Photo: Lillie Milligan of Northpoint Christian fires for two of her game-high 15 points in the win against Tipton-Rosemark Saturday afternoon. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
The TSSAA Division 2-A West Region postseason tournament season began Saturday for the Northpoint Christian School basketball teams, and while it will continue for one of the squads, it ended after one game for the other.
NORTHPOINT GIRLS 42, TIPTON-ROSEMARK 28
The Northpoint girls will move on to the second round of the tournament on Monday at University School of Jackson after the Lady Trojans eliminated Tipton-Rosemark Academy 42-28 Saturday afternoon. But the Northpoint boys were ousted from the playoffs with Saturday night’s 60-58 loss at Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson, Tenn.
The offense struggled for the Lady Trojans in Saturday’s contest, but the Lady Rebels struggled even more. Northpoint took a 10-3 lead after one quarter and took a 20-11 edge into the locker room at halftime of a first half that saw Tipton-Rosemark hit double digits on the scoreboard for the first with just under one minute left in the half.
Northpoint picked up the offense and ratched down on defense in the third quarter, holding Tipton-Rosemark to just three points in outsourcing the Lady Rebels 14-3 in the first eight minutes after intermission. TRA closed the gap in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough as Northpoint took the victory.
Two staples to the Northpoint offensive production this season came through again. Lillie Milligan led the way with a game high 15 points, 10 of which came in the first half. Milligan also knocked down four three-point shots. Nailah Herrera added 11 points for the Lady Trojans, all of but two of which came after halftime.
Brooke Harrison led TRA in scoring with 12 points, seven of which came in the fourth quarter.
Northpoint’s next game will be Monday evening against USJ, which is the number one seed in the region.
Northpoint’s Christian Gilliland scored 27 points in the loss at Trinity Christian Academy Saturday night. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BOYS 60, NORTHPOINT CHRISTIAN 58
It was a back-and-forth affair between the Lions and Trojans on the TCA campus Saturday night. The two teams battled to a 15-15 tie after one quarter, but midway through the second quarter Trinity Christian had moved ahead by five points at 24-19. The Trojans did come back to pull within 28-26 for the Lions at halftime, as Christian Gilliand had posted 10 points and Patton Huxford stepped up to add six more for Northpoint.
The Trojans came out strong and took a five-point lead at 37-32 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter but TCA rallied to get within 39-38 for the Trojans with 1:30 left in the period. Northpoint led at quarter’s end 44-42. )
In the fourth quarter, it was the Lions’ turn to pull ahead, leading 48-46 with 5:52 remaining. The lead was extended to 54-48 TCA with 1:29 left in the game. A big three point shot by Jack Patterson would pull the Trojans to 54-51 Lions with 1:08 left and Gilliland added a layup that again closed a gap to 55-53.
When Gilliland was later fouled, the junior would make the first but missed the second free throw, but the rebound layup made it 57-56 TCA.
Northpoint added a basket and TCA a three-point shot in the closing seconds, but the game ended when Patterson’s three-point try from the right side of the arc hit the front of the rim and bounced off.
Gilliland, as he has the entire season, led Northpoint in scoring with 27 points, 17 of which were in the second half. Ayden Kelly added 11 points for the Trojans and Grayson Alford scored nine more before fouling out of the game with 3:23 left in the contest.
Trinity Christian Academy, which plays at First Assembly Christian in Cordova Tuesday night in the second round, was led by Kaleb Williams with 14 points. He was one of three Lions in double figures.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Prep girls basketball
TSSAA Division 2-A West Region – first round
Northpoint Christian 42, Tipton-Rosemark 28
Prep boys basketball
TSSAA Division 2-A West Region – first round
Trinity Christian 60, Northpoint Christian 58
JUCO Baseball
Northwest 6, Columbia State 3
Northwest 14, Motlow State 6
BASEBALL, SOFTBALL JAMBOREES START SPRING SEASON
High school baseball and softball teams took to the field for the first time in jamboree action Saturday. Here are some scores:
