WEST POINT — Tori Ellis isn’t the loudest person on the Oak Hill Academy girls basketball team.
The multi-sport standout also isn’t the most aggressive player on the squad.
But the senior guard understands the urgency or her final prep basketball season and how her teammates look to her to set the tone.
Ellis answered that call in a big way Saturday, scoring a career-high 31 points in a 63-57 overtime victory against Riverdale Academy in the consolation game of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AA North State tournament at North Delta Academy.
“Being our third game in a row, we were all tired, and I think I just kind of realized it was either step up or we’re not going to have a very good seed,” Ellis said. “I just kind of took control. I really wanted to win. I am a very competitive person. I just had to step up even though everybody was tired.”
Ellis also had 10 rebounds, three steals, and two assists to help the Lady Raiders improve their seeding for the Class AA state tournament.
For her accomplishment, Ellis is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
Oak Hill Academy (27-9) went 9-for-9 from the free-throw line in the extra session to take the No. 3 seed in the overall Class AA tournament. Oak Hill Academy will play Simpson Academy at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Kirk Academy in Grenada.
“She is smart enough to know in games like that she needs to step up and be more assertive and more aggressive, and I think that is what she was able to do Saturday,” Oak Hill Academy coach Stan Hughey said. “We do have a real team-oriented group, and we always have, and that’s the way we build our program. You want a player like that to step up when it is big and carry you, and that’s what she did.”
Hughey didn’t realize Ellis had as many points as she did. He said the team didn’t really feed off her, either, but it did capitalize on matchup advantages it had against Riverdale Academy. He said Ellis made the most of those situations and took the ball to the basket and converted 11 of 13 from the free-throw line.
“We’re always telling Tori and Shay (Atkins) about being aggressive,” Hughey said. “With her, we tell her not to be satisfied and to take it to the goal and don’t just shoot your jump shot. This team is a really good free-throw shooting team.”
Ellis said she felt more into the game Saturday, and felt she was more of a leader who helped pick her teammates up. She didn’t think that mind-set helped her scoring or her mind-set. She admitted, though, she has better games when she gets to the free-throw line.
“Most of the times, I try to tell myself I have to do t (take the ball to the basket),” Ellis said. “I think it is really a confidence thing. I don’t always take it and throw up whatever I get. If I am open, I will shoot it. If I am not, I am not going to.”
Rachel Herndon added 12 points and had a team-high 11 rebounds. Maegan Ellis and Anna Ready each had five points. Sophie Miller came off the bench to score four points and Atkins and Codi Williams each had three points. Hughey likes his team’s chances and said it has “as good a chance as anybody” to win a championship.
The winner of the Oak Hill Academy-Simpson Academy game will take on the winner of the Leake Academy-ACCS game at 1 p.m. Friday. The top three teams will advance to the all classification tournament.
Ellis knows the aggressive side of her personality will have to rise to the surface if she and the Lady Raiders want to keep their season alive. It’s something she is ready to do, especially after it came so naturally against Riverdale Academy.
“During the game, I didn’t know where it was coming from. It was just kind of coming out,” Ellis said. “I think I can find that energy. My dream is to win a state championship. This is my last chance, so we have to go get it together. I think we all have to believe in ourselves and that we can do it we all want to.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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