By Laurence Hilliard
Kosciusko boys basketball overcame a sluggish start for a 50-39 victory over Senatobia in the opening-round of the 4A playoffs and followed up with a dominant performance in a 64-37 victory over Itawamba AHS. Next is a meeting with a high-scoring Rosa Fort team.
The Whippets trailed Senatobia by 12 points in the second quarter. “I called a time out to settle the kids down. From there we went on a 19-0 run,” said coach Marquis Bailey.
Kosciusko trailed 17-11 after the Whippets’ least productive first half of the season, but outscored Senatobia 15-2 in the third quarter and pulled away with an 18-point final period.
“I think the guys were a little uptight,” Bailey said. “Halves like this will happen. I’m just glad we were able to get through it.”
There was a completely different start to the game against Itawamba. The Whippets led 21-7 after one period and breezed to their 18th straight victory.
“We were making the shots we should have made in the Senatobia game,” Bailey said. “Once we got that first game under our belts we came out for the second game and we were on fire.”
Kosciusko was 22 of 43 from the floor against Itawamba.
Cory Guyton Jr. and Josh Cole led the Whippets in both games. Guyton totaled 41 points and was 16 of 25 from the floor in the two games. Nash followed up 15 against Senatobia with 25 on 9 of 12 shooting against Itawamba.
Rosa Fort is 26-3 including 8-0 in region 3-4A. The Lions defeated Louisville 95-63 to open the playoffs and followed up with a 67-48 victory over Shannon.
Rosa Fort is led by its high-scoring backcourt. Sophomore Takaedrius Maxwell is averaging 22.7 and senior Robert Boyd 18.3.
The game will be Friday at Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville, with tip off scheduled for 8:30 p.m. The winner will advance to the Mississippi Coliseum for a semifinal game March 3.
