Lady Warriors pick up region victories
The Choctaw Central Lady Warriors picked up two Region 4-4A victories this past week as they returned to action from the Christmas holidays.
The Lady Warriors defeated Kosciusko 69-41 last Tuesday and then closed out the week with a 75-39 win over West Lauderdale. Choctaw Central enters the week with a 13-3 record and is ranked No. 2 in the state in a Class 4A poll.
The Choctaw Central boys dropped from the ranks of the undefeated as they went 1-2 last week.
Choctaw Central defeated Kosciusko 45-38 but then lost to West Lauderdale 67-66. On Saturday, the Warriors lost to New Hope 58-47 in the Tangle At the Trail Classic in Pontotoc. The Warriors entered the week with a 16-2 record.
The Choctaw Central teams play two region games this week. They were to host Leake Central on Tuesday and will visit Northeast Lauderdale on Thursday.
Lady Warriors 69
Kosciusko 41
The Lady Warriors took a 39-24 halftime lead as they picked up the region victory.
Mattison Bell led with 19 points while Kyla Farmer added 11 points, and Joycelyn Bell scored 10.
Lady Warriors 75
West Lauderdale 30
Choctaw Central got off to a fast start as they improved to 2-0 in the region standings.
Taylor Willis led with 11 points.
“After coming off a long break, I thought we played well this week,” Coach Bill Smith said. “We played a tough schedule before Christmas, and this helped prepare us for our district schedule.”
The Lady Warriors played two games the week before the holidays.
Choctaw Central defeated Columbus 59-31. Mattison Bell led with 16 points, and Kyla Farmer added 10. They also blew out long-time rival Southeast Lauderdale 54-36. Mattison Bell led with 12 points, and Kylinn Bell added 10.
Warriors 45
Kosciusko 38
The Warriors played consistently for four quarters as they took a 7-point win over Kosciusko.
Abram Cotton led with 13 points, while Thomas Tangle added 11 points.
West Lauderdale 67
Warriors 66
West Lauderdale’s last-second half-court shot ended a Choctaw Central comeback and lifted the Knights to victory.
Cotton and Peyton Jones both led the Warriors with 16 points. Johnny Vaughn added 15, and Tangle added 10 points.
New Hope 58
Warriors 47
The New Hope Trojans pulled away in the fourth quarter to take the win.
Cotton scored 13 points to lead the Warriors. Jayce Sam scored 11 points while Tangle scored 10, and Johnny Vaughn scored nine.
“We should have some of our guys back this week,” Coach Brent Farmer said. “New Hope held the ball in a stall offense in the fourth quarter. We had to come out and put them on the free-throw line. We missed some shots, and they are a very good team.”