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JACKSON--Saturday, the Ripley Lady Tigers used an inside-outside attack to move one step closer to a state title. Guard Shunquest Howell connected on four of five 3-pointers and post player Becca Ruckes was a perfect seven of seven from the paint, as the Lady Tigers rolled to a 71-51 victory over the Choctaw Lady Warriors in the semifinals of the MHSAA 3A girls’ state tournament. The win sets up a fifth and final rematch with the Belmont Lady Cardinals for the 3A state championship Friday, March 5, at the Big House. The Lady Tigers are 0-4 so far this season against the Lady Cardinals. “That’s exactly what we wanted,” said Ripley coach Katie Bates, referring to the rematch with Belmont. “That was our whole motivation for this game. We wanted them, we asked for them, and now we’re getting them.” The Lady Tigers(23-9) used that motivation to beat a Lady Warrior team that had won nine of their last 10 ball games, including the South Half Championship. Howell, who finished with 15 points, put Ripley ahead 10-2 with 4:20 to play the first quarter with her first three of the ballgame. With 1:09 left in the quarter, she connected again to put the Tigers ahead 19-8. Ruckes scored six points in the second quarter to help keep Choctaw Central at bay after they made a run to tie the game at 21 with 5:36 till halftime. The Lady Warriors got back to back lay-ups by DeShayna Hickman, but Ruckes found space inside on the Lady Tigers’ next possession to make it 23-21. Ruckes finished with 16 points. Howell drained two more 3-pointers with less than 3:30 left in the second quarter, helping the Lady Tigers to a 35-29 halftime lead. The Lady Tigers had four players in double figures. Along with Ruckes and Howell, Anna Johnson scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to end with 15 and freshman Jayla Chills added 11. For Choctaw Central (24-8), Delanda Chickaway led with 12points, and Ashland Wallance added nine. See additional coverage at tippah360.com, nems360.com, in Sunday’s Daily Journal, and Wednesday’s Southern Sentinel.
BELMONT--Saturday, the Ripley Lady Tigers (22-8) punched their ticket to the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s State 3A Girls’ State Basketball Tournament with a commanding 70-26 win over South Pontotoc in the semifinals of the North Half tournament.
The Lady Tigers got off to an early 7-0 lead, with freshman Jayla Chills scoring five points to start the game. The Lady Tigers held South Pontotoc (19-12) scoreless for the first four minutes of the first quarter.
Fellow freshman Mersades Carter drained her first of five 3-pointers with less than one minute to go in the first quarter and the Lady Tigers led 18-8. Carter led the Lady Tigers with 20 points off the bench. She was 5 of 6 from the 3-point line.
Quarter-final game hero LaNaesha Cox had 15 points and Anna Johnson added 10. For South Pontotoc, Lana Goggins scored nine.
The Lady Tigers are scheduled to face Belmont for the North Half Championship Monday at 7:30 p.m. However that time could be changed to 7 p.m. Regardless of what happens Monday, the Lady Tigers will play in Jackson Saturday, Feb. 27. Check tippah360.com for more information.
Monday's meeting between the two north 3A powers will be the fourth, with the Lady Cardinals holding a 3-0 advantage in the series. In the last meeting, Feb. 12, the Lady Tigers led for three quarters before falling 60-52 in a clash for the Division 1-3A crown.
See more information about the Lady Tigers in Wednesday's Southern Sentinel.
