Teams take on different identities in the postseason.
Some, like in the case of the Ridgeland High School girls basketball team, are forced upon them.
As the No. 2 seed behind Lanier in Class 5A, Region, Ridgeland had its sights set on a bye or at least a chance to play at home Monday in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A playoffs. But a loss to Neshoba Central dropped Ridgeland into the consolation game of the region tournament. As a result, Ridgeland earned a No. 3 seed and had to travel to Lowndes County to take on second-seeded New Hope.
Ridgeland didn’t look the part of a No. 3 seed, as junior Nina German had 16 points and classmate Shanell Kitchens had 12 to lead Ridgeland to a 59-33 victory.
“We have been a little up and down this year, but when we play our best we are capable of playing some good basketball,” Ridgeland coach Wade Hawkins said. “I was really pleased tonight. We shared the ball. Our floor spacing was good, and we got in some foul trouble, but we were able to go to the 2-3 zone and we able to move our feet well enough to keep people from fouling out.”
With the win, Ridgeland (19-11) will advance to take on Holmes County Central at 7 p.m. Friday. The winner of that game will advance to the Class 5A State tournament.
Lanoria Abrams had 13 points to lead New Hope, which saw its season end at 16-12.
Hawkins said Ridgeland’s shooting and defense were better against New Hope than against Neshoba Central in the region tournament. He said his players didn’t communicate and allowed too many easy baskets in the loss. The Titans flipped the script against the Lady Trojans, as they clamped down on drives and limited open shots, especially to Alex Melton, who Hawkins knew was a “spot shooter” they couldn’t let going.
“We decided to overplay (Melton) that and play behind their post players because we didn’t see anyone posting up and demanding the ball on lobs,” Hawkins said. “We wanted to push them away from the block and let them shoot over us. It came out OK. We were more concerned because they had more size than we did.”
New Hope coach Chad Brown said his team has come a long way since winning four games two seasons ago and nine in 2015-16. He credited Abrams, a senior, and classmate Janae Topps for pushing the program to a victory against Oxford and into the Class 5A, Region 2 title game against West Point. He hopes the charge those players led will carry over to a team that figures to return a solid junior class that includes Alex Melton, Alaysha Jennings, and Jada Jamison, who suffered a season-ending injury. Jennings added 12 points against Ridgeland.
New Hope hit only one field goal in the first half, but it only trailed 26-11 after Jennings hit a coast-to-coast layup, was fouled, and hit the free throw with 19.1 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Lady Trojans committed 10 of their 16 first-half turnovers in the first quarter.
“We got some good looks, but we just didn’t knock any shots down,” Brown said. “If we’re not knocking any shots down, our confidence is gone.”
New Hope cut the deficit to 30-19 on a drive by Jennings with 4:14 left in the third quarter. It then had a chance to cut further into Ridgeland’s lead, but it committed a turnover. Ridgeland built the lead back to 48-26 after three quarters and wasn’t challenged in the final eight minutes.
Brown hopes the potential he saw in Jamison prior to her injury and in sophomore post player Julia Franks and freshman post player Juquala Sherrod continues to develop. He also said New Hope has a solid group of eighth-grade players coming up, so he is excited about the program’s future. Still, he said the players have to continue to work to develop their skills, particularly their offensive games, to be able to hit open shots and force teams out of 2-3 zones. He said opponents knew the Lady Trojans could take the ball to the basket and dared them to beat them with outside shots. Brown said a cold-shooting start made that a daunting proposition.
“They’re a three seed, but they’re better than a three seed,” Brown said.
Baseball
n Heritage Academy 12, Oak Hill Academy 3: At West Point, Banks Hyde had three hits, including a double, scored two runs, and had two RBIs Monday to lead the Patriots (1-3).
Tyler Anderson had two hits, scored a run, and had two RBIs to support his cause. He allowed two hits and three runs in the first four innings. He walked five and struck out seven. Hyde came on in relief to pitch the final three innings. He allowed three hits and walked four. He struck out five.
Seth Harris and Toby Young had a hit and scored a run, Michael Mangus scored a run, Judd Murphy had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs, Parker Ray was 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored, and two walks, Dalton Alexander scored a run and had an RBI, and Zach Oswalt had two doubles, scored a run, and had two RBIs.
Buddy Dill and Dylan Scott had two hits for the Raiders. Reilly Tate and Powell Tabor scored runs. Collins Brown had two walks, and Macon McBrayer had a hit.
Jonah Caskey allowed nine hits and nine runs (four earned) in four innings. He walked five and struck out three. Tabor allowed four hits and three runs in three innings. He struck out one.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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