After scoring 92 points Thursday night, the McComb Lady Tigers struggled in the opening quarter of Friday night’s game against St. Mary’s Academy out of New Orleans but gained control on the way to a 55-29 win to close out the McComb Christmas Tournament.
“They didn’t have that energy like we had the previous night,” said head coach Charlton Grey. “I don’t know what’s that from. It’s just one of those games. No one is pushing them.”
The Lady Tigers (16-1) led 17-10 at the end of the opening quarter and started the second frame on a 18-1 run capped by a Kayla Brumfield bucket with 3:19 left before halftime.
McComb continued to force turnovers and entered the locker room with a comfortable 40-15 advantage.
A box-and-one defense against St. Mary’s Tomyree Thompson crippled the Lady Cougars’ offensive attack.
Mylisha Hammond led McComb with 11 points, with Brumfield scoring 10.
Other scorers were: Dellesheonia Dixon (6), Brandy Patterson (8), Destiny Smith (7), Chardonay Williams (8), Kevanique Butler (3) and Sherese Martin (2).
Friday’s win makes it 10 in a row for Grey’s squad. He said he thinks his team is prepared for district play.
“I’m in a great situation with these young ladies,” he said. “You have 5 or 6 players who can give you 6 to 10 points who aren’t starters. That’s a big help.
“We have to rebound better and shoot our free throws better. Once we improve on that, we’ll be hard to beat.”
McComb 55, Natchez 52
The Tigers led by five points with 1:49 left in the game, but it took an Odess Tobias block on a 3-pointer at the buzzer to secure the win.
They really needed that one bad,” said head coach Leon Harris. “I told the guys an ugly win is better than a smooth loss any day.”
Natchez held a 25-21 lead with 2:43 left before halftime and extended the lead to seven points before McComb (8-5) cut the deficit to 28-24 at halftime.
Braxon Grippi, who was inserted into the starting lineup for Friday’s game, nailed a 3-pointer to put McComb ahead 30-28 early in third quarter.
Harris said Grippi’s performance helped the team get over it’s slow starts.
“He gives us everything he has,” Harris said. “He’s out there busting his butt. We think that sparked us in the beginning because we been getting off to some slow starts. I think that was real key.”
McComb’s lead was shortlived after Grippi’s jumper because the Bulldogs responded with a three to go up 31-30 on the next possession.
Ty Abraham’s layup gave the Tigers a 35-34 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Natchez led 45-39 with 4:27 left before McComb went on a 7-0 run capped by a tip in from Kendrell Martin to give his team a 46-45 lead with 3:32 left.
Zarkeichious Martin led the team with 15 points, while Abraham added 9 points.
Other scorers were: Grippi, Venchenza McCray and Martin each with 7, James Williams (3), Tobias (3) and Gary Butler (2).
Friday’s win avenged McComb’s loss to Natchez on Dec. 13.
“It should help us a lot because they are a 5A school and they had beat us earlier in the season,” Harris said. “This should boost our confidence.”
McComb will kick off district play Jan. 10 on the road against North Pike.
