Tuesday sports: Eagles, Mustangs, split hoops doubleheader

December 20, 2023 Bob Bakken

Photo: Zarria Shipp of Center Hill goes up for a basket as teammate Jaidya Rankins looks on during their game at Horn Lake on Tuesday, Dec. 20. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Basketball coaches can sometimes come into a game during a holiday break a little nervous, not knowing how a team will respond without the school day routine ahead of game time.

But the Center Hill girls gathered themselves together after a slow start to gallop past the Horn Lake Lady Eagles in the first of a basketball twinbill at Horn Lake Tuesday night.

Center Hill (11-2) trailed 7-2 early in the game but recovered for an 8-7 lead with 3:18 left in the first period and took the 14-10 advantage at the end of the quarter.

Defense took over for Center Hill in the second quarter as the Lady Mustangs held the Lady Eagles to just six points in the second quarter. It was back and forth early in the period before Center Hill took over to take a 29-20 lead at the break.

The strong offense and stingy defense continued in the third quarter for Center Hill, which took a 46-24 lead into the final eight minutes, holding the Lady Eagles to just four points in the third frame.

In the first couple of minutes in the final quarter, Center Hill extended the lead to 53-24 with 6:11 remaining and the Lady Mustangs galloped on to the final score.

Madison Hughes, who has been a consistent offense presence for Center Hill this season, continued to do that Tuesday night with a game-high 20 point effort. Hughes received support from Anniya Bailey with 11.

Horn Lake was led by LaMyah Harris with 11 and Kalia Pernell added 10.

Horn Lake’s Kemauri Mack (14) eyes Center Hill’s Jonathan Mitchell during their game on Tuesday, Dec. 20. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

The boys game that followed between the two schools was much more competitive and had an exciting finish as the Eagles (7-5) came away with a 67-64 victory over the Mustangs.

Center Hill started with a run in the first quarter to take a 14-7 lead with 1:36 left before the quarter break, and held the seven-point margin at 17-10 when the period was done.

The Eagles came back in the second quarter and drew within 22-21 Mustangs with four minutes remaining before halftime. The lead would change hands back and forth from there until halftime when Center Hill had a 30-29 advantage.

Coming out of the locker room for the second half, the Eagles took control, taking a 38-35 edge midway through the quarter and a 47-38 lead with 1:38 remaining before the quarter break.

The lead shrank back to three nearly three minutes into the quarter and held at that the rest of the way, although Jaidyn Rankins had a chance to tie it at the buzzer but his three-point attempt bounced off the rim.

Rankins finished with 23 points to lead the Mustangs and Jeremy Holloway followed with 12. Horn Lake was led by Kemauri Mack, who also scored 23 points in the win. Jason Edwards scored 15 and Ronald Wilson added 12 more for the Eagles.

Tuesday, Dec. 19

Prep boys basketball

Horn Lake 67, Center Hill 64

Prep girls basketball

Center Hill 60, Horn Lake 36

Prep boys soccer

Northwest Rankin 3, Lewisburg 2