The East Mississippi Community College basketball teams successfully tipped off MACJC North Division play by sweeping Holmes on Thursday night at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum. The Lions improved to 8-1 on the year with a 79-69 victory in the nightcap, while the EMCC women earned a 58-49 win against the Bulldogs in the opener.

    Winners of six of their last seven games, coach Sharon Thompson’s Lions outscored Holmes 17-8 over the final six minutes of the contest to improve to 6-3 on the campaign. EMCC responded to a 10-2 Holmes run that tied the contest at 41-41 by the 5:49 mark with seven unanswered points of its own late in the second half. The home team sealed the victory by hitting 7-of-8 free throws over the final minute of play.

    Freshman guard Chadisty Hickman of Kemper County once again led the way with 21 points for EMCC. Sophomore RoTasha Windom, another KCHS product, registered her fourth double-double of the year with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

    Falling to 5-4 on the season, the Holmes women were led by Kierra Gilmore’s 13 points.

    The reigning MACJC North Division and NJCAA Region 23 champions, coach Mark White’s 23rd-ranked Lions claimed their eighth win in nine decisions on the year. Leading 41-28 at the break, EMCC stretched the margin to as many as 19 points (65-46) before settling for the double-digit outcome.

    EMCC freshman point guard D.J. Evans poured in a season-high 33 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 11-of-15 accuracy from the free-throw line.Evans also tallied five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Sophomore guard Joe McCoy added 13 points and six boards.

    Now 2-9 overall on the year, the Holmes Bulldogs received 29 points from Curtis Bailey.

    The EMCC basketball teams hit the road to Senatobia to take on division foe Northwest Mississippi on Monday at 5 p.m.

— from school reports

Clarkdale girls    53

Sebastopol    45

    In their opening game of the Edinburg Tournament on Thursday, the Bulldogs overcame a first-quarter deficit to pull away in the second half.

    Clarkdale, trailing 14-11 after the first, led 26-25 at halftime and went up 38-31 through three quarters.

    Crystal Clay led the Bulldogs (5-1) with 26 points and 18 rebounds, while Charmane Tims added 15 points. Sebastopol was led by Ashley McLemore’s 14.

    Clarkdale faces host Edinburg today.

— Jamie Wachter

Sebastopol    59

Clarkdale boys    46

    The Bulldogs were unable to overcome a sluggish start Thursday at the Edinburg Tournament.

    Clarkdale scored just two points in the first quarter before scoring 11 in the second quarter behind Stanley Neal’s 15 points and 10 rebounds. Derias Coft added 10 points for Clarkdale (3-3). Sebastopol was led by James Patrick’s 21 points and Brandon Hawkins’ 12.

    The Bulldogs face Edinburg today in the tournament.

— Jamie Wachter

PREP SOCCER

SE Lauderdale boys    5

Choctaw Central    1

    Behind a first-half hat trick from Daniel Schirali, the Tigers cruised past Choctaw Central on Thursday.

    Leading 3-0 at the break, the 2-0 Tigers got second-half goals from Garrett Hagan and Pedro Coerlo.

    The Tigers visit Northeast Lauderdale today.

— Jamie Wachter

Choctaw Central    2

SE Lauderdale girls    1

    The Tigers jumped ahead early Thursday on a Kennedy McReynolds goal, but couldn’t hold off the Warriors.

    Choctaw Central tied the game before halftime and then scored the only goal after the break.

    Southeast (0-2) travels to Northeast Lauderdale today.

— Jamie Wachter

LATE PREP BASKETBALL

Leake Academy girls    70

Mt. Salus Christian    52

    The visiting Rebelettes improved to 10-0 Tuesday thanks to a scorching start.

    Leake rolled to a 25-4 lead through the first quarter as Jenny Wilbanks led three Rebelettes in double figures with 17 points and eight rebounds. Anna Nowell added 15 points, seven rebounds and six steals, while Hannah Peoples finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four steals.

    Anna Grace Govero paced Mt. Salus with 18 points, while Michaela Harper and Desharra Jackson each had 10.

— Jamie Wachter

Leake Academy girls    67

East Rankin Academy    34

    The Rebelettes blitzed visiting ERA early Nov. 23 and cruised.

    Leake, which led 18-8 after the first quarter, upped its advantage to 37-18 at halftime behind 22 points from Hannah Peoples. Jenny Wilbanks added 20 points and eight rebounds.

    Kristen Byrd led ERA with eight points.

— Jamie Wachter