The Greenwood High School boys staved off elimination in the first round of the MHSAA State 4A Tournament with a 60-59 win over visiting Mooreville High School Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs (18-9) will play Pontotoc High School Saturday at 6 p.m. in Pontotoc. The Warriors (28-2) defeated Northeast Lauderdale 78-54 Tuesday night in the first round.
The Troopers (16-13) did not make it easy on the Bulldogs, the No. 2 seed from Region 3. Mooreville, the No. 3 seed from Region 1, held a slim 56-55 lead with 2:23 to go after a 3-pointer from Darrell Upchurch. The Bulldogs retook the lead at 58-56 on a deep three from Javeon Smith 20 seconds later.
Greenwood got two free throws from James Holmes with seven seconds left to go. Mooreville came down the floor and hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to make it 60-59.
“Our effort (Tuesday night) was pretty much like the way we practiced the last few days,” said GHS head coach Fred Ford. “We can’t play like this going forward. These guys need to understand it’s one and done. We don’t get a second chance if we lose. There’s no consolation game.
“We are a team that is steadily coming along, but the one thing we lack is leadership. We have had some tough losses this season, but I am glad that we are still playing Saturday, no matter who it is.”
Mooreville raced out to a 15-9 lead after the first period and managed to hold on to its lead at the half, 30-28. The Bulldogs outscored the Troopers 18-17 in the third frame to only trail 47-46 headed to the final frame.
Holmes led Greenwood with 19 points and three rebounds. Smith finished with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Markell Johnson had 14 points and three boards.
Joseph Warren chipped in seven points and 12 rebounds and blocked two shots, and Ke’Unte Wright had three points, two rebounds and two assists.
Upchurch led Mooreville with 29 points.
-Contact Calvin Stevens at 662-581-7234 or cstevens@gwcommonwealth.com.
