Choctaw hopes to slow Belmont shooters on way back to title game

Published 6:00 am Friday, February 24, 2012

Choctaw Central forward Kristen Dixon attacks the basket against Belmont’s Kelsie Montgomery last year in a MHSAA Class 3A girls state semifinal.

    Choctaw Central is known for featuring lethal 3-point shooters.

Newsletter sign up WIDGET

Email newsletter signup

    So, when legendary Warriors coach Willis Tullos says Belmont — Choctaw’s opponent in a MHSAA Class 3A state semifinal Saturday at 9 a.m. — features the two best shooters his team has ever stepped on the floor against, it is indeed lofty praise.

    “They have two outstanding shooters,” he said. “Their point guard is the best 3-point shooter any of our kids have played against.

    “And (Angelia Allen) is deadly in the left corner, and what makes her so dangerous is drives very well.”

Most Popular

    So if the Warriors are to top the Cardinals (30-4) for the second straight season in the semifinal round — Choctaw won 61-49 last year — its ability to defend the 3-point line will be key. Robinson, Belmont’s senior point guard averages 13.5 points per game, while Allen leads the way with a 19.3 average.

    “We have to do a good job of finding those shooters,” Tullos said. “And Kristen (Dixon) is going to have to do a good job of helping out if they drive.”

    That is something that Dixon, the Warriors’ 6-foot-X junior, has a knack for. After averaging more than eight blocks per game last season, this year she has been even better. Fresh off an 18-block performance against Franklin County in a South State semifinal — the fourth time this season she swatted 18 shots away — Dixon averages 12 blocks per game. That ability and her presence is what makes Choctaw (32-2) so dangerous.

    “She is the perfect fit at the back end of our press,” Tullos said. “She is an outstanding defensive player overall but she is really such a great shot blocker. And that makes it so difficult for teams to come down against our press and score off of it. If you don’t have someone back there that can prevent layups, you might as well not do it.”

    But pressing — and not allowing many layups — is what Choctaw does. Making trips to Jackson’s Mississippi Coliseum is also a Warrior tradition as this is Choctaw third straight trip to “The Big House.” The Warriors have won five state title (1996-97, 1999, 2004-05) and played in the championship in 2006 and last season.

    That success has the Warriors believing more is on the way.

    “I feel good about our chances,” Tullos said. “Our kids believe that we can win. And that is so important when you don’t have to try and convince them they can.

    “Winning state championships, that’s all we look at. A lot of people would say that’s ridiculous, but if you’re not there to win a state championship then what are you there for?

    “We want to win every game. But going undefeated isn’t the most important thing. Sure, we’d like to win every game but we just want to make sure we win the last game.”