Holly High sweeps Byers

It wasn’t as easy as the double-digit wins indicate, but it was a sweep for Holly Springs last week when the basketball teams made the short ride to H.W. Byers.

The Lady Hawks, led by Arriyunna Washington’s 25 points and 13 rebounds, turned back the Lady Lions 66-47.

“It was a very competitive match-up,” said Andre Jones, head coach of the Lady Hawks. “It’s always exciting to play this rivalry game.”

Holly High surged ahead 18-4 after one quarter. The Byers girls kept battling. In the second, each each team scored 11. The Lady Hawks were up 29-15 at halftime.

Jones’ team pulled away in the third, outscoring Byers 16-9.

“We worked hard as a team defensively and it opened up more scoring opportunities in transition,” Jones said. “I commend Byers on their hustle and their mental ability to never give up.”

Arkajah Sims added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Hawks. Ashanta Aldridge scored 10 and Celekeisha Brown nine.

Jakorien Hubbard was the top gun for coach Courtney Casabella’s Lady Lions. She scored 21 points.

In the nightcap, the Holly High boys won every quarter and left Highway 72 in north Marshall County with a 67-49 win over Byers.

The Hawks went up 23-17 after one quarter. They then outscored the Lions 13-12 in the second, 15-11 in the third and 16-9 in the fourth.

It was a seven-point game at halftime.

“Our inconsistency on the free-throw stripe (eight of 15), lack of rebounding on both ends, along with numerous unforced turnovers, poor shot selection and misses on high-percentage field goals, kept us from building on our lead,” said Sylvester Kilgore, head coach of the Hawks.

“Credit Byers for an outstanding effort and all-out hustle.”

Cori Bell carried the load for Holly Springs. He poured in 23 points. Ded’Derick Faulkner was also in double digits with 11 points. Daveon Miller scored nine.

Leading the rebounding effort were Miller with nine and Faulkner with eight.

“We got a huge boost from Faulkner, a ninth grader, with his rebounding and play-making,” Kilgore said.

Cardarius Autry dished out five assists. Tyhem Reaves had five steals.

For Byers, Devin Moore was the top point producer with 15.

The Lady Hawks (1-2) and the Hawks (1-1) visited Byhalia Friday night (complete report will follow in next week’s paper due to early deadlines for Thanksgiving). They played in the Martin Luther King Tournament at Memphis, Tenn., on Monday of this week and hosted H.W. Byers Tuesday.