Lady Vols use defense to generate offense for victory

It was the defensive game for the Starkville Academy Lady Volunteers that led to successful offensive outing on Tuesday night.

The Lady Vols used both aspects to handle the Noxapater Lady Tigers 51-19.

Starkville Academy

senior

Marin Shy believes that it was good well-rounded scoring game.

“Our focus this season is to make sure everyone is playing as a team, doing their part, and working hard.” Shy said. “I thought everybody hustled and worked hard, and I am proud of the team’s win.”

The Lady Vols went on a 18-0 run in in the first quarter of the game, leaving Noxapater scoreless.

Starkville Academy junior Meg Brown scored a three-point play putting Starkville Academy up 3-0 in the first minutes of the game. There was much scoring to be followed. Shy hit a 3-pointer while Arden Parker and Katie Keenum added 2-point scores to end the first quarter.

Shy had a layup and put back to put the Lady Vols ahead 180. While Noxapater put their first two points on the board, Shy and Parker both scored in the last minutes of the second quarter.

The Lady Tigers trickled in five points to put the score 23-7 at the half.

Starkville Academy didn’t stop with just one half of production.

A 2-point bucket by Hannah Carper, a 3-point field goal by Sarah Stokes Mcreynolds and two free throws by Shy in the first minutes of the second half put the score 29-7 in favor of the Lady Vols.

Noxapater could not get back into the game.

Shy led Starkville Academy (33) with 14 points while Keenum

added nine points.

Boys

Starkville Academy 60, Noxapater 35

It was high scoring night for the Vols.

Starkville Academy led the first

quarter 13-6, and maintained its lead at the half 26-12.

The third quarter concluded with a 38-20 advantage for the Vols. “Even though we had a big win tonight, we’re still a long where from where I’d like us to be,” Starkville Academy boys coach Andrew Howell said. “We’ve got a competitive group. We have had football guys back for a week so getting those guys back in the basketball groove really helps.”

There are certain areas where he wants the Vols to concentrate on improving moving forward.

“We need to work on making shots, finishing drives, and rebounding,” Howell said. “We’ve got some big bodies and we are long, but we are not as physical as I’d like us to be. We missed a ton of free throws and layups. Those are some things we’ve got to be intentional on in practice. Those missed opportunities didn’t cost us tonight, but they will.”

Junior post player Rett Keenum had 27 of the teams 60 points followed by senior Jarius Jordan contributing 10 points.