The Kosciusko High School girls basketball team extended its win streak to five games with a pair of victories last week to improve to 10-2 on the season.
The Lady Whippets defeated Jim Hill, 50-43 on Tuesday before capping their week with a 59-23 win against Noxapater on Thursday,
Against Jim Hill, Jakyra Young shot 5 of 8 from the floor to finish with a game-high 18 points. Young also tallied five rebounds and three steals. Diamond Rayford added six points, six rebounds and five assists.
“I think we’re gradually getting better,” Kosciusko coach Cory Guyton said. “We have to clean up some things on the defensive end, and work a little bit more on offense, getting into the flow and getting prepared for district. Overall, I think we’re coming along pretty well.”
Kosciusko trailed 19-16 at the end of the first quarter, and both teams entered halftime with the score tied at 28. The Lady Whippets outscored Jim Hill 12-7 and 10-8 in the final two quarters. They led by as many as 10 points in the contest.
Talynda Bond scored a team-high 13 points on Thursday against Noxapater in a contest where Kosciusko led by as many as 38 points. Terrica Talley contributed eight points, four rebounds and four steals. Jamyia Gray chipped in with eight points, four rebounds and five assists.
The Lady Whippets never trailed in the contest, and Noxapater didn’t score more than 10 points in any quarter.
Kosciusko travels to Leake County on Tuesday and plays at the McAdams Christmas Tournament on Saturday.
BOYS
The Whippets bounced back from the Dec. 7 loss to Coffeeville by earning wins against Jim Hill and Noxapater.
JaQuan Hall scored 17 points, Calvin Banks finished with 11 points and Ellis Armon added 10 points as Kosciusko defeated Jim Hill, 57-42, on Tuesday. Hall posted 11 rebounds in the win. Eshavious Mays tallied seven assists.
The Whippets led Jim Hill 9-8 at the end of the first quarter, and Jim Hill led 27-24 at halftime. Kosciusko outscored Jim Hill 15-4 in the third quarter and 18-11 in the fourth.
The teams traded the lead on 12 occasions.
“I think that game kind of woke us up defensively,” Kosciusko coach Eleazarus Greenleaf said. “It was probably the best game we’ve played defensively. It was a back-and-forth game in the first half. Found ourselves down three at halftime. We went into the locker room and told the guys to continue to rebound as a team, play defense and things will be alright. We went out there in the second half and we rebounded as a team.”
Kosciusko rolled to a 72-32 win against Noxapater on Thursday to secure its 10th win of the season.
Five Whippet players scored in double figures. Hall paced Kosciusko with 15 points, Antonio Harmon finished with 12 points, Armon and Davion Roby each chipped in with 11 points and Banks ended with 10 points. Hall pulled in 10 rebounds to go with three assists and four steals.
Eight Kosciusko players tallied points.
“I think JaQuan Hall is coming into his own,” Greenleaf said. “He’s embraced his role. Ellis Armon is controlling the glass and rebounding, also… It was a total team effort, and once again, defense enabled us to get the win.”
Kosciusko visits Leake County on Thursday and draws McAdams on Saturday at the McAdams Christmas Tournament.
