Rodney Hood scored 19 of his game-high 26 points in the second half as Meridian High blew open a close game to bounce back from its first loss of the season.

The Wildcats (8-1) led by five points at the break, but outscored Kemper County 26-6 in the third quarter as they took an 85-61 victory.

Donovan Walker scored 14 for Meridian High, while Kenny Brown and Zacc Cacapit each had 13. Cacapit's total included three of Meridian's nine 3-pointers.

KC (4-6) hit three from behind the arc in the fourth quarter, but were unable to erase the 20-point deficit.

LaColton Bester and Devonta Pollard both notched 14-point games and Steven Fuller added 13 in the loss.

MHS will return to action Saturday when it hosts the Wildcat Classic. Kemper opens division play Tuesday against Union.

— Chris Brennaman



Kemper County 63

Meridian girls 31



Kemper County scored 22 points in the final period to cruise to a 32-point victory over homestanding Meridian High.

Alondra Jefferson paced KC with 16 points, while Chadisty Hickman and RoTasha Windom scored 15 and 10, respectively.

Tyneisha Parker led MHS with seven points.

Meridian will play Saturday in the Wildcat Classic, and Kemper County will face Union on Tuesday.

— Chris Brennaman



Carthage girls 38

Union 35



Despite scoring only two points in the opening quarter, Union stayed neck-and-neck with Carthage until the end of its game in the Carthage Tournament.

The Lady Tigers' Shana Ward led all scorers with 20 points, while Delaina Wilson scored 10 for the Lady Yellowjackets. Yancey Tillman added eight in the loss.

The 3-5 Lady Jackets play Louisville as the tournament continues today.

— Chris Brennaman



Union boys 49

Carthage 45



The Union boys broke their season-opening five-game losing skid with a four-point win over the host Tigers in the Carthage Tournament.

The Yellowjackets held off a fourth-quarter charge by the Tigers, who were trying to come back from eight down in the final period.

Kenneth Harris' 17 points led the way for Union, while Shunadrick Landfair added a dozen.

Dalvin Sanders put up 15 in the loss.

Union faces Louisville in the tournament today.

— Chris Brennaman



Oak Hill Academy 50

Lamar girls 44



Ally Knowles hit a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter to give Oak Hill Academy its final lead of the game as the visiting Raiders knocked off host Lamar in the school's Pre-Holiday Classic.

Knowles finished the game with 11, second on the team behind Bonnie Riley's 20 points.

Mary Grace Cady and Margaret Cady put up matching 16-point totals in the loss for Lamar, which falls to 7-5.

— Chris Brennaman



Leake Aca. girls 44

Starkville Aca. 37



The Leake Academy girls improved to 13-1 on the year with a seven-point win over Starkville Academy in the Lamar Pre-Holiday Classic.

A trio of Rebelettes — Emily Kea, Jenny Wilbanks and Hannah Peoples — scored 14 points each as LA jumped out to a 32-12 halftime lead and cruised to the victory.

— Chris Brennaman



Starkville Aca. 42

Leake Aca. boys 38



The Leake Academy Rebels were unable to finish off their second-half comeback as they fell to Starkville by four in the Lamar Pre-Holiday Classic.

The Rebels, who trailed by nine at the break, were led by Grant Wilson's 9 points. Brian Saxon and Dylan Gregory each had eight.

James Blair had a game-high 24 points for the Yellowjackets.

— Chris Brennaman



Lamar School boys 42

Oak Hill Academy 32



The Raiders used a solid defensive effort to take control early, then held off Oak Hill to earn a win in the Lamar Pre-Holiday Classic Thursday night.

Lamar led 15-7 after one quarter and 24-11 at halftime. The Raiders were up 33-15 after three quarters of action.

Allen Massingill scored 14 points for the Raiders, while Nicky Holland scored nine and Bo Bidgood eight.

Lamar, which is now 6-3, will tangle with Leake Academy in the championship Saturday at approximately 7 p.m.

Oak Hill got 14 points from Brett Barker.

Saturday's other action in the Pre-Holiday Classic begins at 11 a.m. with junior-high action. Those finals are set for 1 and 2 p.m., with Oak Hill and Starkville Academy to meet in varsity consolation games at 3:15 and 4:30.

At around 5:45, the Lamar girls battle Leake Academy, followed by the Leake and Lamar boys in the finale.

— Rocky Higginbotham



PREP SOCCER

Meridian girls 1

Clarkdale 0



After playing a scoreless first half against Clarkdale, the Meridian Lady Wildcats finally found the back of the net after the intermission.

The lone goal, which came on a direct kick by Braden Sims, sealed the fifth win of the year for MHS. The Lady Wildcats have lost two.

Clarkdale fell to 5-3.

Meridian will be back in action Saturday as West Jones visits Ray Stadium. The Lady Bulldogs resume division play next Thursday when they travel to Choctaw Central.

— Chris Brennaman



Meridian boys 1

Clarkdale 0



The Wildcats got a second-half goal from Daniel Sollie to knock off the visiting Bulldogs at Ray Stadium.

The contest was scoreless at the half, but Sollie knocked one in off a deflection to help the Wildcats improve to 4-0 on the season.

Dylan Harper was credited with the shutout in goal for Meridian, recording three saves on the night.

MHS will be in action again Saturday, hosting West Jones at 2:30 p.m.

Clarkdale, which fell to 6-2, will go to Choctaw Central next Thursday.

— Rocky Higginbotham



Lamar School boys 4

Madison-Ridgeland 0



The Raiders ran their record to 5-0 on the season behind a big effort from Cameron Melancon.

Melancon recorded one goal and a pair of assists, while Tyler Roberts recorded the shutout in goal for Lamar.

Lee Martin, Andy Waite and Austin Terry joined Melancon with goals.

The Raiders will return to action Tuesday at Hillcrest Christian, and their next home action is Dec. 11 against Presbyterian Christian.

— Rocky Higginbotham



Lamar School boys 4

Starkville Aca. 3



In a previously-unreported contest from earlier this week, the Raiders knocked off MPSA power Starkville Academy.

Scott Bounds, Michael Hodge, Andy Waite and Cameron Melancon all scored goals for the Raiders, while Tyler Roberts was in goal as Lamar improved to 4-0 on the year.

The Raiders go to Hillcrest Christian Tuesday and host PCS Thursday.

— Rocky Higginbotham