There’s something different about a good old-fashioned rivalry.
That’s why the Heritage Academy boys basketball team’s 78-49 victory against division rival Starkville Academy on Monday was special for the seniors.
“They really stepped up tonight,” Heritage Academy coach Gary Harris said of his seniors. “I told them this was probably going to be the last chance they would have to play against Starkville Academy. With this being a close rivalry, that meant a lot, and they took it to heart.”
Though Senior Night isn’t until Friday against Magnolia Heights, Monday proved to be just as big for several upperclassmen. Hunter Sykes had 15 of his 24 points from 3-point range. The Patriots finished with eye-popping numbers from 3-point range, as Sykes had five of the Patriots’ nine 3-pointers.
“He was definitely the key to the game,” Starkville Academy coach Bruce Allsup said. “He just kept us broke down all night and then shot the ball extremely well. I think he really makes that team go, and we couldn’t figure out whether to guard or try to stop him. Tonight we couldn’t do either one.”
Walker Brown (16 points) also was the driving force on defense. His play helped Heritage Academy outscore Starkville Academy in the second half.
“We knew we had to get off to a quick start,” Brown said. “We came out firing in the first quarter and got off to a fast start. We kept rebounding, blocking out, and getting steals and points in transition. Everything basically just went our way tonight.”
For the Patriots, the victory signaled a redemption of sorts following losses to the Volunteers in football this past season and in basketball earlier this season. After losing to non-conference rival Oak Hill Academy a couple of weeks ago, the win was another part of the team’s turnaround.
“We had a heart-to-heart with our seniors after that game,” Harris said. “I told them we just were not getting it done and we had to hold each other accountable. To their credit, they have really taken that to heart and have really started leading more. I think they understand what they have to do to lead this team and the guys are responding.”
Harris also believes Heritage Academy is peaking at the right time, and for seniors like Sykes, every win means just a little bit more as the season winds down.
“It’s big for us,” Sykes said. “It’s one of our few wins this season, and we definitely had to get one under our belt before Senior Night on Friday.”
With the win, Heritage improves to 5-16 and 3-10 in district play. Starkville is 7-15 and 5-8.
Girls
Starkville Academy 49, Heritage Academy 46
Bonner Hughes seemed to be everywhere for the Lady Volunteers in the second half of their comeback win.
That’s because she was.
“She’s been touted to be a really good player,” Starkville Academy coach Glenn Schmidt said. “She’s a versatile player, and her game doesn’t really get going until she does some things defensively, and her defensive effort in the second half really stood out.”
Hughes led the team with 12 points and became a driving force on both ends of the court. She also had a critical 3-pointer from the corner as time expired in the third quarter. The shot cut Heritage Academy’s lead down to three.
“We were able to force some turnovers and make some big shots,” Schmidt said. “That shot at the end of the quarter was huge, but we also began to get some rebounds and make free throws at the end. Things just gradually began to go our way.”
Heritage Academy led for most of the game and held an 11-point edge in the second quarter. However, Bonner and Sarah Pellum, who had 11 points, proved to be too much to overcome in the fourth quarter.
“Both of those players have great young talent,” Heritage Academy coach Shane Edwards said. “Starkville has a bright future ahead of them, and that’s really good hard talent they have. We tried to man up and deny them the ball, but they just kept coming right at us. They’re a good little duo.”
The Lady Volunteers’ defense also was a big factor in the second half. Starkville Academy limited Heritage Academy’s scoring opportunities in the paint and sent the Lady Patriots to the free-throw line only twice in the half.
“We played really good defense,” Hughes said. “We had to press them further up the court and we had to put more pressure on the ball. That helped us to eventually get things going on offense as well.”
For Schmidt, the win showed signs of things to come in the near future.
“I really hope their play tonight carries over into the next couple of years,” Schmidt said. “To be down like that and not give up and not quit is a great lesson for them to learn.”
With the win, Starkville Academy improves to 9-19 and 4-9 in conference play.
n Patrician Academy (G) 36, Pickens Academy 30: Anna Cockrell had 11 points, but the Lady Pirates lost their non-area game to fall to 16-4.
Kacy Noland had six points and seven steals for the Lady Pirates.
In the boys game, Pickens Academy beat Patrician Academy 69-33. Lance Acker had 17 points to help the Pirates improve to 10-10.
Hunter Wilber had 13 points, Jordan Davidson had 11 points and eight steals, Joseph McGlawn had 10 points, and Mason Elmore had nine points and seven assists.
The Pickens Academy boys will play at 4:15 p.m. Thursday against Wilcox Academy in the region tournament at Meridian Community College. The Pickens Academy girls will play at 2 p.m. Friday in the region tournament.
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