Myrtle wins two, NAHS drops tough decision at IAHS

Myrtle 43 Houlka 40 (Thursday)

The Lady Hawks held the early advantage, but Houlka would give them a scare late in the game, as Myrtle held onfor the 43-40 win Thursday night.

Myrtle opened a 13-2 lead, as it took Houlka until the final 12 seconds of the quarter to score their first points.

The Lady Hawks took a 28-9 lead to the half, and Amber Williamson would extend that to 30-9 in the opening seconds of the third.

After a timeout, a different Houlka squad walked on the court, and Houlka would begin to cut into the lead.

Houlka would take the 40-39 lead in the fourth, but Diana Suarez and Aspriona Gilbert put Myrtle ahead once more, and with both teams facing off in games the next night, Houlka opted not to foul in the final minute and try to play for overtime, allowing Myrtle to move on for the win.

Gilbert led Myrtle with 19 in the win.

IAHS 78 New Albany 66

The Lady 'Dawgs dropped only their second game of the year Friday night in a 78-66 contest at Itawamba AHS.

NAHS jumped to a 20-9 lead after the first, only to have the Lady Indians come back in the second.

After leading 32-29 at the half, IAHS outscored the Lady 'Dawgs 26-11 in the third, taking a 12 point lead into the final frame.

With both teams even, scoring 23 in the fourth, IAHS held on for the 12-point win.

Ally McDonald led the Lady Indians with 20, followed by Anna Dill with 19 and Janisha Adams with 16.

Micha Washington was the leading scorer for the Lady 'Dawgs with 21, while Jazmine Spears scored 14.

The Lady Bulldogs fall to 20-1, 4-1 in Division 1-4A play.

New Albany will travel to Hickory Flat on Tuesday before hosting Center Hill on Thursday in their final regular season game before their divisional tournament next week.

Myrtle 60 Shaw 52

Myrtle pulled off another close win Friday night, as they defeated Shaw, 60-52.

Down 14-9 after the first quarter, Myrtle regained the lead, 27-16 at the half.

Going back and forth in the second half, Shaw closed the gap in the third, outscoring the Lady Hawks 22-12, but Myrtle held the 39-38 advantage going into the fourth.

Led by Diana Suarez with 21, Myrtle outscored Shaw by seven in the final frame to take the eight-point win.

Also leading the Lady Hawks in scoring on the night were Aspriona Gilbert and Amber Williamson, each with 14.

For Shaw, Chrystal Nailor led all scorers on the night with 22, while Ebonee Jackson added 11.

Myrtle improves to 24-5 on the year. The Lady Hawks will be in action this week, as they will host Ripley for senior night before traveling to Ingomar for one more match-up with the Lady Falcons on Friday.