STARKVILLE — In his second game since returning from a back injury, Moak Griffin scored 10 points in the second half, including five in the final two minutes, to give the Heritage Academy boys basketball team a 60-57 victory against Starkville Academy.
After Griffin hit three free throws to give the Patriots (13-3, 3-1 Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA, District 2) the lead with less than two minutes left, Starkville Academy made two quick layups to re-take the lead. But Griffin rebounded his missed shot on the next offensive possession and scored what proved to be the game-winner with 20 seconds left.
The Volunteers (9-9, 3-1) then missed a 3-pointer and Dalton Ford grabbed the rebound before being fouled and hitting two free throws to account for the final margin. Starkville Academy’s Carter Roach missed a final 3-pointer.
Heritage Academy coach Russ Whiteside said he couldn’t be more proud of how well Griffin played. He said he is excited for what Griffin can add the rest of the season.
“He came back Monday night against Columbus Christian Academy) and played a little bit and then gave us some good minutes tonight without much practice time,” Whiteside said. “We are so glad to have him back. He gives us a big spark with his athleticism and the quickness he has. It’s great to have him back.”
The victory was crucial for Heritage Academy (13-3, 3-1), which lost to Starkville Academy 60-45 last week in Columbus.
Starkville Academy took the early lead thanks to a 3-pointers by Reid Stevens (22 points, seven rebounds, two steals) and a free throw. Dontae Gray and Josh Neal both hit 3-pointers to keep the Patriots within four points at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was back and forth, with neither team scoring much and not able to break away.
Trailing 40-32 in the third quarter, Heritage Academy used a 13-2 run that included 3-pointers by Gray, Neal, and Griffin. Griffin’s layup capped the run off with a layup and gave the Patriots a 45-42 lead.
Griffin said he knew the team had to come out of halftime with some energy, and that was what he hoped to bring to the game.
“At halftime, coach Whiteside gave us a speech,” Griffin said. “He told us we have to stay clutch and play for the moment. We have to play for our teammates, and that’s what we did. … We have two great guards in Dontae (Gray) and Dalton (Ford), and I just tried to do whatever I can to help them.”
The fourth quarter also was a back-and-forth affair, but Griffin and Ford scored the last seven points to help the Patriots forge a tie in the district with two games remaining for each team.
Starkville Academy coach Bruce Allsup said he was proud of both teams and knows they are so evenly matched that he expected a great game. He said his team is going to hit practice hard and try to finish district play out stronger than ever.
“We go to work,” Allsup said. “We practice and we are going to get better. We have to get better defensively. I think our defense was lacking at times, having some breakdowns and letting them drive too much. I think when we get our defense working we will be fine. These are two great teams, and they just made the plays to win it tonight.”
After tying the district standings, Whiteside said his team is going to keep trying to play with momentum.
“If you overlook the opponent in our league, you have the chance to get beat, so it’s just about preparation and focus on the next game,” Whiteside said. “We will enjoy this game tonight, but we have to get ready for Leake (Academy) next (on Friday night).”
Griffin and Gray led the team with 14 points. Neal added 12. Codie Futral had 13 points, 10, rebounds, six assists, and seven steals for the Volunteers. Brady Richardson had 10 points and six rebounds, and Kyle Faver had seven rebounds.
n In the girls game, Starkville Academy edged Heritage Academy 43-42 in a thriller.
Heritage Academy led 11-6 after the first quarter. Dishongh had nine points in the quarter. Starkville Academy outscored Heritage 17-10 in the next eight minutes to take a 23-21 halftime lead.
Dishongh scored six points in the third quarter to give the Lady Patriots a 36-33 lead.
After the teams exchanged the lead multiple times in the fourth quarter, Passons nailed her fifth 3-pointer with less than two minutes to play to give the Lady Volunteers the lead. Starkville Academy held Heritage Academy to six points in the fourth quarter to get the victory.
Sydney Passons led Starkville Academy with 18 points and Mary Peyton Passons added 11.
For Heritage Academy, Dishongh had 17, while Payton Riley added 10.
n In other basketball action Tuesday night, Nyc Gann had 15 points to lead the Pickens Academy boys basketball team to a 56-27 victory against Southern Academy. Noah Vail had eight points for Pickens Academy (15-3), which will play Wilcox Academy on Thursday in the opening round of the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) 2A Region 2 tournament at Clarke Prep in Grove Hill, Alabama.
Soccer
n Center Hill beats New Hope in penalty kicks: At Olive Branch, the Mustangs edged the Trojans 5-4 in penalty kicks to win their first-round Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A playoff game.
The teams were tied 2-2 at halftime and 3-3 at the end of regulation.
The loss ends the season for New Hope at 13-4-2.
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