CLINTON – The season did not end for Kenyon Ross after he coached the Louisville girls basketball team to the MHSAA Class 4A state championship two weeks ago. He was chosen as one of the North team coaches in the first Mississippi Association of Coaches Girls All-Star Game for 4A/5A/6A schools last Saturday at Mississippi College.
The game went down to the wire – the South pulling out a 69-66 victory – as was the case in the Lady Wildcats final three playoff games against Senatobia, Lanier and Ripley. But there was far less pressure with everyone enjoying the occasion.
It was Ross' first time as an all star game coach. “Any time you can coach in an all star game with a bunch of ladies who have the talent that these ladies have is always a plus.”
The teams had only two practice sessions together before the game. “You just let them play. Let them use their athleticism,” Ross said.
Louisville's championship was the not the reason for his selection s a coach. That was decided in January.
The South rallied from a 55-45 deficit early in the fourth quarter. 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.
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 Girls
The North led 56-51 midway through the fourth quarter before 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 in the game at 6-1, was named MVP with 16 points and nine rebounds for the South. La'Genesis Johnson of Choctaw County had 14 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the North.
1A/2A/3A Boys
In the only one-side 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/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.
