Photo: Jaliah Kelly of Hernando plays defense during Friday’s 73-28 victory at Lewisburg. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Dec 13, 2024-The Hernando girls’ basketball team has been rolling along this season, now with a record of 9-2 after a Region 1-7A victory, 73-28 at Lewisburg Friday night.
The Kelly sisters led the way for the Lady Tigers, as Jaliah scored 30 and Fran added 26. Although not starting, Jaliah quickly contributed once she entered the game.
“We were excited to get Jaliah back tonight, we knew she was ready to get back to action,” said Hernando coach Blake Jones. “She had a good showing and that’s what we need to be successful.”
Between the two for the game, Hernando outscored the entire Lady Patriot team. Parker Moss led Lewisburg with nine points.
Hernando struck out to a 20-6 lead after one quarter and the advantage grew to 41-13 at halftime. Fran Kelly had 23 points at the break and Jaliah Kelly added 14 before halftime.
The Lady Tiger defense continued to play well in the third quarter, holding the Lady Patriots to six points in the quarter for a 62-22 lead. When the lead reached 57-22 with 2:15 left in the period, the clock went into continuous mode and did not stop for the rest of the contest.
“As the game went along and our defense picked up, I was proud of the way we played and we got a road win in the division,” Jones said, adding the one-sided contest allowed everyone on the roster to see action.
“The goal was to play everybody on our bench,” Jones said. “It really helps for us to get fresh legs in the game and keep the pressure on teams. We’ve done that the past three games.”
(B) – Lewisburg 53, Hernando 36: The Patriots picked up a Region 1-7A victory that was still pretty much in doubt until late in the contest.
The first half was a low scoring one, with Hernando and Lewisburg tied at 5-5 after one quarter and Hernando leading 18-15 at halftime.
The Patriots broke out and started to pull away in the third quarter, starting with six straight points for a 21-18 lead and a Hernando timeout was called, just 2:05 into the second half. The lead grew to 30-21 for Lewisburg late in the quarter and a 33-23 advantage at quarter’s end. The Patriots held a 20-13 scoring advantage in the final eight minutes of the contest.
Lewisburg had three players in double figures, led by Asher Morgan with 13 points, 10 of which came after halftime. TyBious Ware scored nine of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, and Colson Alexander finished with 11 points for the Patriots.
Terrance Walton and Cooper Taylor paced Hernando scoring with six points each.
Friday, Dec, 13
Prep boys basketball
Lewisburg 53, Hernando 36
Fayette Academy 52, Northpoint Christian 46
Northpoint: Jackson Ralls- 15 points, Myles Colom- 12 points,
DeSoto Central 75, Byhalia 59
Olive Branch 84, Lake Cormorant 61
Southaven 52, Horn Lake 50
Center Hill 50, South Panola 45
Prep girls basketball
Hernando 73, Lewisburg 28
Hernando: Jaliah Kelly- 30 points, Fran Kelly-26 points
Lewisburg: Parker Moss- 9 points
Northpoint Christian 50, Fayette Academy 18
Northpoint: Kathy Beach- 13 points, Sara Kane Stroud- 12 points
TROJANS TO PLAY IN AZB ALL-STAR GAME: Three Northpoint Christian Trojans have one more football game to play. Chris Soriano, Beau Robinson, and Devontae Dillard play Saturday afternoon in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Game. The 22nd annual contest featuring the best Memphis-area prep football players starts at 2:30 p.m. at Memphis University School.
All three players will be on the Blue team. Dillard, one of the area’s top running backs, will play that position Saturday afternoon.
“It gives me another chance to play again and it’s just amazing that I get another chance,” Dillard said. “It made me really excited because it gave me the chance to play again and play with my teammates.”
Robinson and Soriano will be making a way for Dillard as offensive linemen once again in Saturday’s contest.
“It means a lot to represent the city, represent Northpoint and represent my family,” Soriano said. “We hope to prove that the Blue team has it this time. The Red team has been winning this game too much.”
“I was glad to see some of my Northpoint teammates were picked with me, so I get to play alongside them in my last high school game,” Robinson said. “I’m going to go out and do the best I can and we’re going to go get the Blue a dub (win).”
The contest is being locally televised on WMC-TV and broadcast on Sports 56 (560 AM) radio.
