When Kosciusko girls played Louisville January 7, half the team was quarantined and Ariel Fleming, last year's leading scorer, was out with a leg fracture, resulting in a 55-46 loss. Fleming was still out for a rematch last week, but the rest of the team was together, and the Lady Whippets came away with a 62-59 overtime victory.
Kosciusko trailed by double digits in the first half, but rallied in the second half to force overtime, tied 52-52, then outscored Louisville 10-7 in the extra period.
“The second half we minimized our mistakes and executed better on offense and defense,” said Coach Cory Guyton.
He gave credit to overtime defense for the victory.
“The defense stepped up and caused some turnovers. We had a couple of easy baskets and made some free throws” he said. “Team defense was the key.”
D'naylah Williams was Player of the Game for the Lady Whippets with 25 points and four rebounds. Aaliyah Amey had 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals, Mariah Woods 10 rebounds and nine points and Jakayla Seawood eight points and four rebounds.
Kosciusko's second game last week was much easier, a 62-34 win over Northeast Lauderdale behind 12 three-point shots. Williams was six of nine from three-point range, Bracie Jamison four of 10 and Hannah Olive two of five.
Williams and Jamison shared Player of the Game honors, Williams with 20 points, four rebounds and three steals, Jamison with 16 points and nine rebounds.
“We made a lot of shots to pull away,” Guyton said.
Kosciusko was third in Region 4-4A with a 4-4 record prior to a game Tuesday with West Lauderdale. The Lady Whippets will be at Leake Central Friday for the final region game, then will conclude the regular season Saturday with a home game against McAdams for Senior Night.
With wins in the final two region games, Kosciusko still has a chance to overtake Louisville for the second place behind Choctaw Central and an opening round bye in the region tournament.
“We need some help from other teams,” Guyton said, but he added “Everything is possible, so we are going to take it one game at a time and control what we can control.”
He is hoping to have Fleming back for the tournament beginning February 8.
Boys
The Whippets had a unique problem in a home game with Louisville. Bats started flying around the gym, forcing a suspension, with the game completed Saturday. Kosciusko trailed 15-13 when the game was suspended but rallied for a 41-34 victory.
“Saturday, we came out slow, then we got it going,” said Coach Eleazarus Greenleaf. “We were able to pull out the victory because of our defense. Late in the fourth quarter we started getting rebounds and getting out in transition. The difference in the game was defense and our rebounding.”
Keonte Williams had 17 points, five assists and three steals, and Davion Roby 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Whippets.
In last week's other game, Kosciusko was defeated by Northeast Lauderdale 52-47.
“We fought hard the whole way. Rebounded well against a much bigger team,” Greenleaf said. “I feel we should have had some calls go our way that didn't. At the end, we missed free throws and missed some wide-open layups at the rim.”
Roby had 17 points and eight rebounds, Williams 15 points, four assists and two steals and Jerremy Wickham scored 14 points.
Kosciusko will host the 4-4A tournament, with the opening round for teams finishing third through sixth next Tuesday. Semifinals will be Thursday and championship and consolation games Friday. Leake Central boys and Choctaw County girls are undefeated in region play and assured of opening round byes. After that everything will be determined by games this week.
Greenleaf feels good about having home court. “Our fan base will come out and support us.”
The top four teams will qualify for the 4A playoffs beginning February 14 for the girls and the next day for the boys, with the top two playing at home.
The bat problem has been corrected. “We had people come out and address the situation,” Greenleaf said.
