PHILADELPHIA — Following a timeout with 1:33 left in the first quarter, Philadelphia coach Jason Broom called his players over to their bench.

As the Lady Tornadoes held an early 11-point lead, Broom, resting on one knee, told his players, “Good beginning. We just have to keep it up.”

For two-and-a-half quarters Thursday, Philadelphia, in slowing Choctaw Central, did what few teams before it have been able to do. But the defending state champion Choctaw Central Lady Warriors used a third-quarter push to earn a 62-47 victory.

“Philadelphia played as good as they could in the first half,” Choctaw Central coach Bill Smith said. “We were just fortunate enough there at the end to kind of wear them out and come away with the victory.”

After surrendering a Choctaw Central field goal just 52 seconds into the opening quarter, Philadelphia held the lead for the next 19 minutes and led by as many as 12 points.

“The good thing is, this isn’t a division game for us anymore,” Broom said. “When you’re looking for measuring stick games this time of year, we’re heading into a 2A division tournament where we’re in second place. If you can lead the 3A defending state champs in your back yard — it’s a home game for both of us —  and if you can maintain a lead for that long… in all aspects, I’m happy for us.”

Choctaw Central’s Meloney Thames and Tia’Rain Saunders scored 16 points apiece to lead all scorers. Kaedre Denson finished with 10 points, while Lyleonia Johnson chipped in with nine points.

With 2:10 remaining in the third quarter, Johnson set up behind the 3-point line and released a shot. Johnson’s attempt rolled down the net to tie the score at 38, and on the Lady Warriors’ next possession, Shantashia John’s layup pushed Choctaw Central ahead 40-38 to give the Lady Warriors their first lead since the opening minute of the game.

On Philadelphia’s ensuing possession, Johnson forced a Lady Tornadoes turnover with a steal. As Johnson grappled the basketball away from a Philadelphia player, John darted toward the basket. Johnson flipped the basketball to John, who corralled it and went airborne for a layup with 1:41 left to play in the period.

In the last one-and-half minutes of the third quarter, Johnson added a three-point play, and Thames and Denson contributed field goals to send the Lady Warriors on a 13-0 run to end the period with a 47-38 lead.

“We probably have to find a way to get a little bit more depth, guard-wise,” Broom said. “I don’t know if it’s going to happen. We ran out of gas at the guard positions. (Choctaw Central) is too deep. They can keep coming and coming, and I’m proud as can be of the defensive effort the girls made. Choctaw Central is so efficient that if you’re not able to guard fifteen passes every possession, they’re going to get you with the 14th or 15th pass.”

Tyesha Cole had a team-high 14 points for the Lady Tornadoes, Andrika Carter tallied 12 points and Nia Luckett ended with 10 points. 

Philadelphia led 28-24 at halftime. The Lady Tornadoes have gone 4-2 in their last six contests and sit at 2-2 in Region 4-2A play. Philadelphia (14-9) hosts Union on Jan. 29, and Broom expects his team to carry its intensity into that contest. 

“It’s a good measuring stick game,” Broom reiterated. “We talked about it earlier today: If we come out and win, that can’t be the crowning achievement of the season, and if we come out and lose, it can’t be the end of it because we’re not division opponents anymore.”

Choctaw Central upped its record on the year to 21-1 and is in the midst of a late-season gauntlet that included at a six-point win against region foe Forest on Tuesday. The Lady Warriors travel to Booneville on Saturday to play 19-win Olive Branch.

“We had a tough game Tuesday night against Forest, and we’re going to have a tough game Saturday,” Smith said. “They might have been overlooking Philadelphia a little bit.”