MENDENHALL — The Lady Mustangs moved one step closer to their first state title in 11 years.
The Pillow Academy girls defeated Copiah Academy 67-49 here Tuesday in the first round of the State AAAA, Division II Tournament at Simpson Academy. Pillow advances to the semifinals Friday at 1 p.m. against the winner of the Simpson-Washington contest.
“It’s always great to get that first one out of the way. It was a big win for our team which is hungry for a championship,” PA coach Durwin Carpenter said.
The Lady Mustangs (26-3) let Copiah hang around into the final quarter. The Lady Colonels cut a 17-point deficit to eight early in the fourth. They did so with a 12-4 run to the end the third.
But Kaylee Jones got PA rolling with five straight points to put her team ahead, 57-43, with 5:31 to play. The Lady Mustangs never let Copiah get any closer down the stretch.
Jones finished with a team-high 19 points to go with six rebounds and three steals.
Senior Jane Rob Pannell made sure it wasn’t the last game of her career. She had 10 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three assists.
“As a senior and knowing that losing this game would end my career, I decided to refuse to lose. I also refuse to lose any more games from here on out,” said Pannell, who is trying to win her first state crown in basketball.
Caroline Brock chipped in with 10 points.
PA just missed having four players in double figures as Anna Taylor Hudson scored nine points while the young floor general dished out a team-high seven assists.
Pillow had one of its best offensive outings of the year in the first half, putting up 40 points in the first two quarters.
“Offensively, our girls played really well against a team that was switching up defenses on us,” Carpenter said. “Our girls handled it well and shot it pretty darn good too.
“But defensively, we had some lapses once we got a good lead. We were caught just standing around watching a good-shooting team take wide-open shots, but we stepped it up the fourth quarter. That’s the kind of defensive effort it will take to this whole thing.”
If PA wins Friday, it will play in the championship game at 2:15 p.m. Saturday.
Pillow now needs at least one more victory to advance to the MAIS Overall Tournament.
The top three teams advance to Overall, which starts Monday at A.W. Wood Coliseum at Mississippi College in Clinton. The Lady Mustangs made the 16-team tournament a year ago as the third seed from AAAA, Division II and lost in the opening round to Leake Academy.
nPA boys: The Mustangs had their chances to keep their season alive but just couldn’t get the key buckets when they needed it most.
PA saw its season end at 9-18 with a 52-48 loss to Lamar School Tuesday at the State AAAA, Division II Tournament.
The Pillow boys trailed 16-11 at the end of the first and only 27-26 at the half. Lamar led 39-36 at the end of three as both teams failed to get their offense going.
Lamar kept PA in it in the final 40 seconds by missing 4 of 4 from the free throw line. The Mustangs just were not able to capitalize.
Senior Breck Bolin ended an impressive PA career with 10 rebounds, eight points and five assists.
Shane Houston Stephens paced Pillow with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow on Twitter:@Bill_Burrus.
