MRA heading for state championship game once again

Southern Sports & Travel

The Madison-Ridgeland Academy Lady Patriots punched their ticket to today’s Class AAA State Championship game with a hard fought 59-53 win over fifth ranked East Rankin. With the win the second ranked team in Class AAA improved their season mark to 29-8 and most conclude the Lady Patriots were one of the hottest teams heading into this week’s tournament being held at Jackson Academy.

In MRA’s win one of the best players in the MAIS was on full display as versatile sophomore Amber Landing scored 20 points and altered dozens of shots in the paint.

Landing had little effect on East Rankin in the first quarter in yesterday’s Class AAA semi-final contest as ERA would jump out to an early 5-2 lead following a Karlie Coghlan 3-pointer from the corner.

MRA would never grab the lead in the first eight minutes of play as East Rankin was successful from the perimeter and with 1:12 left in the quarter Kendal Walsh’s 18 foot jumper gave ERA a 9-7 lead.

Amber Landing wouldn’t get her first basket until the sophomore canned an 8 foot jumper in the paint to knot the game at 9-9 to wrap up the first quarter of play.

East Rankin came out on fire in the second quarter.

Karlie Coghlan would hit on one of two free throws to give East Rankin a 10-9 edge but MRA would take their first lead of the game at the 6:31 mark as Carmen Carter served up an assist to Amber Landing in the paint to give the Lady Patriots an 11-10 lead.

East Rankin then jumped out to an 18-13 lead as they went on an 8-2 run fueled by Karlie Coghlan who was responsible for six of those points.

East Rankin’s lead would be erased quickly as MRA produced a run of their own to close out the first half.

Consecutive baskets from Lauren Sheriff in the paint pulled the Lady Patriots to within a point at 18-17 with 2:29 left in the quarter.

After East Rankin’s Annabeth Bowman sank a 17 jumper to extend the lead back to three points at 20-17 MRA exploded.

Amber Landing hit from 15 feet out and Landing pulled down an offensive rebound and scored following an East Rankin turnover to give MRA a 21-20 lead with 1:12 left in the half.

With 34 seconds remaining Landing hit all bottom from 17 feet out and Mackenzie Johnson’s lay-in at the buzzer following an East Rankin turnover gave MRA a 25-20 lead and capped a 12-2 run to finish out the first half.

MRA took their biggest lead at 27-20 on a Tori Hines driving lay-in to start the third quarter but East Rankin wouldn’t go away.

With MRA holding a 35-28 lead Karlie Coghlan drained a 3-pointer and capitalized on an MRA turnover by sinking a 17 foot jumper to pull East Rankin to within two points at 35-33 with 1:27 left in the third quarter.

MRA would hold on to a three point advantage at 38-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

Early fourth quarter turnovers would haunt East Rankin and MRA made them pay.

Laura Beth Reeves hit a 3-pointer from the corner off an ERA turnover to start the quarter and a Carmen Carter steal and lay-in pushed the MRA lead out to 43-35 less than one minute in.

Carter would give MRA their biggest lead at 45-35 with an offensive rebound and put back at the 6:12 mark but East Rankin fired back as Katelyn Keeton hit a 3-pointer and Annabeth Bowman’s basket in the paint trimmed the deficit to 45-40 with 4:23 left in regulation.

East Rankin would get no closer the rest of the way.

Amber Landing converted from close range and two Tavyn Lovitt free throws pushed the lead back to nine points at 49-40 with just over two minutes remaining.

MRA would hit on 12/14 free throws in the remaining two minutes to seal up a 59-53 win and advance to today’s Class AAA State Championship game against top ranked and undefeated Starkville.

MRA was led by Amber Landing with 20 points, Mackenzie Johnson and Carmen Carter added 11 each, Lauren Sheriff  and Tavyn Lovitt had 6 apiece, Laura Beth Reeves 3 and Tori Hines 2.

East Rankin (25-14) was led by Karlie Coghlan with a game high 25 points, Kendal Walsh added 10, Taylor Rhodes 6, Katelyn Keeton 5, Annabeth Bowman 4 and Jordan Graves 3.

East Rankin will take on Presbyterian in today’s consolation game with the winner advancing to next week’s Overall Tournament.

Post Game with MRA Head Coach Stephen Force