Two years removed from East Mississippi’s first conference championship in 36 years, the Lions open the 2021-22 season today in the first game of a doubleheader at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.
The Lions will face Holmes at 5:30 p.m. with five of their top six scorers back from a team that went 12-5 under veteran coach Sharon Thompson.
While EMCC returns plenty of talent, All-Region 23 and All-MACCC forward Ja’Mia Hollings is gone, taking 14 points and 10 rebounds per game with her. The West Point high school graduate is now at Troy University after leading the Lions to a 36-8 record during her two seasons in Scooba.
Five returnees — three guards and two forwards — averaged between 5.4 and 7.9 points per game for the Lions a year ago.
Shakira Wilson is the top returning scorer for the Lions. The guard out of Southeast Lauderdale averaged 7.9 points per game, with fellow guard Jenessa Souza right behind her at 7.5. Souza is a Californian by way of Blinn College in Texas.
Up front, Siarra Jackson, a two-team all-state pick out of Ripley, averaged 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds as a freshman, while Kyunna Thomas averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds last year as a transfer from Jones College.
Also back is guard Markiema Lancaster and her 5.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a transfer from Mercer University. Back after receiving a medical redshirt season a year ago is point guard Ciara Jackson, a product of Shannon High School.
Seven incoming freshmen will join EMCC’s six returning players. Leading the way and expected to contribute immediately will be two-time honorable mention all-state point guard DJ Williams, who led Columbus High School to the 2019-20 Class 5A state championship.
Also coming on board for Thompson is the Starkville High School tandem of forward Sukkima Suell and guard Jada Odneal. Also new to the Scooba campus this season are forward Zaniyah Brown of Velma Jackson High School and guards Kennedi Jimison of Northeast Lauderdale High School, Jordan Seales of Moss Point High School and Jada Watkins of Panola, Alabama.
The Lions next will travel to Clarksdale for a 6 p.m. Thursday game against Coahoma.
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