzpatrick added 11 as the Patriots improved to 34-3 on the season.

Marshall looked sharp in getting out to an 8-0 lead four minutes into the game.

Trinity wouldn’t get on the board until a Sky Logan basket at the 4:43 mark of the opening quarter and the Saints didn’t appear able to match up with the top ranked Patriots.

Marshall finished the opening quarter much as they started it, with a run. A  9-2 run enabled the Patriots to close the quarter on top 17-5 and with a ton of momentum.

(Above) Marshall's Aaron McAlexnader (#10) draws contact on a drive to the basket

That momentum was quickly drained as Trinity reeled off a 9-3 run sparked by consecutive offensive rebounds and put backs from junior Tanner Cage to get the Saints back into the game at 20-14 during the first two minutes of the second quarter.

Trinity pulled to within four points at 22-18 on a Trae McKenzie basket with 2:10 left in the half.

Marshall closed out an error prone second quarter by both teams with a slim 24-20 lead.

Trinity erupted in the third quarter. Trae McKenzie opened up with a basket to pull the Saints to within two points at 24-22 and after Marshall got a Peyton Lewis jump hook in the paint to move the lead back out to four at 26-22 Trinity popped off six straight points to take their first lead of the night at 28-26 with 5:06 remaining in the third quarter.

Trinity grabbed their biggest lead at 30-27 on a Jake Winston lay-in at the 3:38 mark but Marshall got a huge 3-point bucket from Kevin Fitzpatrick to knot the contest at 30-30.

The Patriots retook the lead at 32-30 on Brad Bennett’s fast break basket and a Dakota Dailey drive to the rim pushed the Marshall lead to 34-30 with 2:09 left in the quarter.

Marshall finished off a 9-0 run on Randy Love’s basket off an inbounds pass to extend the lead to 36-30.

Trinity stayed within striking distance at 39-34 to end the quarter.

(Above) Kevin Fitzpatrick (#1) of Marshall powers up for a shot attempt in the first half

The Saints managed to get to within three points at 43-40 on a Trae McKenzie bucket with just over four minutes left in regulation but Marshall looked to have the matter at hand as they got two Dakota Dailey free throws at the 2:01 mark to increase their lead to 45-40.

After Marshall missed the front end of a one and one Trinity’s Tanner Cage drained two free throws to cut the deficit to 45-42 with 43 seconds remaining and the Saints again got to within three points following Tip McKenzie’s lay-in with 33 seconds left.

Trinity got another shot at pulling even with Marshall after the Patriots turned the ball over with 17 seconds remaining in the game but a Tip McKenzie 3-point attempt fell short and Marshall held on to earn a tough 47-44 win.

Marshall was led by Dakota Dailey with 12 points, Kevin Fitzpatrick added 11, Peyton Lewis 7, Chase Ferrell and Brad Bennett 5 each, Aaron McAlexander 4, Randy Love 2 and Matt Rappa 1.

Tanner Cage led Trinity (23-12) with 12 points, Trae McKenzie added 10, Tip McKenzie and Jake Winston 8 each and Sky Logan 6.
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Simpson advances to take on Leake

Southern Sports & Travel

The third ranked Simpson Lady Cougars jumped out to a quick 16-2 lead over sixth ranked Oak Hill last night in Class AA State Tournament play in Grenada but had to stave off several Lady Raider runs to eventually take a 54-37 win.

Simpson junior Brittany Gardner led all scorers with 18 points as the Lady Cougars improved to 27-9 and advance to battle six time defending state champion Leake on Friday at 1:00.

Simpson looked to put Oak Hill away early as the Lady Cougars had a dominating first quarter of play.

After Oak Hill’s Shay Atkins tied the game at 2-2 four Simpson players contributed to a 14-0 run that propelled the Lady Cougars to a 16-2 lead with 3:09 left in the opening quarter but Oak Hill started forcing Simpson turnovers and the Lady Raiders began showing signs of life.

(Above) Auguste Knight (#24) of Simpson drives on Oak Hill's Anna Ready (#22)

Oak Hill closed the first quarter with a Maegan Ellis bucket in the paint and two Tori Ellis free throws to grab some much needed momentum down 18-8.

After two Brittany Gardner free throws pushed the Simpson lead to 20-8 to start the second quarter Oak Hill cashed in on Simpson turnovers.

A 13-0 run capped by two Maegan Ellis free throws gave Oak Hill their first lead of the game at 21-20 with 12 seconds remaining in the first half of play but the Lady Raiders wouldn’t enjoy their only lead of the night very long as Abby Dunston canned two free throws to close out the half with Simpson clinging to a 22-21 lead.

Simpson pushed their lead back to three points at 24-21 on an Auguste Knight drive and lay-in at the 6:40 mark of the third quarter but Oak Hill would pull to within two points on two occasions during the first two minutes of the quarter, the last on a Tori Ellis jumper from the elbow that made it 26-24 with 5:48 left.

Simpson then fired off eight straight points. Auguste Knight cashed in on a driving basket followed by a Brittany Gardner offensive rebound and put back at the 4:04 mark to stretch the lead to 30-24.

(Above) Simpson's Abby Dunston (#14) looks to feed the ball to Brittany Gardner (#34)

Gardner nailed two free throws and Lauren Griffin served up an assist to Gardner as Simpson stretched back to a ten point lead at 34-24 with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

Anna Ready drained a 3-pointer from the wing to close the quarter and pull Oak Hill to a single digit deficit at 34-27 with one quarter left to play.

Oak Hill would get to within six points of Simpson at 36-30 on an Anna Ready 18 foot jumper at the 6:41 mark of the fourth quarter but the Lady Raiders would get no closer.

Simpson closed out the remaining six minutes with a huge 18-7 run to take a 54-37 win to advance to the semi-finals.

Simpson was led by Brittany Gardner with 18 points, Lauren Griffin added 10, Auguste Knight and Abby Dunston 9 each and Hallie Stubbs and Kasey McWilliams had 4 apiece.

Oak Hill (27-10) was led by Tori Ellis with 16 points, Maegan Ellis and Anna Ready 8 each, Shay Atkins 4 and Susan Mitchell 1.

.Post Game with Simpson head coach Dave Granville

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Buccaneers reach semi-finals with win over Canton

Southern Sports & Travel

Bowling Green punched their ticket to the Class AA State Tournament semi-finals with a 59-54 win over Canton last night in Grenada. Jerrel Mark had a game high 23 points to lead the fourth ranked Buccaneers to their fourth Class AA State semi-final appearance in the past five years.

Canton would get off to a strong start as the Panthers built an 8-4 lead following a Christopher Reed 3-pointer from the wing with three minutes gone in the opening quarter of play but Bowling Green reeled off a 12-4 run fueled by the inside play of Jerrel Mark and timely 3-point shooting from juniors Mac McElveen and Grant Ball to finish of the quarter with a 16-12 lead.

(Above) Bowling Green's Jerrel Mark (#44) pulls down an offensive rebound

Canton would regain the lead at 23-22 at the 5:19 mark of the second quarter on a Nathan Simpson offensive rebound and put back but Bowling Green once again finished the quarter strong.

Patrick Roublow served up an assist to Jerrel Mark to give Bowling Green the lead at 24-23 and Grant Ball extended the lead to 27-23 with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:52 remaining in the first half of play.

Bowling Green went up 29-23 on Mac McElveen’s driving lay-in with 44 seconds left and McElveen hit one of two free throws with just under four seconds left in the quarter to send the Buccaneers into intermission holding a 30-23 advantage.

Bowling Green wasted little time in gaining their biggest lead of the night as Keith Paul Dufrene’s steal and lay-in extended the margin to 32-23 fifteen seconds into the second half.

(Above) Grant Ball (#3) of Bowling Green nailed five 3-pointers on the night

Jerrel Mark’s basket in the paint at the 4:47 mark gave Bowling Green a healthy lead at 40-30 but Canton exploded with a 12-0 run as the Panthers capitalized on Bowling Green turnovers to take a 42-40 lead with 2:06 left in the third quarter and the lead would change hands three more times before a Mac McElveen basket, plus one, ended the quarter giving Bowling Green a slim 47-46 lead.

McElveen’s 18 foot jumper gave Bowling Green a three point advantage at 49-46 to start the final quarter but Canton’s Christopher Reed proved to be a handful as the senior kept the Panthers close.

Reed’s 17 foot jumper at the 6:07 mark knotted the contest up at 51-51 and the Panthers would grab the lead at 52-51 on a Kraft McLean free throw with 5:45 remaining in regulation but that would be the last lead for Canton.

Bowling Green’s big man, Jerrel Mark, served up an assist to McElveen in the paint to put the Bucs up for good at 53-52 with 5:30 left.

Keith Paul Dufrene then found Mark under the basket at the 3:35 mark to extend the Bowling Green lead to 55-52.

(Above) Canton's Christopher Reed (#32) scored 22 points

Christopher Reed’s bucket at close range would pull Canton back to within one point at 55-54 with 1:37 remaining but Bowling Green iced the matchup with a Mac McElveen driving basket and a Patrick Roublow fast break lay-in off a long rebound with 16 seconds left in regulation to take a 59-54 win.

Bowling Green was led by Jerrel Mark with 23 points, Mac McElveen added 17, Grant Ball 15 (five 3-pointers) and Patrick Roublow and Keith Paul Dufrene 2 apiece.

Canton (17-13) got 22 points from Christopher Reed, Kraft McLean added 13, Nelson Chisholm 10, Nathan Simpson 4, Taylor Case and Garrick Jackson 2 each and Calvin Brown 1.

Bowling Green will take on second ranked Brookhaven Friday at 7:15.

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