West Union stays perfect after defeating DeSoto Central

SENATOBIA, Miss. – It took 19 games, but the state’s top-ranked Class 1A team finally found itself on the ropes. On Tuesday afternoon at the Magnolia Heights Memorial Classic, West Union survived a furious second-half rally and a controversial final sequence to edge Class 7A DeSoto Central, 56-53.

The victory extends the Eagles’ unblemished winning streak to 19-0, proving the small-school power can handle the physical toll of Mississippi’s largest classification.

Eagles Control Early, Jaguars Surge Late

West Union (19-0) dominated the opening frame, jumping out to a 17-7 lead. The Eagles maintained a 27-21 advantage at halftime, but the atmosphere shifted in the third quarter as the Jaguars’ defensive pressure began to force uncharacteristic errors.

DeSoto Central took its first lead of the game at 31-30 with four minutes left in the third. By the end of the period, the Jaguars held a 42-38 lead, threatening to end the Eagles’ perfect season.

A Wild Final Minute

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair, tied at 45-45 with five minutes to play. The drama peaked in the final minute:

• 37.2 Seconds: Trailing 51-49, West Union was awarded a basket and a foul after a DeSoto Central player was called for slapping the backboard during a shot attempt. The resulting three-point play put the Eagles up 52-51.
• 29.8 Seconds: West Union sank two clutch free throws to extend the lead to 54-51.
• 10.2 Seconds: Following a DeSoto Central timeout, the Jaguars scored a quick layup to bring DeSoto Central within one at 54-53.
• The Finish: West Union was immediately fouled and made both free throws. On the final possession, Banger—who finished with a team-high 13 points—attempted a contested desperation three-pointer. No foul was called on the play, and the shot fell off as the buzzer sounded.

Coach’s Corner: “19-0 for a Reason”

Despite the narrow loss, DeSoto Central head coach Blake Orman was proud of his team’s effort against the top-ranked Eagles.

“I was proud of our effort. They’re 19-0 for a reason,” Orman said. “They’re a really quality team, well-coached, and aggressive. Just some turnovers and unforced errors down the stretch really hurt us, but you learn from it.”

Orman noted that his team’s third-quarter success came from a tactical shift to increase defensive pressure and score in transition. “I thought we did a better job in the third quarter and early on in the fourth playing faster,” he added.