Thursday sports: Trojans take two at Fayette Academy Classic

Several teams square off in holiday action in Mississippi and in Tennessee

Photo: Players battle for a rebound during Northpoint Christian girls’ basketball victory over Munford, Tenn. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Northpoint Christian’s basketball teams opened their two-day run at the Fayette Academy Christmas Classic with a pair of wins on Thursday. 

The Northpoint boys took down Brighton, Tenn. 65-43, while the girls outscored Munford, Tenn. 50-36

In the boys game, the Trojans roared out to a quick 11-2 lead on the Cardinals and led 23-9 after one quarter. Northpoint would go on to mount a 37-19 lead on Brighton at halftime with Ayden Kelley leading the Trojans in scoring with 17 points.  

The lead grew to 25 for Northpoint at 48-23 with 2:29 left in the third quarter and carried a 53-30 advantage into the final eight minutes. 

Kelley led all scorers with 29 points, followed by Myles Colom with 14. Both were named Northpoint Players of the Game.  Jayden McIntyre paced Brighton with 23 points.  

Northpoint coach Barry Gray thought the win over Brighton might have been one of the best of the season on both sides of the court.  

“I was excited about the way we shared the ball and were efficient on offense,” Gray said. “I was proud of the defense, it was good. It was one of our best games of the year, both defense and offensively.”  

In the girls contest, the Lady Trojans also roared out to a fast pace, taking a 14-2 lead on the Lady Cougars with 1:10 left in the first quarter. Northpoint had scored the first 14 points of the game.  It continued to be all Northpoint in the second quarter on the Lady Trojans’ way to a 25-6 intermission score. Nailah Herrera led all scorers with eight points in the first half.  

In the second half, Northpoint had a 21 point lead but saw the margin shrink to 38-23 after three periods of action.  

“I think we grew up a lot today,” Gray said about his girls’ team after the win. “We’re still learning what each person can and cannot do. We became a little more efficient today.”

Gray said both teams will get stiffer tests on Friday when they return to the Viking Center to face Bolivar Central, Tenn. boys and girls teams during the afternoon, starting at 12 noon.  

Thursday, Dec. 28 

Prep boys basketball

Olive Branch 67, Zachary, La. 59

Northpoint Christian 65, Brighton, Tenn. 43

• Northpoint scoring: Ayden Kelley (29), Myles Colom (14) 

Northwest Rankin 50, DeSoto Central 48

Hernando 59, Amanda Elzy 56

Lake Cormorant 84, Marvell Academy, Ark. 15

Lewisburg 68, Elizabethton, Tenn 55 

Booneville 80, Southaven 64

Magnolia Heights 68, Asheville, Ala. 56

Heritage Academy 57, Center Hill 50

Prep girls basketball

Northpoint Christian 50, Munford 36

• Northpoint scoring: Nailah Herrera (19)

Itawamba AHS 50, Southaven 30

Clinton 36, DeSoto Central 34

Lewisburg 85, Narrows, Virginia 27 

• Note: Lewisburg set a school record for most points scored in one game with 85.  

Center Hill 59, Memphis Central 51 (Collierville, Tenn.) – 1:30 p.m.

• Center Hill scoring: Jairya Rankins (16), Madison Hughes (13), Zarria Shipp (11)

Center Hill 54, West Memphis, Ark. 44

• Center Hill scoring: Jairya Rankins (14), Anniya Bailey (13), Zarria Shipp (10)

William Blount, Tenn. 57, Magnolia Heights 42