Neshoba Central teams lose first region games
Both Neshoba Central basketball teams lost their first games in Region 3-5A competition last week to Holmes County Central.
The Lady Rockets went down 45-37 while the Neshoba Central boys dropped 48-40 decision. A game with Cleveland Central was postponed because of the weather.
Neither Neshoba Central team had played since before the Christmas holidays. A scheduled game with Southeast Lauderdale the week before was cancelled because of the weather.
The Rockets will be on the road this week. They were to visit Canton High School on Tuesday and visit Pearl on Friday. The Neshoba Central girls will play Starkville in the Martin Luther King Day Basketball Classic at East Central Community College on Monday, starting at 4 p.m.
"It's hard to say if the layoff was a problem," Coach Jerry Byrd said. "We had some very good practices over the holidays and got some things done.
"We have to find a way to compete with our region competition. We are in the region grind now and every game is important."
Holmes County 45
Lady Rockets 37
The Holmes County girls were able to pull away from Neshoba Central in the second half.
Holmes County would outscore the Lady Rockets 13-9 in the third quarter and carried a 30-25 lead into the final quarter. Holmes outpointed the Lady Rockets 15-11 in the fourth quarter and held on for the victory.
Shay Hunter led the Lady Rockets with 11 points while Hama'ya Fielder added 10.
Holmes County 48
Rockets 40
The Holmes Jaguars held off a Rocket rally in the fourth quarter to defeat Neshoba Central.
The Rockets led 18-16 at the end of the first quarter. The Jaguars bounced back, outscoring the Rockets 12-6 in the second quarter. At the half, Holmes County led 28-24.
Holmes County outscored the Rockets 13-8 in the third quarter and carried a 41-32 lead into the final stanza. The Rockets battled back in the fourth quarter but fell short.
Bryceton Spencer led the Rockets with 16 points while Coby McMillan added 15 points.