CLINTON – Choctaw County junior La'Genesis Johnson had a big game at the Mississippi
Association of Coaches Girls All-Star Game for 1A/2A/3A schools, but it wasn't quite enough for a victory at A.E. Wood Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
Playing for the North, Johnson had a team-high 14 points on 5-10 shooting from the floor and 4-4 from the line, but the South rallied late for a 62-61 win. In 18 minutes of play, Johnson also led or tied for the team lead in rebounds with 12, blocks with four and assists with two. The 5-11 center averaged 17 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Lady Chargers this season.
Johnson said playing in the game was a new experience. “I learned a lot and met a lot of new people,” She said playing with and against many of the other top juniors in Mississippi will benefit her for the senior season. “It toughens you up mentally and physically.”
After a basket by Johnson midway through the fourth quarter gave the North a 56-51 lead, the South went on an 11-2 run. Tia'Rain Saunders of Choctaw Central broke a 58-58 tie with a layup with 31 seconds left for the South and Kaitlyn Ellis of Bay Springs clinched the victory by sinking two free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining.
Jacorriah Bracey of Ruleville Central banked in a three-point shot from mid-court for the North as time expired.
Alliyah Gray of Puckett, the tallest player on either team at 6-1, was named game MVP with 16 points and nine rebounds for the South. Jakyra Young of Region 5-1A champion McAdams, had four points and two rebounds for the South.
There were two games each for boys and girls for the first time this year, with 1A/2A/3A and 4A/5A/6A teams. MAC executive director Johnny Mims said the change was requested by 1A/2A/3A schools because players from the larger schools had been dominating rosters.
1A/2A/3A Boys
In the only one-sided game, the North took an 18-9 lead after one period and breezed to a 72-53 win over a cold-shooting South. The South was 18-59 from the floor and 13-26 from the line.
Bentavious Galmore of Coahoma County led four North players in double figures with 13 points. Hershey McLaurin of Collins scored 12 points for the South.
4A/5A6A Girls
It was a similar script from the 1A/2A/3A girls game with the North rallying from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit for a 69-66. The game was decided at the free throw line. The South made 22 of 43 attempts, the North only five of 13.
Brikayla Gray of West Jones led the South with 17 points and nine rebounds. Che'Mya Carouthers of Tupelo made five of eight three-point shots and scored 17 points for the North.
4A/5A/6A Boys
The South nearly had a third come from behind victory. Down by 17 early in the fourth quarter, the South cut the deficit to one on three occasions, but the North held on for an 88-83 victory.
The North shots 55 percent from the floor (36-66), including 10-17 from behind the arc.
Zeke Cook of 6A champion Starkville led five North players in double figures with 17 points. Keondre Montgomery of Forest Hill scored 17 points for the South.
The two South wins cut the North series lead to 30-26 in girls games while the North wins trimmed the South boys lead to 39-27. The first boys game was played in 1955 and the first girls game in 1965.
The games changed from seniors to juniors in 2004.
