After dropping a key boys division game last week to Canton Academy, Oak Hill Academy basketball coach Brian Middleton knew that his team needed another boost.
A non-division rivalry game Tuesday at Heritage Academy provided that lift, as Oak Hill Academy earned a 46-41 victory.
“It was a little frustrating,” Middleton said. “We didn’t have a good practice yesterday. But we were able to come out tonight, we battled, and we got the win over a tough Heritage team in front of a great road crowd and a great atmosphere.”
The teams spent the majority of the first quarter trading baskets. Oak Hill Academy (9-7) led by three points at three times in the opening period, but Heritage Academy trailed only 16-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Oak Hill Academy stayed hot in the second quarter, as Chance Wilson opened the period with a 3-pointer. Senior Riley Pierce followed with two free throws to give the Raiders their largest lead, 21-12. However, the Patriots cut into the deficit again, as senior Walker Brown drained back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 21-20.
Oak Hill Academy closed the half on a 7-2 run to take a 28-22 halftime lead.
Heritage Academy (3-13) used a 7-0 run to start the third quarter and take its first lead, 29-28, on a layup by Hayden Peel. But Oak Hill Academy answered and seized the lead by the end of the third quarter and held on.
“Heritage is close by and we have a lot of friends here,” Pierce said, “so I wouldn’t say it’s a hate-filled rivalry. It feels more like a friendly match, but we always want to beat each other, and it’s a great feeling being able to get the win.”
Pierce led the Raiders with 14 points, while Chance Wilson had 11. Wilson hit two 3-pointers, which were the only treys Oak Hill Academy made.
Brown led the Patriots with 14 points.
“(Brian) has done a great job with his team,” Heritage Academy coach Gary Harris said. “Both of these teams were wanting to beat each other so bad, and I don’t fault my guys’ effort tonight. I think the effort was there, but the difference was free throw shooting. They made free throws and we didn’t. We also had chances to go to the rim and get points and stop the clock, but instead we tried to hit threes and they didn’t go down.”
Girls
Oak Hill Academy 43,
Heritage Academy 26
It was a special day for Sydney Holton.
The junior celebrated her birthday in a big way and helped Oak Hill Academy defeat Heritage Academy. Holton (eight points) was her team’s second-leading scorer.
“We need her to do that every night,” Middleton said. “She was in the paint a lot tonight, and sometimes she would miss. (But) it was creative, and she’s so good at creating plays when she’s ready to roll.”
Both offenses struggled to find points in the first quarter, as Oak Hill Academy led 2-1 almost four minutes in. Both teams were tied at 7-7 late in the quarter before the Lady Raiders used an 8-0 run to take a 15-7 lead at the end of the period.
Leading 26-14 at halftime, Oak Hill Academy (17-6) scored the first 10 points of the third quarter. Junior Sarah Dill fueled the surge with seven of the team’s 11 points in the quarter.
“She’s pretty much the heart of this team,” Middleton said. “That’s not to say she’s our whole team, but every team has one player that plays hard each and every night. She’s a good all-around player, and she’s explosive.”
After being held to one point in the third, the Lady Patriots scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, but Oak Hill Academy pulled away.
“We’re trying to develop the attitude of fighting all four quarters, no matter what the score,” Heritage Academy coach Shane Edwards said. “We start executing a little better in the fourth, and the team does play hard, but it’s a matter of being able to execute for all four quarters.”
Dill led all scorers with 17 points. Harli Sesser led Heritage Academy (2-14) with 12.
As for Holton, helping her team earn the win might just be one of the most memorable moments of her special day.
“I loved coming out and helping our team get the win,” Holton said. “It was definitely a great birthday present.”
n Columbus High School basketball teams split against Itawamba AHS: The Columbus High School boys basketball team defeated Itawamba Agricultural High 59-27 on Tuesday night.
Demetrice Clopton had 15 points and Robert Woodard added 12 for the Falcons (12-4).
“We played close to a complete game,” Columbus coach Sammy Smith said. “We made a lineup change to try and kick-start some guys that had gotten off to slow starts. We need a complete game Friday (against Starkville).”
In the girls game, Itawamba AHS defeated Columbus 62-44. Kayla Rogers had 22 points to lead the Lady Falcons.
Columbus will play host to Starkville on Friday in a doubleheader that will start with the girls game at 6 p.m.
n New Hope High School basketball teams split against Saltillo: Demyis Mayberry had 21 points Tuesday night to lead the New Hope High School boys basketball team to an 82-71 victory against Saltillo.
Shemar Johnson added 17 points, while Terryonte Thomas had 15, Darius Williams had 11, Toddy Jennings had eight. Jaylon Bardley had eight points, and Willie Ousley had four.
In the girls game, Kennedi Stephens had 21 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, but New Hope lost to Saltillo 51-48 in overtime.
Lanoria Abrams had 11 points, five rebounds, and four steals, and Janae Topps had seven points and four steals.
n In other action, the West Point High boys beat Louisville 93-59. The West Point High girls edged Louisville 60-57.
n Starkville Academy girls basketball team loses: Adrienne Futral had 19 points, five rebounds, and nine steals Tuesday night, but the Starkville Academy girls basketball team lost to Hillcrest Christian 38-29.
Sarah Morgan Pellum and Bonner Hughes had four points for the Lady Volunteers.
The Hillcrest Christian boys defeated Starkville Academy 59-47.
n Pickens Academy basketball teams split: The Pickens Academy girls basketball team defeated Restoration Academy 58-3 on Tuesday night.
Anna Cockrell had 22 points and four rebounds to help the Lady Pirates improve to 11-3 and 2-0 in the area. Kacy Noland had nine points and four rebounds, while Taylor Hickman and Olivia Lewis had eight points.
The Restoration Academy boys defeated Pickens Academy 73-38. Justin Barton had 10 points and three rebounds for the Pirates (6-8, 0-2).
Lance Acker had seven points and nine rebounds, while Mason Elmore had six points.
Pickens Academy will play host to Marengo Academy on Thursday.
Soccer
n Caledonia High School soccer teams sweep Itawamba AHS: At Caledonia, the Caledonia High School girls and boys soccer teams earned victories against Itawamba Agricultural High on Tuesday night.
The Caledonia girls earned a 3-0 victory to improve to 8-6-1 and 4-1 in the division, while the Caledonia boys earned a 2-1 victory.
Beau Nichols and James Longmire scored goals in the second half to lift the Confederates (11-1-1, 5-0 district) to a victory that helped them clinch first place in the district and a home playoff game on Jan. 27.
“We played really good,” said Caledonia High coach Mark Box, whose team was playing without starters Chandler Lester, Will Jones, Cole Gullette, and McKeller Fishel. “I was pleased with the effort. All of the guys should be back and ready to go Friday.”
Emily Brewer scored three goals and Hope Burton added two assists for the Lady Confederates.
“The girls have done a fantastic job of fighting through adversity,” Caledonia coach Jason Forrester said. “We have had injuries and illness hit us pretty hard, but they don’t use that as an excuse. We are fortunate to have the depth that we have that allows us to plug someone in the game and not have any drop off in production. Friday will be a tough game, but that’s to be expected when you play a quality opponent for a championship. They are not supposed to be easy.”
Brewer’s hat trick gives her a team-high 13 goals this season, while Burton leads the team with 11 assists.
Alex Burns made six saves for the shutout.
Caledonia will play host to Amory on Friday in a doubleheader that will start at 5 p.m. The girls match will be for the division title.
n On Saturday, Caledonia tied Pontotoc 1-1 and Senatobia 1-1. Brewer scored off an assist from Burton against Pontotoc. Burns had 12 saves. Against Senatobia, Burton scored the goal off an assist from Kelsey Wade. Burns had three saves.
n MSMS soccer teams sweep Louisville: At Louisville, the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science soccer teams swept Louisville on Tuesday in Class 1A-2A-3A, Region 3 matches.
In the opening match, the MSMS girls won 6-0. Junior Gillian Sayre scored four goals, and senior Katie Shy and junior Sasha Edwards each had a goal. Seniors Anna Rachel Breeland, Flannery Voges-Haupt, and India Yarborough had assists.
“We had a complete team effort tonight,” said MSMS girls coach Chuck Yarborough, whose team improved to 7-2 and 3-2 in the region. “It was not only exciting to see Gillian have such a fantastic night. It was also awesome to see this relatively inexperienced team execute what we’ve worked on all season.”
In the nightcap, the MSMS boys won 3-0. Senior Matthew Sarpong and juniors Boris Ragula and Kobe Van Someren each scored goals.
“It was a big-time win tonight,” said MSMS boys coach Dylan Mims, whose team improved to 5-3 and 2-3. “We had great leadership all over the field and that led to good possession and great goals. We needed three goals to stay alive in the district race, and we got them.
“Sarpong’s goal gave us the 3-0 win we had to have to keep playoff hopes alive. We also played outstanding defense on our end of the pitch, and we had a great showing from goalkeeper Johnny Lin, with five saves.”
Both teams will play Thursday against Choctaw Central.
n Columbus Christian boys earn second victory: Zach Wright made three saves in the shootout and Chris Webber, Reed Williams, and Jack Baker had penalty kicks Monday to lift the Columbus Christian Academy boys soccer team past Indianola Academy 3-2 in the shootout. The teams were tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation.
Aaron Meek scored on a penalty kick with about one minute remaining in regulation after Webber was fouled.
The win was the second in as many matches for the Rams, who are in their first season. The team has had two other matches postponed due to the weather.
Columbus Christian will play today at Manchester Academy.
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