A trio of victories last week upped Louisville’s record to 12-6 overall and 3-1 in Region 4-4A contests and extended the Wildcats’ win streak to five games, as Louisville earned wins against New Hope, Choctaw County, and East Webster.
“We didn’t play exceptionally well this week but came up with three wins,” Louisville coach Kenyon Ross said. “We have to get consistent because this week is a crucial week in district play with two home games. We are currently in a three-way tie for first in the district, so we must handle our business at home.”
The Wildcats used a strong third quarter last Tuesday to escape New Hope with a 57-54 victory. Clayton Murray paced Louisville with an 11-point effort. Jy’Kevious Hibbler and Tyrell Thames ended with nine points apiece.
The Wildcats and Trojans entered the second quarter with the score tied at 13, and the Trojans outscored Louisville 16-12 in the period to lead 29-25 at halftime. Louisville surged in the third quarter as it rattled off 16 points to New Hope’s seven points. Louisville’s 16-point fourth quarter was enough to grab the win.
Shemar Eiland erupted for 17 points, while Thames added 14 points to help Louisville dispatch Choctaw County 64-49 last Thursday. Vasedrick Culberson chipped in with eight points, and Bryandrea Shumaker and Maury each tallied seven points.
Louisville saw a 15-7 lead at the end of the first quarter evaporate to a 22-21 Charger advantage at halftime. The Wildcats added 16 and 27 points in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to secure the victory.
Louisville traveled to Ackerman Saturday to play in the 12th annual Mid-Mississippi Challenge, where the Wildcats played East Webster at Choctaw County High School.
Three Wildcat players tallied double-digit efforts as Louisville defeated East Webster 57-55. Tequavious Braggs ended with 17 points, Eiland poured in 11 points and Shumaker finished with 10 points.
Louisville returns to region play this week when it hosts Kosciusko on Tuesday and Noxubee County on Friday.
GIRLS
The Louisville (15-3, 4-0 Region 4-4A) Lady Wildcats went 2-1 last week, with their lone loss coming by just two points against Ingomar, 40-38.
Louisville got a resounding 64-19 victory in region play against New Hope last Tuesday and defeated Choctaw County 51-30 on Thursday. The Lady Wildcats’ loss to the Lady Falcons occurred on Saturday in the Mid-Mississippi Challenge at Choctaw County High School.
Didn’t have a good week shooting the basketball, and it caught up with us Saturday against the three-time state champions, Ingomar,” Ross said. “The loss to Ingomar will be on we can look back on film and learn something from. We have two district games at home before we travel to Madison Central to play Holmes Central, which will bring pressure all game.”
In Louisville’s win against New Hope, Areyanna Hunter paced the team with 22 points and eight steals, and Iitasha Paty contributed with 10 points and six rebounds.
Hunter and Paty scored a team-high nine points each against Choctaw County, while Lymyia Fifer and Kiersten Ball tallied six points apiece.
Hunter’s 18 points against Ingomar were a team-best. Fifer ended with eight points and 11 rebounds.
Louisville returns to region play this week when it hosts Kosciusko on Tuesday and Noxubee County on Friday.
