Holly High takes two from Palmer

It’s always sweet to get a district sweep.

Holly Springs hosted M.S. Palmer Tuesday night, Jan. 8, and both the Lady Hawks and Hawks earned victories in Region 2-3A.

The Lady Hawks turned up the heat defensively and blistered the Lady Dragons 71-46 to start the night.

“We played well,” coach Andre Jones said. “Our defensive intensity got us off to a good start, and it continued throughout the game.

“We played well as a team by staying focused and playing together. It’s always exciting to get a win in district.”

The Holly High girls evened their district record at 2-2.

Arriyunna Washington led the way offensively. She scorched the nets for 30 points, including four threes. Celekeisha Brown followed with 17 points, and Ashanta Aldridge scored 10.

Kaila King grabbed six rebounds and Brown five.

The Hawks soared in the nightcap, knocking off M.S. Palmer 71-54 and upping their district mark to 4-0.

“We overcame a lackadaisical start and finished strong to keep a physical and aggressive M.S. Palmer team at a distance,” coach Sylvester Kilgore said.

Holly High had a 33-23 lead at halftime.

Derek Fountain had a big night with 24 points, 10 rebounds and six steals. Deveon Miller wasn’t far behind, with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Cori Bell scored 14 and Tyhem Reaves 13.

“You really learn a lot about your team in games like this,” he said. “I am very excited about this team.”

Holly High-L. Cormorant

Holly Springs teams hosted Lake Cormorant and swept the Class 5A school.

The Lady Hawks got 29 of their points from Washington and Brown in a 39-27 victory of the Lady Gators.

Washington scored 15, including three threes. She also had five steals. Brown scored 14, including a four-ofseven showing from the freethrow line. She also led the team in rebounding with five.

Holly High was 12 of 18

(66.7 percent) from the charity stripe in the 12-point win.

Coach Kilgore said “multiple players contributed” in his Hawks’ 80-44 rout of Lake Cormorant

And he said freshman Cordarius Isom stole the show, making four consecutive three-point field goals in a 31-point Holly High outburst in the fourth quarter.

Bell led the way with 22 points, 16 of those in the second half. Reaves added 17 and Cadarius Autry nine.

“Tonight our defensive efforts, along with 15 of 17 from the free-throw line, made it very difficult for Lake Cormorant,” he said.

He thanked Hawk nation for providing an exciting atmosphere.

The Lady Hawks (6-11 overall) and the Hawks (11-7) hosted Water Valley on Tuesday of this week. They visit North Panola Friday.

Next Tuesday, Jan. 22, they host Ashland before visiting Coahoma AHS Jan. 25.