Mississippi
Leake Academy Girls Set Mississippi Record, Make 20 3-Pointers To Win Its 12th Consecutive Game – Mississippi Scoreboard
By Robert Wilson
The Leake Academy women basketball staff set a Mississippi document by making 20 3-pointers in an 87-40 victory over Memphis St. Agnes Academy Tuesday afternoon at Vacation Shootout at Marshall Academy in Holly Springs.
And Leake set the document with out its finest participant, senior level guard Miriam Prince.
Leake broke the Mississippi document held by Pontotoc Excessive, which made 17 3-pointers in opposition to H.W. Byers Nov. 21, 2013, in keeping with the nationwide highschool document e-book.
The nationwide document is held by Man-Perkins Excessive from Arkansas, which made 34 in opposition to Little Rock Walnut Valley Christian Nov. 4, 1999.
With Prince and her 19.9 factors per sport scoring common on the bench – she wanted a relaxation after enjoying 5 video games in eight days (Prince had been going nonstop for the reason that season started after recovering from surgical procedure July 13 to restore a fracture in considered one of her decrease legs) – Leake made 4 3-pointers within the first quarter, eight within the second quarter, 5 within the third quarter and three within the fourth quarter.
Seniors Emeri Warren and Grace Maxey (who tied for a team-high 16 factors), sophomore Caroline Cheatham (a career-high 15 factors) and senior Morgan Freeny (12 factors) had 4 3-pointers every. Sophomore Anna Morgan Younger, junior Abigail Graham, senior McKinley Peoples and sophomore Elizabeth Smith had one 3-pointer every. Cheatham’s 3-pointer with 7 minutes, 12 seconds to play within the fourth quarter broke the document. Graham hit No. 19, then Smith hit No. 20 with 2:20 to play. Cheatham, Younger, Graham, Peoples and Smith got here off the bench to contribute to the document. Maxey was beginning for Prince.
Leake made 20 of 42 photographs from 3-point vary, 47.6 p.c.
“We had been compelled to play a variety of video games this summer time with out Miriam, so we’ve needed to do it earlier than,” stated Leake coach Amanda Hatch, who has a 296-32 document – an incredible 90.2 p.c profitable share – in her ninth season at Leake and has 411 profession wins in her 14th season as a head coach. She has taken Leake to the General title sport 4 of the previous 5 seasons, profitable it in 2021.
“We definitely miss her on the ground when she’s not there, however she’s an incredible teammate and assistant coach on the sideline. It’s positively a unique dynamic, however my seniors have a lot expertise that they’ve dealt with it very well. The opposite women have actually stepped up throughout her absence the final seven days, and in the present day was no exception. Everybody shot the ball with confidence, hustled after offensive rebounds to create second likelihood alternatives for kick out 3s, and turned nice protection and rebounding into simple transition layups and 3s. The sport was a variety of enjoyable, particularly the second half once we had been getting nearer to the document. Everybody was actually enthusiastic about the opportunity of breaking the document once we hit the 13th made 3 within the third quarter and all had been rooting for his or her teammates to take 3-point photographs. There was a variety of power and cheering on teammates as we collectively counted down what number of extra 3s had been wanted to interrupt the document. And one of the best a part of it’s that every lady on the staff obtained to be part of it by getting on the ground within the sport in the present day, whether or not it was really making a 3, or getting an help, or simply being a part of an offensive group that hit one of many 20 3s.”
Leake, which led 52-17 at halftime, improved to 12-0 and has gained 32 of its final 34 video games. Leake, enjoying with out Prince, defeated Fayette, Tenn. Academy 61-52 Monday at Marshall Academy. It was the least margin of victory this season. The following closest sport is a 60-47 choice over Copiah Academy Nov. 2 at Copiah. Leake performed its first seven video games on the highway.
Leake’s subsequent sport is in opposition to Canton Academy Monday at dwelling in Madden. Leake has gained 66 consecutive dwelling video games and has not misplaced since 2017. Hatch stated Prince isn’t anticipated to play in opposition to Canton.
Prince is anticipated to be again when Leake performs host to Hartfield Academy Tuesday in Madden in a showdown of two of the favorites to win the MAIS General Match championship. Leake returns its high seven gamers from final 12 months’s General Match runner-up staff. Hartfield returns three starters from final 12 months’s staff, which misplaced to Leake 52-49 within the General semifinals. The Woman Hawks, beneath first-year coach Mark Alexander, gained their first 9 video games earlier than to dropping to Memphis Dwelling Schooling Affiliation Saturday at Jackson Prep.