By the luck of the draw, Kosciusko had to open the girls playoffs with a road game against Pontotoc, the state’s top ranked 4A team. The result was a season ending 56-39 loss.
“I was proud of them. They fought hard,” said coach Cory Guyton. “The game really wasn’t decided until the fourth quarter. We played three quarters really hard. It was a four-point game going into the fourth quarter.”
Some turnovers and missed assignments by the Lady Whippets allowed Pontotoc to pull away.
Jamiya Gray had 17 points, D’naylah Williams 10 and Rozlyn Fuller six for Kosciusko.
As the third seed from Region 4-4A, Kosciusko had to play the second seed from 2-4A. Pontotoc dominated the region during the regular season with a 10-0 record, but was upset by South Pontotoc 39-37 in the tournament final. Seedings for the playoffs are based upon tournaments, not the regular season.
Pontotoc is 28-3. “They’re a well rounded team. Well coached,” Guyton said. “They have a lot of players who are in their fourth year. That makes a difference.”
South Pontotoc would have been an easier opponent. South Pontotoc played Leake Central to begin the playoffs and won by six points. Kosciusko defeated Leake Central three times, by 15, 8 and 16.
Kosciusko won two of three games at the 4-4A tournament with a 54-29 victory over West Lauderdale, a 61-47 loss to defending state champion Choctaw Central and a 43-37 win over Leake Central in the consolation game. In the three games, Williams totaled 63 points and Gray 53.
Against Choctaw Central, Williams had 27 points and six rebounds, Gray 10 points and six rebounds and Naja Mays 10 points, three assists and two steals. In the Leake Central game, Williams had 18 points and six rebounds, Gray 16 points and 22 rebounds.
Gray, who is 5-7, also had 18 rebounds against Leake Central in the final game of the regular season a week earlier. “She really goes after the ball,'' Guyton said.
The 4-4A tournament followed form. Louisville, the regular season champion, remained undefeated in region play with a 51-48 victory over Choctaw Central in the championship game. Second seed Choctaw Central was runnerup, third seed Kosciusko finished third, fourth seed Leake Central was fourth and the fifth and sixth seeds, Northeast Lauderdale and West Lauderdale, were eliminated in the opening round.
Louisville and Choctaw Central won their opening round playoff games, Louisville 70-40 against Ripley and Choctaw Central 53-44 over North Pontotoc.
Louisville is the state's second ranked 4A team right behind Pontotoc. The two teams are in opposite sides of the brackets and could not face each other until the championship game March 2.
Looking ahead to next season, Guyton said Kosciusko will have a summer program. “We will hit it hard and try to get better in the areas where we are weak.”
