JACKSON – A poor shooting night ended the Louisville girls season with a 47-40 loss to Byhalia in the MHSAA 4A semifinals Monday at the Mississippi Coliseum.
“Free throws and layups, that's the ball game," said Louisville coach Kenyon Ross. “If you can't make free throws and layups, you're going to end up losing the game.”
The Lady Wildcats were 14 of 63 from the floor and 9 of 20 from the line, ending a 14-game winning streak.
“Inexperience finally came back and caught up with us. That's basically what it was,” Ross said. “We're playing a lot of freshman and sophomores, first year guys. Byhalia has a couple of guys who played down here last year. Even though they lost their best player, they have experience so they know what it takes.”
Louisville led 20-19 at the half that saw 10 lead changes and neither team leading by more than three points. It was still close after three quarters, with Byhalia up 29-25.
With Soniya Mixon scoring her only eight points of the game in the first minute and half of the fourth quarter and Lakiowa Milan adding four pointsi n the next minute, Byhalia jumped out to a 41-29 lead. Louisville managed to cut the deficit to 44-40 in the final minute before three Byhlia free throws ended the game.
Areyanna Hunter led Louisville with 14 points. Kameron Rogers had 9 points and Timia Dora, the lone senior in Louisville's starting lineup, had 8 points, 12 rebounds and 7 blocks. Milan and Darianna Wilson scored 11 each for Byhalia.
The Lady Wildcats finished 27-3. “It was an enjoyable run,” Ross said. “We're returning about 15 players, so the future is bright. Louisville had not been to the playoffs since 1995. We just have to come back, get at it and work hard.”
Byhalia 25-5, will play Lawrence County Thursday for the Golden Ball.
