Saturday’s Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A
girls state championship game needed a little more than the regular 32
minutes to determine a winner.
Well, a lot more.
At the end at Jackson’s Mississippi Coliseum — in the fourth overtime — defending champion Forest Hill had just enough shots fall against fatigued Southaven to salvage a 76-74 victory.
Lady Chargers coach David Baldwin went the entire game without a substitution but still had a chance to win late. Olivia Cunningham’s inbounds pass with 2.2 seconds left in the fourth overtime made it to fellow junior A’Queen Hayes, but the shot at the buzzer was off the mark, giving the Lady Patriots (30-3) their second consecutive state title.
“I just told them to stay together,” Forest Hill coach Tangela Banks said. “Two of our key players had fouled out, so if they stayed focused and positive, we’ll be OK.”
Hayes scored the first basket of the fourth OT off the tip, but Southaven didn’t score again until the 47.9-second mark on Cunningham’s free throw. In the meantime, tournament MVP Anissa Jackson and Vanessa Bridges had key buckets for the Lady Patriots.
Southaven (27-6) was nearly denied completely in the second OT until Cunningham’s jumper with 18.8 seconds left. After two free throws pushed the Forest Hill lead to 65-60, Buffalo signee Joanna Smith knocked down a 3-pointer and UT Chattanooga signee Jasmine Joyner followed with a tying basket.
In the third OT, Smith made a free throw with 12.4 seconds left, but the Lady Patriots had the final say with Jackson’s jumper.
Southaven scored early and often, winning the opening tip and immediately getting a basket by Hayes. Providence signee Aliyah Miller followed with a layup and the lead was 10-4 after Smith made a 3-pointer.
The final eight minutes of regulation were back and forth, with Collins and Claresa Banks scoring eight points apiece for the Lady Patriots, while Southaven countered with six each from Smith and Cunningham, who tied the score at 54 with three seconds left.
Well, a lot more.
At the end at Jackson’s Mississippi Coliseum — in the fourth overtime — defending champion Forest Hill had just enough shots fall against fatigued Southaven to salvage a 76-74 victory.
Lady Chargers coach David Baldwin went the entire game without a substitution but still had a chance to win late. Olivia Cunningham’s inbounds pass with 2.2 seconds left in the fourth overtime made it to fellow junior A’Queen Hayes, but the shot at the buzzer was off the mark, giving the Lady Patriots (30-3) their second consecutive state title.
“I just told them to stay together,” Forest Hill coach Tangela Banks said. “Two of our key players had fouled out, so if they stayed focused and positive, we’ll be OK.”
Hayes scored the first basket of the fourth OT off the tip, but Southaven didn’t score again until the 47.9-second mark on Cunningham’s free throw. In the meantime, tournament MVP Anissa Jackson and Vanessa Bridges had key buckets for the Lady Patriots.
Southaven (27-6) was nearly denied completely in the second OT until Cunningham’s jumper with 18.8 seconds left. After two free throws pushed the Forest Hill lead to 65-60, Buffalo signee Joanna Smith knocked down a 3-pointer and UT Chattanooga signee Jasmine Joyner followed with a tying basket.
In the third OT, Smith made a free throw with 12.4 seconds left, but the Lady Patriots had the final say with Jackson’s jumper.
Southaven scored early and often, winning the opening tip and immediately getting a basket by Hayes. Providence signee Aliyah Miller followed with a layup and the lead was 10-4 after Smith made a 3-pointer.
The final eight minutes of regulation were back and forth, with Collins and Claresa Banks scoring eight points apiece for the Lady Patriots, while Southaven countered with six each from Smith and Cunningham, who tied the score at 54 with three seconds left.
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