Photo: Jaliah Kelly of Hernando tries to drive through a trio of DeSoto Central defenders during Thursday’s contest in Hernando. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Jan 16, 2025- Hernando’s Fran Kelly, one of the state’s top point-getters in Mississippi girls basketball, did her thing again Thursday night in the Lady Tigers’ 56-40 victory over DeSoto Central. But Kelly also got scoring help from sister Jaliah and got welcome support from the rest of the Lady Tigers lineup in the 1-7A district victory.
Fran Kelly finished with 26 points and Jaliah Kelly added 10 more for Hernando in the win. But Lauren Williams scored six of her eight points for the Lady Tigers in the fourth quarter, and 6-foot-2 Halann Wallace swatted away any DeSoto Central scoring attempts inside in what coach Blake Jones called her best game ever.
“In every game you go through from here on out, size is going to matter,” Jones said. “Tonight, it was all Wallace, Williams, all of those interior post players. We found them tonight and we got them the ball.”
Hernando took a 16-6 lead after one quarter and had a 29-17 edge at halftime. Jaliah Kelly scored six of the Lady Tigers’ first 16 points, as did Fran Kelly, although four of her six points came from the free throw line. Londen Armstrong scored five points for DeSoto Central in the second frame.
In the third quarter, DeSoto Central was able to get within five points of the Lady Tigers but Hernando came back to grow the lead to 42-28 at the quarter’s end. Nine of the 13 Lady Tigers points came from Fran Kelly, who then scored eight more in the fourth quarter. Williams netted the remaining six points in the final eight minutes for Hernando.
DeSoto Central was led in scoring by Moriah White with 13 points and Armstrong with 11. White scored 11 points in the second half, including three from three-point range.
(B) DESOTO CENTRAL 66, HERNANDO 30: The Hernando Tigers struggled finding points against the Jaguars, which saw 11 rostered players produce points in the easy victory.
DeSoto Central, a half-game ahead of Horn Lake in the 1-7A standings, went off immediately to a 6-0 lead and had a 12-2 advantage after one quarter.
Halfway through the second quarter, the DeSoto Central lead expanded to 17-2 and at halftime the Jags led by 15 at 25-10.
Another run started the second half for the Jaguars, which enjoyed a 36-12 bulge just 1:24 into the third quarter and led 55-24 at the end of the quarter. The final couple of minutes were played without a stopping clock with a 33 point lead ahead of the final 36-point victory.
Cam Champion led DeSoto Central in scoring with 12 points and KJ Patrick added 11 more. Hernando was paced by Landon Graham, who put nine points on the scoresheet, seven of which came after halftime.
The Memphis Hustle (2-4)defeated the Rip City Remix (Trail Blazers) (3-3) 135-121 Thursday to split the back-to-back set at the Landers Center in Southaven.
On assignment from the Grizzlies, GG Jackson II led the Hustle with 28 points and eight rebounds. Miles Norris contributed 25 points. Zyon Pullin totaled 24 points. Nate Hinton added 16 points, 10 rebounds and four steals off the bench. DJ Steward scored 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Alex Reese paced the Remix with 26 points and eight rebounds. Bryce McGowens tallied 22 points and 10 assists. HenriDrell contributed 22 points and nine rebounds. James Bouknight added 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
