One team won an MAIS district title last year but graduated several seniors and on Wednesday started three freshmen. The other team, also young if not that young, is putting together a special season after two mediocre ones.

In the Columbus Christian Academy Christmas Tournament on Wednesday, it wasn’t hard to tell which was which.

Junior Lucy Sharp scored 19 points over the first three quarters, and the Heritage Academy defense was brutal throughout the game as the Patriots posted a 52-23 victory over the host Rams.

“I was just looking for us to come out and play hard, give good effort,” Heritage coach Moe Reed said. “We’re missing one of our starters (Reagan Merchant), and I thought some people really stepped up. We got some good minutes from everybody, and I was glad to see that the last two days.”

Seven other players scored for the Patriots during the game, including a senior, a junior, three sophomores and two freshmen. 

The Heritage offense took some time to get into gear, but the defense was there from the start. The Patriots held the Rams to 4 points during the first quarter and 2 during the second — all by CCA senior Morgan Whitten — and grabbed a 23-6 halftime lead.

“Our defensive effort really set the tone,” Reed said. “Obviously, we’re a little rusty offensively. Hopefully we can work on that the next couple of days before we get into district play again.”

While Sharp was Heritage’s leading scorer during the first quarter, it was Caroline Peal leading the Patriots with 6 second-quarter points.

“I thought Caroline Peal came off the bench and gave us some really good minutes,” Reed said. “Sophie Starks, another freshman, gave us some good minutes, especially yesterday. They both can score. Caroline Peal stepping up just gives us another ball handler and another girl who can attack the rim.”

Citing Peal and Starks as examples of players who have stepped up in the absence of Merchant, Reed also noted that she has been shuffling players around in search of the right combinations without her on the floor. If the passing down low during Wednesday’s game is any indication, she found some.

“Moving Ellie Dawson, who’s typically a guard, into the forward spot, she does a really good job of staying low and making those interior passes when she gets in traffic,” Reed said. “I think that’s one of her specialties. She’s just really scrappy down there. I’m kind of asking kids to move around in different positions that they’re not used to playing with Reagan Merchant out these past four games.”

Solid entry passes also fueled the offense. During the Patriots’ 18-point third quarter, their most productive of the game, Taylor Wheeler found Sharp down low twice for easy layups. 

Whitten was the only player in double figures for Columbus Christian, scoring in each quarter and totaling 10 points. Dawson scored 8 points for Heritage, with Peal and Chloe Boyd each netting 6.

The win leaves the Patriots at 14-4, a dramatic change from the past two seasons.

“We’ve already exceeded how many wins we’ve had in the past two years,” Reed said. “We’ve been coming out and competing every single night and not being OK with just being mediocre. And I really feel like that’s the mindset they came in with this summer. They were tired of being .500 or a little below .500.

“They bought into working hard in the summer, and I’ve got a lot of really competitive girls. They’re fun to coach. They’re competitive on the soccer field, they’re competitive in volleyball, and they hate to lose. I’m really blessed to have that mentality. It’s kind of contagious.” 

Central Hinds 64, West Lowndes 22: Central Hinds senior Madyson Maw outscored the Panthers all by herself, netting 24 points on the final day of the Columbus Christian Academy Christmas Tournament.

Maw scored 13 points during the first quarter as the Cougars raced to a 20-2 lead. Senior Mackenzie Hankins added 11 points for Central Hinds.

Junior Destiny Robertson led West Lowndes with 8 points.

Pickens 40, South Choctaw 36: Kate Wilkins recorded a double-double with 22 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Pirates (8-5).

Lizzie Noland contributed 11 points for Pickens, while Emma Williams led South Choctaw with 21 points.

Pickens next will face North River Christian on Jan. 4 at home.

Ripley 53, New Hope 31: The Trojans fell under .500 with a loss to the Tigers in the Trojan Holiday Classic. 

New Hope (4-5) will face Canton at 3:30 p.m. today.

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