Northpoint girls dominate St. George’s to advance

Photo: Northpoint Christian’s Nailah Herrera drives toward the basket for two of her 34 games in Monday’s victory over St. George’s. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Key Points

• Northpoint Christian secured a dominant 66-36 victory over St. George’s to advance to the Division II-A West Region semifinals.
• Nailah Herrera delivered a career-best performance, leading all scorers with 34 points, including four three-pointers.
• The Lady Trojans move on to face Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson on Thursday evening.

SOUTHAVEN – In what head coach Barry Gray described as the team’s “most complete” performance of the season, the Northpoint Christian Lady Trojans dismantled St. George’s 66-36 on Monday night. The victory propels Northpoint into the final 12 of the TSSAA Division II-A postseason, keeping their championship aspirations firmly intact.

From the opening tip, the Lady Trojans dictated the tempo. Nailah Herrera set the tone early, burying a three-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer to hand Northpoint a 22-8 cushion. The momentum only shifted further in favor of the hosts as the game progressed. By halftime, Herrera had already amassed 20 points, outscoring the entire St. George’s roster as Northpoint headed to the locker room with a 33-12 lead.

A Career Night for Herrera

The story of the evening was undoubtedly Herrera. Finishing with a game-high 34 points, she showcased a lethal inside-out game that left the St. George’s defense searching for answers.

“Since I’ve coached her, that might have been her best individual game,” Gray said following the win. “She was good. Our perimeter shots were falling, and that opened up the lanes even more.”

The supporting cast ensured the pressure remained relentless. Saini Herrera contributed 11 points, while Robbye England and Bella Gagliano each chipped in 6 points from beyond the arc. The collective effort was so effective that a running clock was triggered in the fourth quarter after Northpoint extended their lead to 63-29.

St. George’s struggled to find an offensive rhythm against Northpoint’s defense. Kaylah Griffin led the visitors with 11 points, though 81 percent of her production came in the final period when the result was already a formality.

Looking Ahead to Jackson

Gray is already focusing on the hurdles ahead. The Lady Trojans now transition to the Division II-A West Region semifinals, where the stakes—and the caliber of opposition—rise significantly.

“In the final 12, you’ve got to protect the ball because the defensive intensity is way, way higher than what we’ve seen so far,” Gray noted.

Northpoint is scheduled to face Trinity Christian Academy on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The matchup will be a true road test, played on Trinity’s home floor in Jackson, Tennessee. With a guaranteed three more games over the next eight days, the Lady Trojans are hitting their stride at exactly the right moment.