STARKVILLE — The Starkville Academy girls basketball team led almost wire to wire against rival Heritage Academy, but they couldn’t quite shake the Patriots.
And when Chloe Boyd hit a 12-footer early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots were within three at 24-21. But the Volunteers, who had trailed twice by a single point during the second quarter, would not let it happen again.
Starkville Academy scored 10 of the game’s final 13 points to slowly pull away for a 34-24 victory Friday night in Starkville.
“I’m really proud of the way they finished the game,” Vols coach Colleen Roberts said.
What could have been an anxious fourth quarter was a bit more relaxed for Roberts thanks to Sara Stokes McReynolds. The freshman guard had the ball in her hands much of the way during the closing minutes, dribbling around the perimeter and daring the Patriots to go for a steal.
“She’s a really good ball handler and free throw shooter, so we’re glad to have her,” Roberts said.
The Vols, who made only 3 of their first 9 free throws, made 5 of their last 6 to keep the Patriots at bay. Starkville Academy held a 10-5 points advantage during the fourth quarter, with four players scoring for the Vols.
But in a game that ended 34-24, defense played a big part for the winners. Leading that effort for the Vols was junior Katie Keenum, who was strong on the boards and also effective as a shot blocker. But Roberts was also pleased with her defense against Heritage junior Lucy Sharp.
“She had a big assignment on their big girl,” Roberts said. “She’s a really strong player inside, and she had to give a really good defensive effort.”
Sharp was held to 2 points, both on fourth-quarter free throws, but nobody on offense had a particularly good game on this night. Reagan Merchant led the Patriots with 9 points.
The Vols got off to a good start, taking a 7-2 lead with just more than 3 minutes gone in the game. But they went from the 4:41 mark of the first quarter to the 4:49 mark of the second without a field goal.
The problem for the Patriots was they weren’t doing much better. They managed just one free throw for the rest of the opening period and still trailed when the Vols snapped their nearly 8-minute drought from the floor.
Heritage finally took a lead at 13-12 with 1:22 left in the half, but the Vols came to life as Stokes-McReynolds drove the lane for a bucket and Calliope Koiva scored twice inside as Starkville Academy took an 18-13 lead at the half. The lead was still five at 24-19 after three before the Vols slowly pulled away late.
Each team took 15 free throws during the game, with the Volunteers making eight and the Patriots making nine. Although no players fouled out, Sharp, Merchant and Boyd each had four fouls for Heritage and four Starkville Academy players committed three fouls apiece.
“Lots of fouls, lots of free throws,” Roberts said. “This is a rivalry game, and both teams, I think, were giving their best.”
The Vols will play next on Tuesday at Pillow Academy, while the Patriots, who were home to Lamar School on Saturday, will host Washington School on Tuesday.
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