CLINTON — In a contest that was highly competitive throughout, Northwest Mississippi Community College’s Tekevanna Young’s jump shot from the corner that banked off the backboard and through the net with 0.4 seconds left proved to be the difference, as the Lady Rangers beat Meridian Community 77-75 at the Region 23 tournament.

“To be champions, you have to play like champions,” Meridian coach Jocelyn McGilberry said. “We didn’t come out and execute our game at all, from the beginning nor until the end. What can you say? We had a great season this year, and a great run (finishing second at the MACJC tournament), but it’s hard to go out with a loss like (Thursday’s).”

The Lady Eagles fell behind 23-14 early on, but on the strength of post player Miaya Crowder were able to come back and tie the game 26-26.

“From the beginning, we didn’t play our game,” McGilberry said. “We came out sluggish and in slow motion. We never got into our game. They had the game plan on what we were supposed to do to this team, and how we were going to defend. The execution just never happened for us.”

With just under seven minutes remaining in the opening half, Crowder was forced to the bench with her third personal foul, and would not return until the 8:30 mark of the second half.

“In order for us to win games, she has to play ball,” McGilberry said of Crowder, who finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. “If she’s not in the game, then the whole team is not flowing together.”

Meridian was led offensively by Titiana Hall, who recorded a game-high 25 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while Londyn Thomas chipped in with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

“(Hall) played really well, and she’s played really well the whole season,” McGilberry said. “She comes up big when she’s needed.”

Crowder, Thomas and Kristen Dixon-McBeath are the three sophomores on the Meridian roster, leaving two spots open in the starting lineup for the younger players to step up and fill in.

“They came back and brought us experience this year,” McGilberry said. “Thomas and Crowder were returning starters for us, and Kristen brought tremendous work ethic every day in practice for us. They are great players that meant a lot to the program and had great leadership. Other kids looked up to them, and that’s something that is going to be hard to replace.”