The number-one ranked team in MHSAA 6A Meridian Lady Wildcats came into Tuesday’s matchup with second-ranked Olive Branch with some verbosity and a swag attitude, seemingly forgetting the challenge that awaited them.
The last time Meridian lost a girls’ basketball game, after all, was the MHSAA 6A state semifinals last year, a 63-51 drubbing by Clinton at Mississippi Coliseum. They forgot the team they were to meet inside Charlie Bibbs Gymnasium in Olive Branch Tuesday went on to win the state title over Clinton just a few days later.
Regardless of ratings, Olive Branch was still the Queens of the Hill in Mississippi large school basketball and Tuesday night proved it.
Olive Branch coach Jason Thompson said his team took note of the excessive attitude Meridian brought to the floor and decided they needed to take care of business and be the ones to have something to cheer about when the game was over.
Addison Howell was 9-for-10 at the free throw line for 22 points in leading Olive Branch past Meridian 66-55. (Bob Bakken/DeSoto County Sports)
That “lunch bucket” response showed out with the Lady Quistors tagging Meridian with its first loss of the year in a convincing 66-55 victory.
“They really came out with a strong determination that they were going to win this game,” said Thompson about his team. “The girls started from the last couple of practices ahead of the game knowing what they (Meridian) thought of themselves and we knew what we thought about ourselves. I’m really proud of them.”
Olive Branch took charge immediately in the contest with a 20-10 lead after one quarter. Addison Howell hit a trey and totaled seven points for the quarter to lead the Lady Quistors, while teammate Brynea Eason added a three-pointer and totaled five points in the first eight minutes of the game.
Meanwhile, Arianna Patton led Meridian’s first-quarter scoring with five points, as the Lady Wildcats struggled with several traveling calls and turnovers that plagued them the entire night.
The Lady Quistors took a 37-26 halftime lead as Rhema Pegues took charge for the home team, scoring 10 points in the second quarter for Olive Branch.
Rhema Pegues netted 15 points for Olive Branch in the victory over Meridian. (Bob Bakken/DeSoto County Sports)
Charity Hinton kept Meridian within reach with eight points in the quarter and nine for the half.
In the second half, Meridian was able to cut into the Olive Branch, but 47-41 was about as close as the Lady Wildcats could get. The Lady Quistors pulled away to a 65-50 lead late, as Meridian tried desperately for some last-second magic and a last-second three-pointer by Meridian made the final score 66-55 for Olive Branch, as it was the Olive Branch fans doing the celebrating as the final seconds ticked away.
Addison Howell scored 10 of her game-high 22 points in the second half and finished the night hitting nine of 10 from the free throw line.
“She (Howell) played a phenomenal game, especially from the free throw line,” Thompson said. “She really had her head into it tonight, concentrated and did an outstanding job.”
After Howell, Pegues finished with 15 points and Amya Black added 11 for Olive Branch.
Patton and Debreasha Powe each scored 19 to lead Meridian, but after that, there was no one contributing more than nine points.
“These ladies know how to win and they know how to play with each other,” Thompson said. “We’re continually building that chemistry and are trying to put ourselves in position for success.”
