Mercedes Mattix loves to run.
Whether it is the 100, 200, or 400 meters, Mattix has made her mark as one of the state’s top sprinters.
But Mattix also loves to ball.
Whether it is flying up and down the court in a fast break or hawking the ball in pressure defense, the New Hope High School senior has made herself into more than just a sprinter who plays basketball.
Mattix showcased her versatility Friday, draining 3-pointers, making steals, and creating havoc on defense in New Hope’s 62-22 victory against West Point in a Class 5A, Region 2, District 1 game in Columbus.
Taylor Baudoin had 17 points to lead New Hope, while Mattix added 14 and D.J. Sanders had 13.
“I just don’t want it to seem like that I’m just track,” Mattix said. “I like to work hard at everything I do. That is just how I am. I don’t like to be just another player. If I am going to be out here, I want to be able to score for my team.”
Mattix does a lot more than score for the Lady Trojans. Coach Laura Lee Holman uses Mattix at the top of a full-court pressing defense that loves to turn the ball over. Mattix’s speed makes her a natural to play in the system, but she admits she has another trait that makes it easy for her to go up and down all game.
“Sometimes that is just who I am because I like being a pest sometimes and I have fun with it,” Mattix said. “You have to enjoy what you’re doing.”
Mattix has so much fun that she is ready even when she might not be paying 100 percent attention. Against West Point, the Green Wave had an inbounds play in front of their bench on the sideline. Mattix and Sanders were stationed at the front of the press, coiled to begin their attack. Mattix had her head turned toward Sanders when the ball fell onto the court. Thinking the ball had been inbounded, Mattix immediately locked into her defensive stance and was ready to go. The only thing was the basketball had slipped onto the court without West Point being set to tackle the press.
After the game, Mattix said she didn’t recall the play, but she said she has worked hard to improve all facets of her game, from her defensive positioning, her ability to force turnovers, and her long-range shooting.
“At one point in time, I would shoot layups and they would brick off the backboard because my feet and my hands didn’t go together,” Mattix said. “Now I do a lot better and I am scoring more. I score more and I am just able to do better for my team.”
Holman recalls those days when Mattix was a freshman and a sophomore. She said Mattix was equally successful in creating turnovers. She said the trouble came when she tried to get her feet, which were going 100 mph, in step with her hands, which were going 90 mph.
“I remember her getting a steal and holding your breath and saying, ‘Oh gosh,’ ” Holman said. “It is just her speed. Now her hands have caught up to her fast feet. I love to see her very confident driving to the basket and on full-court layups. She has done a really good job slowing down the pace to where she is more comfortable.”
Holman said Mattix’ ability to get her hands and feet work in concert together is just an example of what she means to the team. She said Mattix identified her weaknesses and was willing to take instruction and to commit to doing what she needed to do to improve. As a result, Holman doesn’t hesitate in calling the player who two years ago bricked a layup off the backboard a “complete player.”
“Mercedes is a great leader,” Holman said. “She has been what I call our rock. She has been consistent every day in practice. Her defense is very vital to our success, and she has turned into a pretty good scorer. Mercedes is a great kid. Whatever we ask her to do she is going to do it to the best of her ability. She is always going to give her best ability.”
Mattix said she enjoys playing an up-tempo style and feels it is “easier” to play Holman’s style because so many of the Lady Trojans have been playing together for so long. As a quick, heady player who likes being a pest, Mattix admits she hasn’t given any thought to playing basketball in college. Instead, she said she hopes to earn a scholarship to compete in track and field. Judging from her past results, she could have a good chance to realize that goal. Last year at the Class 5A state meet, she won the 400 (58.27 seconds), was second in the 200 (25.25), and was fifth in the 100 (12.25). She won the 400 (57.48) and the 200 (25.83) and took fourth in the 100 (12.23) at the Class 5A North State meet.
Mattix earned her personal-best time in the 400 (56.16) last summer running in a regional USATF Junior Olympics meet in Baton Rouge, La.
Even though she has earned a reputation as a top-notch sprinter, Mattix hasn’t limited herself to one sport. Earlier this school year, she played a key role on the New Hope volleyball team that won its first region title in only its second season. She also hasn’t allowed her basketball to suffer. She said she started to work last year on improving her marksmanship from 3-point range. The practice paid off, as she connected from 3-point range and from the free throw line in an 11-point outing in a 62-59 overtime loss to Lanier that ended the team’s season in the semifinals of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class 5A North State tournament at Canton High.
Mattix said the Lady Trojans will continue to fine-tune their games on Sundays at New Hope High. All of it is geared toward taking the next step and getting to Jackson for a chance to win a state championship. Mattix will be right there every step of the way being a pest and sprinting past opponents to push New Hope to its final destination.
“We just have to do what coach Holman tells us to do,” Mattix said when asked what the team has to do to improve its pressure defense for better teams. “We’re pretty confident, but we have a little more to fix, so we are not all the way there yet, but we have to get there because playoffs start next month.”
Holman is looking forward to that run, even after the loss to Brandon, because she is confident players like Mattix will lead the way.
“Her work ethic has made her into a better basketball player, and her commitment to our team achieving its goals to get to Jackson, she has set that at the top of her priority list,” Holman said, “and she is doing what it takes to get us there.”
n On Saturday, New Hope (16-2), which is ranked third in The Clarion-Ledger state poll, lost to No. 9 Brandon 58-52 in the Mid-Mississippi Challenge at Ackerman High.
Moesha Calmes led New Hope with 20 points, while Sanders had 11, Baudoin had eight, Mattix had seven, and Kaitlin Bradley had six.
“They played hard, but we just didn’t execute. We didn’t really execute our game plan,” Holman said. “It was a great game back and forth. In the fourth quarter we were not able to battle long enough with them.”
Holman said New Hope didn’t do the small things — box out, play defense, communicate — to beat a good team. The team now has four days of practice before it returns to action Friday against Saltillo.
“The effort was there, but we didn’t execute the game plan how I thought we needed to to beat Brandon,” Holman said.
n In another game at the event, Starkville beat East Webster 58-27. The Lady Yellow Jackets led 32-22 at halftime.
n In other games played Friday, the Starkville Academy girls basketball team beat Winston Academy 47-44. Nora Kathryn Carroll had 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field. The senior guard was 6 of 7 from 3-point range. Sallie Kate Richardson had 10 points, five assists, four steals, and three blocked shots, and Anna McKell added 10 points.
n Imane Montgomery had 20 points to lead Starkville to a 60-33 victory against Madison Central.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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