Prep girls roundup: FHS dismisses 2 players; NHS gets win

Published 12:02 am Saturday, January 31, 2015

LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — Leading scorers Jada Griggs and Kesia Mason were dismissed from the Ferriday High School basketball team, which led to the Lady Trojans falling 61-27 to General Trass on the road.

Ferriday head coach Lisa Abron declined to comment on the game and the situation that resulted in junior Griggs’ and freshman Mason’s departure.

General Trass jumped out to a huge lead in the first, outscoring Ferriday 15-2. While the Lady Trojans held their own in the second quarter, the Lady Panthers took over again in the third, outscoring Ferriday 19-3.

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Anasia Turner was the leading scorer for the Lady Trojans with eight points, while Shaniqua Hillard and Trenace Morgan added six each.

General Trass had only four players score in the contest, with three in double digits.

Next up for Ferriday is a trip to Winnfield Tuesday.

Jefferson County 67, Wesson 49

WESSON — Kailyn Hammett scored 24 points and Diamond Smith grabbed 15 rebounds and recorded six blocks as the Jefferson County Lady Tigers rolled past the Wesson Lady Cobras 67-49.

The game was tight after the first quarter with Wesson leading 12-11, but Jefferson County took off in the second and third quarters to ultimately secure the win.

“Our strength is our defense,” Jefferson County head coach Flora McKnight said. “If we play great defense, offense will come. That is what happened in the second quarter.”

Although she only scored six points, Smith was a force in the paint blocking six shots.

“Diamond can rebound and block shots, but she can also give you that outlet pass,” McKnight said. “I don’t expect her to score big every night, but she can rebound and change shots. That is what you want.”

Natchez High 63, Brookhaven 37

NATCHEZ — Despite what Natchez High head coach Alphaka Moore called a slow start, the Natchez High Lady Bulldogs kept their winning ways going with a 63-37 victory against Brookhaven.

“We got off to a slow start, but we were able to pull it together after halftime,” Moore said. “Ernesha Chatman and Skylar Morgan did well defensively, and their play fueled us.”

Chatman finished with 14 points and Morgan was close behind with 12. Taylor Argue also posted 12 points for the Lady Bulldogs.

Despite being on a winning streak, Moore said her team is doing what they always do — take things one game at a time.

“A true test of whether we are going to pick up momentum will come in the first round of playoffs,” Moore said. “I always look for things to improve. I definitely think we have what it takes to do well, but we do have things to work on.”

Trinity Episcopal 56, Tallulah Academy 41

NATCHEZ — The Trinity Episcopal Day School Lady Saints improved to 6-0 in district play Friday with a 56-41 win against Tallulah Academy at home.

D’Asia Mitchell paced the Lady Saints offense with 17 points, while Dionna Jackson added 12 points and 12 rebounds and Jasmine Ivory posted 12 points as well.

“They did an excellent job,” Trinity head coach Fay Minor said. “We wanted to start the game upbeat and get everybody moving, and we were really quick on our feet.”

Trinity jumped out to a 17-8 lead after the first quarter, and didn’t look back from there, cruising the rest of the way.

Sloane Young caught the eye of Minor with 10 points, after going through what Minor called some small struggles.

“Our shooting was good and we got some good points out of Sloane,” she said. “She was on (Friday).”

Next up for Trinity is a clash Tuesday with WCCA.

Pelahatchie 62, Cathedral 23

PELAHATCHIE — After taking down Madison St. Joseph earlier in the week, Cathedral head coach Randy Smith said he and his team wanted to give Pelahatchie a good game.

The Lady Wave were able to do that for a half, but couldn’t overcome a big third quarter for the Lady Chiefs, and fell 62-23.

“We played a pretty good first half,” Smith said. “Then, the other team played so well.”

Cathedral trailed by 13 heading into the half, but a 27-5 third quarter from Pelahatchie put the game away.

“They’re very talented and very athletic,” Smith said. “Give them all the credit. In the first half, we broke their press and scored some points. In the second half, we were unable to break their press.”

Mackenzie Watts led Cathedral with eight points and teammate Grayson Bryant added five.

Brittney Thompson led Pelahatchie with 20 points.

“They’re not one of the top teams in the state for nothing,” Smith said. “They are the top team in our district.”

With the loss, Cathedral falls to 9-6 overall and sits at 4-3 in district play.

Avoyelles Charter 45, Monterey 36

MONTEREY — Despite getting 13 points from Tiffany Weeks, the Monterey Lady Wells came up short at home Friday night in their second district game of the year, losing 45-36 to Avoyelles Charter.

“I thought we played probably as hard as we ever did,” Monterey head coach Cary Shively said. “We played really hard tonight, but the ball just didn’t fall.”

Despite being 0-2 in district play, Shively said he and his team aren’t hitting the panic button at all.

“We just have to show up and go play,” he said. “We can get on a roll and go 4-2, I believe that.”

The game was tight all the way through, but Shively said free throw shooting from Avoyelles Charter is what set them up for the win.