Lady Hawks fall short, move on to playoffs

Coach Morgan Vickery wants the “bitter taste from small mistakes” in a two-point loss to Independence Friday night to stick with her Holly Springs basketball team.

The Lady Hawks, in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history, came up just short, 45-43, in the Region 2-3A championship game played on the Lady Wildcats’ home floor. They moved on the state playoffs this week, one of 32 Class 3A teams still standing.

“I’m beyond proud of this group of girls,” Vickery said. “They walked into a spotlight they have never been in before and proved to themselves that hard work, teamwork and resilience are valuable qualities. We didn’t capitalize on the small things that would have allowed us to win the game.”

Holly Springs took an early lead before Independence surged ahead in the second quarter. A late first-half push, capped by Janiyah Allen’s deep three at the buzzer, cut the Lady Hawks deficit to 21-19 at intermission.

Vickery’s squad tied the game at 27 midway through the third when Aryauna Ingram scored off an assist from Teyuana Reaves. But Holly Springs, experiencing foul trouble, trailed 38-31 entering the fourth.

The never-say-die Lady Hawks pulled to within three twice in the final period and then cut it to two with 21 seconds remaining, but couldn’t quite complete the comeback.

Reaves scored 12 for Holly Springs. Ingram and Allen added nine each.

“I want to thank every Hawk fan that traveled to Independence to support us,” Vickery said. “With you, we are greater.”

The Lady Hawks, 21-5, hosted Kossuth on Monday of this week in the first round of the Mississippi High School Athletic Association Class 3A playoffs. With a win, they will meet the O’Bannon-Choctaw County winner on Friday night. The Class 3A playoffs move to a neutral site, Itawamba Community College in Fulton, next week for the quarter-finals.

The Holly Springs girls had no trouble in the semi-finals of the district tourney. They routed Coahoma County 43-20 on Tuesday night of last week. Zianna Schlender led the way with 15 points, and Reaves tallied 13. They had also dominated Coahoma County the night before at home to conclude the regular season, a 4622 final. Top scorers were Ingram with 19 and Reaves with 16.