For the second year in a row, the Pillow Academy girls basketball program is sending a player to the next level.
Lady Mustangs senior Madeline Mattox made plans to continue her basketball career at Holmes Community College, signing with the Lady Bulldogs on Monday. Last year, former teammate Kaylee Jones signed with Mississippi College.
“I originally was going to play soccer at Northwest but I decided that I wanted to explore my options for basketball,” said Mattox, who played goalkeeper for Pillow’s soccer team. “I had the option to go play basketball at Northwest or Holmes. Ultimately what drew me to Holmes was how the coaches made me feel like they really wanted me there and I loved that.
“Also, one of my coaches (Brooke Walker) from my AAU team, Mississippi Jazz, is now the assistant at Holmes,” she added. “A couple of my teammates from my AAU team are playing there too and I loved the thought of getting to play with them again.”
Mattox led Pillow with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals per game last season. The versatile guard seamlessly transitioned from role player to team leader after the Lady Mustangs graduated six seniors — including five starters — last year. Pillow (29-5) beat rival Leake Academy for the North State title before being upset in the first round of the state tournament.
Mattox will be a part of the rebuilding effort next year at Holmes, where the women’s basketball team finished just 1-23 overall and 0-14 in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference last year.
- Contact Riley Overend at 662-581-7237 or roverend@gwcommonwealth.com.
