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Dee Howell (11) of MA collides with a Tri-County player.

Lions lose in final eight

H.W. Byers lost just two games this season, both close ones to the defending state champion, and the second one kept the Lions from a trip to Jackson for the final four.

Coach James Sales’ teams went to Ingomar Saturday night for the Class 1A quarterfinals and lost a heartbreaker in overtime, 64-56.

“We had a good game plan, faced all the odds and played hard,” he said. “I’d heard how tough it was to play there. But I’m a firm believer in preparation, and we were prepared. We just came up a little short.”

The Lions led 16-12 after the first quarter and trailed 3025 at halftime.

Two of the Lions’ stop scorers, Devin Moore and Cedric Watson, experienced foul trouble and had to sit for a while. “That took a lot out of us,”

he said. “That changed the whole perspective, and we struggled some. We couldn’t do what we wanted to do with our two post players out.”

Byers had a big third quarter, led by eight points each from Moore and Watson. Moore’s dunk gave Byers a 4341 advantage going to the fourth.

“We played with a sense of

urgency in the third quarter,” Sales said. “We played our type of basketball.” The Lions were up three, 53-50 in the last minute of the fourth. The Falcons hit a three to tie with 31 seconds left. Then Byers’ shot to win it at the horn rolled off the rim.

Ingomar outscored the Lions 11-3 in the extra period.

“It was just hard to get them back up in overtime,” Sales said.

Leading scorers for Byers were Moore with 15, Watson and Michael James with 11 each and Vincent Talley with nine.

“We had a couple of mental breakdowns there late in the game, like on the long three,” he said. “When we were engaged and on him, he didn’t score. That’s one of those teaching moments ­ stay engaged.

“I still feel like we were the better team; the score just didn’t reflect it.” The Lions end the season with a 19-2 record. They had also fallen to the Falcons 51-42 at home in a regular season game in December.

“I’m very, very proud of this team,” Sales said. “We didn’t have a summer (due to COVID). We just picked up the basketball and started playing, and we had some difficulties during the season, too (with COVID). We won the district, and we finished in the final eight, one win short of Jackson. I can’t help but be happy with that. I saw a lot of growth from these young men.”

Round two James and Moore combined for 53 points as Byers scorched Okolona 77-37 in round two Thursday at home. James finished with 28 and Moore with 25. The Lions stormed out of the starting gate for 25-10 lead after one quarter. James scored 13 in the first and Moore nine. Byers upped its lead to 4120 at the half and outscored the Chieftains 26-1 in the third quarter. It was 67-21 going to the fourth. Jabari Wright also scored in double digits for the Lions. He had 12. It was the Lions 16th straight win.

Round one In the round one game at home Tuesday, Feb. 23, Byers turned back an upset-minded Tremont 47-36. The Eagles, who soared in from Itawamba County, slowed the pace as much as they could. Byers led 11-4 after the opening period.

At the 5:40 mark of the second, James drilled a three to put the Lions on top 16-4.

The lead was 20-8 at halftime and 30-15 following three quarters.

Tremont then went on an 11-0 run the first four minutes of the fourth to slice its deficit to 30-26.

Byers ended its drought on Watson’s bucket, which came off an assist from Moore.

With 2:08 left, James made a successful drive to the goal to put the Lions up 10.

Tremont got back to within six with 43 seconds remaining, but Jaylen Glover scored on a put-back and then James and Watson drilled free throws to seal the deal, an 11-point win.

The Lions lose just one senior. All five starters return next season.

“I’m blessed to have my starting lineup back, but we can’t rely on that,” Sales said.

“Expectations will be high, but every team will get better. We have to cease the moment.”

Holly Springs South Reporter

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