The French Camp girls basketball season came to an end with a 51-35 loss to Hamilton Monday in the opening round of the MHSAA 1A tournament.
Jordan Carter led French Camp with 12 points. Madison Klein had eight points, Jasmine Bonty seven and Abby Robertson six.
The Lady Panthers advanced to the playoffs after losing twice in the Region 5-1A tournament to finish fourth. Hamilton was the champion of 6-1A.
In the 5-1A tournament, French Camp was defeated by Ethel 77-60 and Coffeeville 61-58.
Two scoring droughts resulted in the loss to Ethel. French Camp took its last lead 15-14 in the first quarter on a three-point basket by Klein. Ethel then ran off 17 straight points.
French Camp rallied within 38-32 at the half, then tied the score 38-38 early in the third quarter on three straight baskets by Bonty. But Ethel scored the next 11 points, led 54-43 after three quarters and pulled away in the final period.
“We made a lot of rookie mistakes,” said coach Priscilla Anderson. “We have a lot of ninth graders. Twenty -wo (Klein) is our only senior. The other girls who play a lot are ninth and 10th graders. They make a lot of rookie mistakes.”
Klein finished with 28 points to go over 1,000 points for her career and Bonty had 24. Klein played as a freshman at Jackson Prep and a sophomore at St. Andrew’s. She sat out as a junior due to MHSAA transfer rules before joining the Lady Panthers for her senior season.
Ethel also had a number 22, Akilah Erving, and she was unstoppable, scoring 38 points.
French Camp led most of the consolation game against Coffeeville before the Lady Pirates rallied for the win in the fourth quarter.
“We quit playing like we had a lead and started playing like we were behind,” Anderson said. “We started taking shots that we didn’t need to take, They got the rebounds and beat us down the court to score. They were a lot faster than us.”
Klein scored 26 points, Carter 16 and Bonty 15.
McAdams won the tournament with victories over Coffeeville and Ethel.
BOYS
The French Camp boys basketball team played West Lowndes in the opening round of the MHSAA 1A tournament Tuesday after dropping two games in the 5-1A tournament hosted by the Panthers. French Camp lost to McAdams 69-53 and Ethel 57-43.
A slow start resulted in the loss to McAdams. The Panthers were scoreless the first 6½ minutes and fell behind 20-0. Behind the play of Calvin Johnson, Clayton Leathers and Holman Edwards, the Panthers pulled within six, 47-41, early in the fourth quarter before McAdams pulled away.
“It's a shame that it takes half a game to get your mind on what you are supposed to be doing,” said coach Robert Leathers.
Johnson scored 18 points, Leathers 14 and Edwards 12. Querrion Gadson had a game-high 22 for McAdams.
The Panthers trailed Ethel by three at the half. “We couldn't score in the second half. They (Ethel) made some baskets and put the game away,” Coach Leathers said.
McAdams won the tournament with a 73-70 victory over Coffeeville.
