The Pillow Academy girls will play for the North State 5A championship Saturday after defeating rival Leake Academy 55-43 Friday at Simpson Academy in Mendenhall.
The Lady Mustangs (24-5) will battle the Simpson-Heritage winner from Friday’s second girls game. Leake and the loser of the second game play at 11 a.m. in the consolation game. All four teams will play in the State 5A Tournament next week at Pillow Academy.
Junior Avery Howard and sophomore Alanna Hodo led Pillow in scoring with 19 and 17 points, respectively.
Howard and Hodo also had five rebounds and two assists apiece.
Lola Harris had nine points, two assists and two boards, and Elise Howard had six points, five rebounds and two assists.
The first quarter started with Pillow racing out to a 7-0 lead in the first 21/2 minutes. However, Leake responded with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 7-7 headed to the second period.
Lola Harris, Avery Howard and Alanna Hodo had two fouls each after the first period.
The Lady Rebels, who beat Pillow twice during the regular season, went in front 10-7 in the first two minutes, but the Lady Mustangs went on a 12-0 run as they led 19-10 by the 3:20 mark.
Pillow led 22-13 after A. Howard made one free throw when a technical was called on the Leake bench.
Pillow held a 22-15 lead at the half.
Leake fought back to start the third quarter as it pulled to within one twice at 24-23 and 26-25 at the 2:48 mark.
However, Pillow scored 10 straight to end the period for a 36-27 advantage and scored the first seven of the fourth for a 43-27 lead.
Leake got to within eight at 49-41 with 2:35 left in the game, but that was as close as te Lady Rebels could get.
-J.Z. George: The Jaguars dropped a 72-33 decision to East Webster Thursday night in the semifinals of the Region 4-2A Tournament and played Choctaw County Friday in the consolation game.
The Wolverines led 14-7 after one, 36-19 at the half and 51-27 after the third frame.
Martavis Banks led J.Z. George (5-17) with nine points. Deshawn Hemingway and B.J. Green had five points each.
Regardless of Friday’s outcome, the Jaguars will be on the road Tuesday night for a first-round game in the State 2A playoffs.
-Carroll Academy: The Lady Rebels had their season come to an end Thursday as they lost 43-10 to Kirk Academy in the North State 4A Tournament at Lee Academy in Clarksdale.
Kirk only led 5-4 after the first period but went in front 18-4 by halftime and 28-7 by the end of the third quarter.
Meri Brynn Reeves had five points for Carroll (11-12).
-Contact Calvin Stevens at 662-581-7234 or cstevens@gwcommonwealth.com.
