Rebelettes victorious in District 2-5A tourney
The first time first-year Leake Academy coach Jason Morgan played Simpson County Academy this season, the Cougars blew out the Rebels 59-24.
The second time they played, Leake led at halftime but fell 60-51to the defending class 5A champions.
The third time was a charm for Morgan and Rebels as used a stingy defense and patient offense and took a 32-29 win over the Cougars on Saturday to capture the District 2-5A tournament title.
The Rebelettes weren’t as fortunate as they fell in the 2-5A finals to Simpson, 48-36. It was their third loss to Simpson this season.
The Leake girls, now 30-4 on the season, advance to the North 5A Tournament at Simpson Academy and will take on Bayou on Wednesday at 4 p.m. If the Rebelettes win on Wednesday, they would face the winner of Pillow and East Rankin on Friday at 4 p.m.
The Leake boys, now 21-10 on the season, advance to the North 5A Tournament and will play Bayou Academy on Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. A first-round win would give the Rebels a Friday matchup at 6:30 p.m. against the winner of Magnolia Heights and Lamar.
Leake boys 32, Simpson County Academy 29
The Rebels took down the defending Class 5A state champions and claimed the District 2-5A championship with a three-point win over the Cougars on Saturday.
Leake slowed down the game and used a deliberate attack at the Cougars and scored eight points in each period. The Rebels led 8-7 at the end of the first and 16-13 at the half. Simpson outscored Leake 9-8 in the third to cut the lead to 24-22 going to the fourth. But Leake held on and outscored Simpson 8-7 in the in the fourth to take the win.
Aiden Watkins led Leake with 15 points while Samuel Prince had seven points. Whitt Welch had six points.
Watkins, Prince and Welch were each named to the tournament’s all-district team.
Simpson County
Academy girls 48,
Leake 36
The Lady Cougars beat the Rebelettes for the third time this season to claim the District 2-5A championship.
Leake led 14-12 at the end of the first while Simpson outscored the Rebeleetes 12-11 to cut the lead to 25-24 at the half. Simpson dominated the second half and outscored Leake 14-5 in the third and 10-6 in the fourth to take the win.
Leake struggled from the field and the free throw line. Leake was just 8-of-32 from the 3-point line and was just 5-of-14 from the free-throw line.
Morgan Freeny led Leake with 14 points and three rebounds while Miriam Prince had 11 points, three rebounds and three steals. Allen Kaye Wilcox had seven points while Emeri Warren had six points and four rebounds.
Leake boys 58,
Lamar School 47
The Rebels pulled away in the fourth and took an 11-point win over the Raiders in the tournament semifinals on Thursday.
Lamar led 14-11 at the end of the first period before Leake then outscored the Raiders 17-14 in the second to tie the game at 28-28 at the half. Leake then outscored Lamar 14-11 in the third and 16-8 in the fourth to take the win.
Samuel Prince led the Rebels with 31 points while Jake Freeny had seven points and Aiden Watkins chipped in six points.
Leake girls 66,
Lamar School 56
The Rebelettes used a big second period and held on in the second half to take a 10-point win over the Lady Raiders.
Leake held a 12-11 lead at the end of the first period but then outscored Lamar 21-11 in the second and led 33-22 at the half. Lamar outscored Leake 18-15 in the third to cut the lead to 48-40 going to the fourth. Leake then finished off by outscored Lamar 18-16 in the fourth as Morgan Freeny had eight straight free throws down the stretch to take the win.
Miriam Prince led Leake with 26 points in her return to the lineup while Morgan Freeny had 18 points. Emeri Warren had 14 points while Katye Jones had seven points and four rebounds.