Bank of Holly Springs
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Photo by Theresa Bolden Devore
Everette Jones takes a jump shot versus Greenville Christian.

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Photo by Penny Lomenick
Mary Neely Jones takes her shot versus Columbus Christian.

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Photos by Penny Lomenick and Theresa Bolden Devore
(Left) Wyle McMillen gets past a Columbus Christian player. (Right) Julia Nicholson puts up a shot inside the lane.

MA teams enjoy successful week

It was home sweet home for Marshall Academy basketball teams last week.

And a road trip turned out just fine, too.

In their home openers this season at the Frank Swords Gymna­sium, MA swept Greenville Christian and then the boys beat West Memphis Chris­tian (Ark.), which does not have a girls’ team.

The Lady Patriots started pulling away from Greenville Christian midway through the first quarter Tuesday, Nov. 28, and went on to dominate the Lady Saints 64-41.

Julia Nicholson scored, was fouled and sank the free throw to put Marshall up 12-7 at the 4:21 mark of the first.

The lead was 20-12 at the end of the quarter, thanks to Kaylan Parks’ jump shot.

Jessica Deming’s three pushed the advantage to 25-12 early in the second, and the Lady Patriots never looked back. They were up 38-14 at halftime.

In the closing seconds of the third, Mary Neely Jones hit a shot to push the lead to 30 points (53-23). MA won by 23.

Scoring in double digits for coach Traci Rodgers’ team were Nicholson with 14, Parks with 12 and Jones with 11. Deming added nine. Nine of 10 Marshall players scored in the game.

The MA boys scored 20 points in the first quarter on their way to a 53-21 rout of Greenville Christian.

Everette Jones scored 14 of his game-high 18 points in the first half. He hit two threes in the second quarter.

No other Patriots scored in double figures. Jeremiah Jones and Wyle McMillen had eight each.

MA boys-West Memphis

Both teams got off to a sloppy start Thursday night.

The Patriots turned it up a notch after coach Sam Pearson’s halftime talk and rolled to a 63-32 win over the Black Knights.

Marshall’s lead was 11-3 after one quarter and 21-13 at the half.

The Patriots then opened the third with a 10-0 run to pretty much put the win on ice.

E. Jones began the third with a three-point play (basket and free throw).

Grady Brooks had a couple of baskets, a three and a two, to close the third as MA led 39-24.

J. Jones started the fourth with a steal and lay-up, and the Patriots coasted to the 31-point victory.

E. Jones and McMillen led the way with 11 points each. J. Jones had nine and Javion Smith eight. All 11 Patriots scored in the win.

MA-Columbus Christian

Saturday, Marshall teams made the two-hour trip to Columbus Christian and left with a pair of victories.

The MA girls got off to a slow start but pulled away in the second half for a 35-17 win.

The Lady Pats trailed 5-0 early. Jones hit a shot to pull the visitors within 8-5 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Erin Lomenick gave her team some momentum. Her steal and lay-up cut the deficit to 11-9. Then she made another steal and passed to Deming, who scored. MA had tied the game at 11 with 4:12 left in the first half.

Parks drilled a three from the corner to put Marshall on top 14-13 at the half. It was their first lead of the game.

The Lady Patriots dominated the second half. They outscored the home team 21-4 over the 16-minute span.

Nicholson’s bucket made it 27-13 near the end of the third and MA was in full control.

Deming led the offense with 10 points. Nicholson added nine.

The Marshall boys snatched the lead a couple of minutes into the game and never gave it up. They rolled to a 65-40 win over the Rams.

Jones’ steal and lay-up put MA up 4-3 at the 5:53 mark of the first. Zach Sorrell’s putback made the lead 19-10 at the end of the quarter.

Tyler Bolden lit the fire in the second. He had a steal and lay-up to push the lead to double digits and then his bucket on the fast break late in the period made it 29-15.

Eli Pearson opened the third quarter with a three, and the Pats kept rolling. The lead was 44-26 at the end of the third, and they went on to win by 25.

Bolden was the top scorer with 17. E. Jones added 12 and Sorrell 11.

The Lady Patriots (4-1) and the Patriots (3-1) hosted North Delta Monday night. They will host Columbus Christian Thursday and then go to Greenville Christian Friday.

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
PH: (662) 252-4261
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