Columbus’ basketball teams each found success on Tuesday as region schedules continue. Over in New Hope, the Trojans’ girls team had its winning streak halted by rival Caledonia while both West Point teams fell to Pontotoc.
Columbus
Columbus’ boys basketball team continued its rampage through Region 1-5A on Tuesday in a 67-18 blowout of Lafayette at home.
The victory for the Falcons (17-5, 6-0) is their 13th straight and is the second time this season they held a team to under 20 points. Their success was fueled by a 20-2 start to the first quarter which gave way to a 42-8 half-time lead. Lafayette had its best quarter of the game coming out of the break with eight points, but Columbus still managed to tack on 21 points to counter. Michael Hood Jr. led the team with another efficient outing. He scored 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting with six rebounds, one assists and two steals. Davie Verdell chimed in 14 points with 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Tylan Brown added 10 points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal. The Falcons sit squarely as the No. 1 team in the region and get back into action Jan. 27 at New Hope.
Columbus’ girls team also grabbed a win over Lafayette on Thursday in a 54-28 thrashing. The Falcons, (8-10, 4-2) remain in the third spot in the region standings behind Pontotoc and leader New Hope, and have the opportunity on Jan. 27 to avenge a narrow loss to the Trojans earlier in the season.
Starkville Academy
Both of the Volunteers basketball teams improved to 4-1 in MAIS 2-4A play on Tuesday with victories over Lamar School at home.
The boys team (10-7, 4-1) prevailed, 55-47, while the girls (10-11, 4-1) won 31-22. Both squads rebounded from a loss to Simpson Academy last week and look to keep winning today when East Rankin Academy comes to town.
West Lowndes
Make that five in a row for the Panthers.
West Lowndes’ boys basketball team pulled away from Tupelo Christian Prep on Tuesday for a 67-54 victory, which marked the unit’s fifth straight win. The Panthers improved to 15-4 and 4-2 in Region 3-1A games and currently hold down the No. 2 spot in the conference standings. West Lowndes’ girls team also found success over Tupelo Christian Prep in a 48-35 triumph. The Panthers (10-10, 3-3) have won three of their last four games and are currently No. 3 in the region standings. Both teams hosted Smithville yesterday and will play region leader Ingomar Jan. 27 at home.
New Hope
Riding a five-game win streak, New Hope’s girls basketball team ran headfirst into a hungry rival Caledonia squad on Tuesday, where the Cavaliers squeaked out a 50-40 victory. The Cavs (11-7, 3-3) snapped a two-game losing streak with the win, which handed the Trojans’ (13-5, 5-1) their first Region 1-5A loss of the season.
New Hope’s boys team (7-12, 4-2), though, managed to rebound from a loss last week by taking down Caledonia, 60-51, on Tuesday, which was the Cavs’ (6-13, 1-5) fourth straight loss.
Caledonia hosted Lafayette yesterday while New Hope hosts West Point today. The girls play at 6 p.m. and the boys play at 7:30 p.m.
West Point
Pontotoc got the best of West Point’s basketball teams on Tuesday as Region 1-5A games began to heat up.
The boys team (15-7, 2-4) had won two straight conference games coming into the match and couldn’t pull ahead in a tight 57-52 defeat. Kenyon Davidson led the team with 15 points, three assists and two steals, and both Dominick Watts and Aaron Edwards scored 10 points each. The Green Wave girls (12-12, 1-5) fell, 42-34, for their second straight loss. Myah Webber led the team with seven points, four rebounds and three steals, and Camiyah Bean tallied six points, five rebounds and four steals. Kirsten Perry and Sasha Binder each scored five points.
West Point plays today at New Hope.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
