Shanekqua Bibbs has always been looked to as one of thetop contributors for the McComb Lady Tigers.
So when she dropped 30 points on the Brookhaven Lady Panthers on Tuesday night, it came as no surprise to McComb head coach Angelia Johnson.
“I always knew she was capable of doing this,” Johnson said. “This being Senior Night, she picked a perfect night to show up.”
It also happened to be Johnson’s birthday, and she enjoyed the present delivered by Bibbs in the Lady Tigers’ 62-49 thrashing of Brookhaven in the Tiger Pit.
The win improved McComb to 14-8 overall and 3-1 in District 5-5A play.
McComb also avenged its 52-50 double-overtime loss at Brookhaven last Friday.
Bibbs sank at least one 3-pointer in each quarter. Her strongest effort came when she drained four treys in her 13-point third period, including consecutive long-range bombs that extended the Lady Tigers’ lead to 47-31.
Broookhaven, however, mounted a comeback. The Lady Panthers trimmed the margin to 49-40 on Kearra Collins’ left baseline jumper with 5:45 to play.
Moments later, Collins added another jumper from virtually the same spot to make it 52-43 with 3:57 remaining.
McComb, however, regained control when senior guard Aunjanique Miller was fouled as she drained a three-pointer from the top of the key. Miller added the free throw to complete the rare four-point play and stretch the Lady Tigers’ lead back to 57-43 with 3:12 to play.
Miller then added a pair of free throw to balloon the Lady Tigers’ advantage to 59-43 with 3:01 to go.
Johnson said her team’s ability to take control of the game came with an improved effort down the stretch.
“(Brookhaven) used a 2-3 zone defense against us Friday, and they did a pretty good job,” she said. “All our adjustments had to do with effort. For a while, the effort wasn’t there.”
Johnson added that she wasn’t overly concerned with the Lady Tigers’ 25 turnovers committed Tuesday night.
“We’re playing a lot of girls with a lot of inexperience,” she said. “As we continue to play, we’ll continue to get those down.”
The Lady Tigers will be in action next Tuesday at Murrah. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
