Choctaw Central four wins away from state title

The Choctaw Central Lady Warriors defeated Ripley 56-40 Monday night in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A girls basketball tournament.

The Lady Warriors, 21-3, will be home again Wednesday when they host the South Pontotoc girls in the second round. South Pontotoc defeated Clarksdale in its first round game.

“We are taking them one game at a time,” Lady Warriors Coach Bill Smith said. “Our goal is to win the state championship and right now, we are four wins away. We went up 15 to 20 points on Ripley and managed to maintain that lead through most of the second half.”

Leading 16-9 after the first quarter, the Lady Warriors outscored Ripley 19-10 in the second quarter and led 35-19 at the half.

Choctaw Central maintained its lead, outscoring Ripley 16-12 in the third quarter. The Lady Warriors led 51-31 going into the final stanza and held on for the win.

Lyleonia Johnson and Shantashia John both scored 13 points to lead the Lady Warriors, Carly Keats added 12 points and Meloney Thames scored four.