Lady Jackets break press to defeat visiting Cougars
It was a strategy that everyone has been trying against the Starkville Yellow Jackets this season.
In the first three games, opponents have been trying to press the Lady Jackets.
The Northwest Rankin Cougars came to Starkville on Tuesday night trying to do the same thing.
Proving they were up to the challenge, the Lady Jackets were able to break the press throughout the game, got off to a good start in the first quarter and went on to a 65-38 victory over Northwest Rankin at The Nest.
“We were able to get momentum going through the press because we have seen the press from Meridian to Tishomingo County so they were able to relax and pull through,” SHS girls coach Kristie Williams said. “I was proud of their effort the entire game. We made some turnovers, but I think they regrouped through every turnover and we were able to keep our poise, so I’m real proud of the effort form everybody.”
After the Cougars scored the first point of the game, Aubrey Montgomery came back to hit a basket to give the Lady Jackets the lead, then had a putback with 4:50 remaining in the first quarter to extend the margin to 5-1.
Starkville held a 13-3 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Montgomery had 12 points by halftime as the Lady Jackets established a 28-15 lead at the break.
“All week we’ve been expecting them to press us,” Montgomery said. “(Williams) told us as long as we were patient, paid attention and worked together as a team, we oould break it. I felt like we were extremely patient with the press and we were successful with it.”
Jamaica Young and Zariyah Edwards had big second halves in the scoring department and Starkville stretched the gap to 4922 after three quarters.
Young led the Lady Jackets with 22 points, while Edwards added 19 to go along with Montgomery’s 12 points.
“We’re a young team and we are just learning every day to be more comfortable with each other on and off the court,” Montgomery said. “It’s going to be a great year with that.”
Starkville evened its record at 2-2 and is scheduled to travel to Greenwood Thursday.