The Columbus High School girls basketball team is ready to take the next step.
Whether the Lady Falcons take that step quickly — thanks to a push of the ball from Kiandria Patterson or Daisha Williams — or they slow down and do it a little more deliberately — capped by a 3-pointer by Maggie Proffitt — remains to be seen.
One thing is certain, though, coach Yvonne Hairston feels her team is ready to handle whatever pace an opponent wants to play.
“I know we are ready,” Hairston said. “We go over our half-court sets every day in practice. We don’t know what they’re going to do, but we’ll be ready.”
Columbus (24-2) will play host to Class 6A defending state champion Northwest Rankin at 7 p.m. Monday in the first round of the Class 6A North State tournament at Columbus High. A year ago, Columbus edged Southaven in the first round of the North State tournament only to fall to Northwest Rankin 85-69 in the next round.
This season, Columbus has lost only to Hattiesburg and H.W. Byers. Fueled by the high-scoring duo of Patterson and Proffitt, the Lady Falcons also have seen the emergence of players like Williams, Kameron Corrothers, and Kierra Erby. On Friday, though, Columbus may have lost one of its young, up-and-coming players when post player Laterrica Jefferson suffered a sprained ankle. Jefferson iced her ankle and used crutches to navigate the gym after the game. Her status for Monday is uncertain.
But Patterson and Proffitt will give Columbus a double-barreled attack that few teams in the state have. Patterson, who had 22 points Friday in a 91-59 victory against Tupelo, pushes tempo with the state’s best players. The left-handed junior guard can use her strength and speed to get into the paint. She also can use her slithery moves to post up smaller defenders.
“They can’t help with Maggie (if Patterson is in the post),” Hairston said. “They can’t double down on her and she can go one-on-one with her man in the post.”
Proffitt, who also is a junior, had a career-high 38 points against Tupelo. She has a knack for moving into the seams in the defense when Patterson penetrates or pushes tempo. Not only is she one of the state’s best shooters from 3-point range, she also has the ability to make defenses pay if they come up to take away the perimeter shot.
Proffitt, who had 32 points against Aliceville in a game at the end of the regular season, said she is feeling better after suffering from a cold. She credits her mother, Beth, and her father, Campbell, for working with her on her shooting stroke. She also said her brother, McKellar, played with her in the driveway and helped her with her all-around game.
“We feel good about raising our level,” Proffitt said. “We just have to keep the energy going in practice. We were really hyped before the game (against Tupelo) We just have to keep that energy the same way Monday to get the win.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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