The McComb Lady Tigers have a message for anyone thinking they’ll be a postseason pushover: They’re ready to battle.
Audrekus Dexter’s steal and breakaway layup gave the Lady Tigers a 51-50 lead, and Angelina Earl’s fifth 3-pointer of the game supplied the cushion as McComb held on for a 56-51 victory over Forest Hill in Region 5-5A action at McComb High.
With McComb trailing by one, 50-49, Dexter slapped the ball away from Forest Hill guard Latoya Collins from behind at mid-court, then retrieved the ball and hit a breakaway layup to give the Lady Tigers the lead with 3:42 to play.
After a Forest Hill miss, Earl drained a 3-pointer from the right wing to stretch the lead to 54-50 with 3:04 remaining.
The Lady Tigers’ staying power was a pleasant surprise for head coach Angelia Johnson.
“There have been letdowns late in games,” Johnson said. “We had an overall fight the whole game. It was good to see it now.”
Forest Hill helped the Lady Tigers’ cause down the stretch, turning the ball over on three of its final six possessions and converting just one of three free throws the final minute.
One reason the visitors were able to have the ball so many times late was the Lady Tigers’ struggles on the boards. Forest Hill out-rebounded McComb 9-4 in the fourth quarter.
“It was a pretty good effort, except we gave them too many second-chance shots,” Johnson said.
The McComb coach said the Lady Tigers continue to improve with the district tournament just over a week away.
“We’re making steps to where we want to be,” she said. “Everything that needs to be said has been said.
“It’s (district tournament) time again,” Johnson added. “You can throw the records out the window.”
McComb’s first 15 points came on the 3-pointer — four by Earl and another from Alexus Johnson — to jump out to a 15-8 lead with 1:29 remaining in the opening period.
Earl finished with 17 points.
Johnson’s offensive rebound and putback gave the Lady Tigers a seemingly comfortable 26-16 advantage with 1:24 before halftime.
But McComb turned the ball over on its next three possessions and Forest Hill capitalized with an 8-0 run. Krystal Baker’s offensive board and putback off the left baseline trimmed the margin to 26-24.
Dexter stopped the bleeding with an offensive rebound and short jumper in the lane. McComb led 28-24 at halftime.
Keaira Patterson’s driving layup through the lane sent the Lady Tigers’ lead to 34-28 midway through the third period. But Forest Hill answered with a 7-0 run capped by Baker’s steal and drive through the lane to spark a 3-point play. The basket and free throw put Forest Hill up 37-36 with 3:15 to go in the third.
Dexter’s driving layup through the lane gave McComb a brief 38-37 lead. But Forest Hill answered with a 6-0 run, capped by Collins’ drive off the left wing to retake the lead at 43-38.
Patterson’s 3-pointer in the period’s closing seconds pulled the Lady Tigers to within 43-41. Patterson chipped in 13 points.
Forest Hill led for most of the fourth quarter, jumping out to as much as a 48-45 advantage when Collins beat a McComb double team with a 10-foot jumper on the left baseline.
Raneka Felder and Tacara Garner hit baseline jumpers to keep McComb close, before Dexter’s deciding steal and layup put the Lady Tigers ahead for good.
