Starkville punches ticket to final
Southern Sports & Travel
Top ranked Starkville Academy has made come from behind wins a habit lately but unlike their previous three victories the Lady Vols took a mid first quarter lead and never relinquished it in defeating third ranked Jackson Prep 51-41 yesterday afternoon in the Overall semi-finals in Clinton, Mississippi.
Anna Lea Little scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds and Starkville used a 28-11 first half lead to propel the Lady Vols into today’s championship game with second ranked MRA.
Jackson Prep got out to a 5-3 lead in a slow starting opening quarter but Starkville’s Anna Lea Little was just getting warmed up.
The junior sank an 18 foot jumper to knot the game at 5-5 at the 3:08 mark of the quarter and converted on a inbounds play, plus one, to give Starkville their first lead at 8-5 with 2:21 left in the opening quarter.
(Above) Starkville's Anna Lea Little (#3) snatches a rebound in the first half
Tiffany Huddleston drained a 3-pointer from the wing following a Prep turnover to extend Starkville’s lead to 11-5 and Little hit a 3-pointer from the same spot to give the Lady Vols a 14-5 lead heading into the second quarter. Little scored 11 points in the quarter.
Jackson Prep pulled to within six points at 16-10 following a Keavy Noblin free throw with 5:12 remaining in the half but the Lady Vols closed the half with a flourish.
Little hit a jumper from 15 feet and Tiffany Huddleston’s 3-pointer from the corner at the 3:49 mark pushed the lead to 21-11.
Huddleston cashed in on a Prep turnover as the junior hit another 3-pointer from the same spot with 2:28 left and Anna Lea Little hit her third 3-pointer of the half at the 53 seconds mark to give Starkville their biggest lead at 28-11 as the first half closed.
Starkville looked primed to finish Jackson Prep early in the third quarter as Nora Carroll converted on a transition bucket just over a minute in to give the Lady Vols a 30-11 cushion but Jackson Prep answered.
Three consecutive baskets from Prep senior Laurel Bane cut the Starkville lead to 30-17 at the 4:58 mark but the Lady Patriots weren’t done yet.
Keavy Noblin drained a 3-pointer from the corner and Evans Horsley capped the 11-0 run with a driving lay-in at the 3:57 mark to pull Prep to within eight points at 30-22.
(Above) April Burney (#15) of Starkville defends Sara Bolen (#33) of Jackson Prep
Noblin’s baseline drive and basket would close the quarter with Starkville holding a 34-26 lead.
Starkville pushed their lead back out to ten points at 43-33 on Anna Lea Little’s assist to Julianne Jackson with 4:07 remaining in the contest but Jackson Prep had one last run in them.
Sara Bolen went baseline and scored and Evans Horsley pulled down an offensive rebound and converted to cut the Starkville lead to 43-37 with 1:49 left in regulation.
Two Nora Carroll free throws gave Starkville some breathing room at 45-37 but Prep answered right back with a Laurel Bane jumper from the elbow with 1:26 left.
Starkville would seal the deal by hitting on 6/6 free throws the final minute to secure a spot in today’s championship final with a 51-41 win over Jackson Prep.
Starkville was led by junior Anna Lea Little with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists, Sallie Kate Richardson added 14, Tiffany Huddleston 12, Nora Carroll 5 and Julianne Jackson 2.
Laurel Bane led Jackson Prep (29-11) with a game high 19 points, Sara Bolen added 8, Keavy Noblin 7, Evans Horsley 4 and Ann Hilton Buckner 3.
.Post Game with Starkville head coach Glenn Schmidt
