Last week, Louisville coach Mitchell McCurry mentioned that he was worried about how his team would respond after a huge win over Choctaw Central.
After beating the Lady Warriors last year, the Lady Cats would falter down the stretch. The first game after beating CCHS was a win over Northeast Lauderdale, but last week was another challenge with two more Class 4A, Region 4 games.
McCurry’s team responded in emphatic fashion getting two blowout wins over Kosciusko and West Lauderdale to move one step closer to winning the regular season district title.
“This week our intensity turned up a little,” McCurry said. “Last year coming off a win against Choctaw Central we reverted back to our old ways. This year it’s been about playing with intensity and the mindset that no matter who we play, we worry about us. We’re doing that.”
Starting off the week, the Lady Cats were at home taking on the Lady Whippets of Kosciusko. LHS ran out to a big lead and would win it 54-35. They followed that up with a completely dominant showing against West Lauderdale rolling to a 55-11 win.
The team has now given up an average of just 29 points on the defensive end in eight district ball games including three games in which they have surrendered 20 points or less. Two of those have happened in the last three contests.
For McCurry, defense is the foundation of his program and it’s something he doesn’t compromise on with his players.
“I’m old school and I believe that defense wins championships,” McCurry said. “Our goal is to win the championship this year so we’re going to hang our hat on defense. That’s our primary focus on everything that we do.”
There are no championships of yet for the Lady Cats but they are certainly doing what they need to do to stay on path. The team is now 21-3 on the season with an 8-0 mark in Region 4. They have won 17 of the last 18 games and six-straight over the course of this month.
Two more await them this week as the team closes out the regular season with a No. 1 seed in the district tournament just one win away. It started on Tuesday as the team went on the road to Leake Central. They will be at home for Senior Night on Friday against Choctaw Central.
McCurry believes that his team is ready to continue to take the steps forward.
“As a coach, you can only do so much. It’s up to the kids and we have a great group of seniors that are locked in and we want them,” McCurry said. “Their attitude, their mindset, the way they approach every practice and game tells me they’re prepared. I think they’re buying in.”
Boys
The Wildcat boys were on pace to be right in the hunt for the Region 4 one seed but slipped up for a second time this year to West Lauderdale.
The Knights have been responsible for two of the Wildcats’ three district losses this year and were able to get a 59-49 win on Friday night. It was a 35-26 lead at the half for West Lauderdale as LHS couldn’t find a way to get over the hump after getting in a hole in the first half.
Cameron Ingram led the team with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Earlier in the week on Tuesday, the Wildcats saw the same score but a different outcome against Kosciusko winning the game 59-49. A four-point first quarter turned out by the LHS defense set the tone for the Wildcats to build a 24-19 lead at the half, but the Whippets came on strong in the third to cut the game to two points. Ingram scored seven of the team’s 19 points in that final frame for the strong close and the win.
Ingram had 17 points on the night while Jalen Hill finished with 12.
The Wildcats are 11-10 on the year and 5-3 in Region 4. The team would have to have help to garner the No. 1 seed but will get no worse than No. 3 with two wins over Leake Central on Tuesday and Choctaw Central on Friday. LHS is currently tied with Northeast Lauderdale for second and behind 7-1 CCHS who the Wildcats beat two weeks ago.
