Photo: Northpoint Christian’s Carter Moore (22) drives on his Lausanne defender during Saturday’s contest at Northpoint. (Mary Scott/Oak River Media)
SOUTHAVEN – It was a tale of two very different basketball games at Northpoint Christian School on Saturday afternoon, but both ended with the same result: Lausanne Collegiate victories.
While the Lynx boys used a dominant first half to cruise to a 77-37 win, the Lausanne girls had to fight through four quarters to secure a 54-46 triumph over the Lady Trojans.
Girls: Lausanne 54, Northpoint 46
The opening matchup was a defensive grind from the jump. Northpoint’s Nailah Herrera kept the Lady Trojans within striking distance early, scoring five of her team-high 15 points in the first frame. Lausanne held a slim 12-10 lead after one, bolstered by Kaylie Evans’ early perimeter shooting.
The Lynx extended their lead to five by halftime, but Northpoint refused to go away. A 16-point third-quarter explosion from the Lady Trojans—fueled by Robbye England and Sanai Herrera—cut the Lausanne lead to just two points, 35-33, entering the final period.
Nailah Herrera of Northpoint (20) eyes the basket in Saturday’s game against Lausanne. (Mary Scott/Oak River Media)Sanai Herrera of Northpoint (12) is guarded by Lausanne’s Ava Hill in Saturday’s contest. (Mary Scott/Oak River Media)
In the fourth, Lausanne’s depth proved to be the difference. Elsie Reaves and Kaylie Evans combined for 13 points in the closing eight minutes to stave off the Northpoint rally. Sanai Herrera hit two big three-pointers in the final frame to keep the pressure on, but the Lynx remained poised at the free-throw line to seal the eight-point win.
Northpoint was led by Nailah Herrera’s 15 points, followed by Sanai Herrera with 13 and Londyn Griffin with nine. Lausanne’s Kaylie Evans finished with 15 points, while Ava Hill added 14.
Boys: Lausanne 77, Northpoint 37
The nightcap was decided nearly as soon as the ball was tipped. Lausanne exploded for 28 points in the first quarter, establishing a 21-point cushion that Northpoint could never deflate. Zuri McClure ignited the Lynx offense with three shots from beyond the arc in the opening minutes.
By halftime, the lead had ballooned to 46-12 as Imir Harper took his turn dominating the offensive end. Harper finished with a game-high 19 points, leading a Lausanne squad that saw 100 percent of its starters contribute to a 60-14 lead by the end of the third quarter.
Northpoint’s Brennan Abernathy provided a late spark for the home crowd, scoring 14 of his 16 total points in the fourth quarter, but it was far too late to alter the outcome. Aiden Becksfort and Tripp Taylor each chipped in six points for the Trojans.
Up Next
Both Northpoint squads will look to regroup quickly. The Trojans return to the hardwood Monday evening to host Evangelical Christian.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
