TUPELO — Typically basketball coaches go to their bench looking for a spark and an increase in tempo.
For junior Aniya Saddler and the Columbus High School girls’ basketball team, it is quite the opposite.
“In the fourth quarter, every possession matters,” Saddler said. “My job is to keep everybody calm and focused. When it comes time to make plays late in a game, coach trusts me to be out there but she wants everything calm, not rushed, and under control.”
Saddler scored her team’s first six points in the fourth quarter. Those scores came at the culmination of some critical possessions in a 54-47 Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 2 win over Tupelo Wednesday night at Tupelo Gym,
“(Saddler) always comes up big for us,” Columbus senior Hannah White said. “She has a great career still ahead of her. She guards, defends, rebounds, she is always going hard. She plays smart basketball. That is what you need to close out games.”
With the victory, Columbus (19-2, 5-0) wrapped up the top seed for the region tournament for a second straight season. That event starts Feb. 12, again at Tupelo.
Tupelo (16-8, 4-2) will qualify as the second seed in the four-team event.
“Winning the region is a great feeling,” White said. “Everybody on the team is excited about how we have been playing of late. This team is real together. We hang out all the time, We have jokes, we keep it fun, When it comes time to play the game, everybody is serious. You can tell our togetherness on the court. It’s a big a reason why this team is successful.”
White poured in a game-high 26 points, She hit three different critical 3-point baskets to curtail Tupelo runs. Saddler added 10 points,
“When you play on the road, you are going to face adversity,” Columbus coach Yvonne Hairston said. “You are going to give up runs. That’s what we talked about before the game. We talked about having our own runs.”
One such run took place to start the second quarter, The Lady Falcons held the Lady Wave without a point for the first five minutes of the second quarter, while scoring 12 straight for a 24-13 lead.
Columbus scored four times in transition after creating steals.
“It was just a little flash what this team is capable of doing,” Saddler said. “We are great when we get some steals and some easy baskets. Everybody can run, so when we can get out and force some turnovers, things usually turn out well for us.”
White had 15 first-half points as Columbus led 26-16 at halftime.
Tupelo fell down 14 before making a furious rally. The Lady Wave used a 14-2 run to close within 34-32,
Saddler would then keep the home team at bay. However, she would have some help.
Berniya Hardin had a critical basket to stop a run. Deryona Smith had a couple of steals to stop another run,
The back-breaking shot belonged to White. It was a top-of-the key 3-pointer off an offensive rebound for a 47-41 lead with 2:15 left.
“Just so many players stepped up when the game was on the line,” Hairston said. “Our job at the free throw line was great.”
The Lady Falcons hit 5 of 6 at the charity stripe in the final minute.
“This team has played a lot of close games,” White said. “That’s why we have confidence at the end of the game. We just have to keep our composure and find a way.”
Che’Mya Carouthers scored 19 points and Jalancia Kohlheim had 18 points for Tupelo.
In the second game, the Tupelo boys (16-9, 6-0) nailed down the region’s top seed with a 75-50 victory.
For the Golden Wave, Mason Gary led all the way with 16 points, while Braxton Bishop had 12. Josh Mitchell had 10 points and six rebounds, while Nichols had 10 points.
Columbus (9-13, 3-2) received 14 points from Jerome Sherrod, while Tijah McCrary had 12 points.
The Falcons can secure the region’s No. 2 seed with a win Friday at Oxford.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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