THS splits wins vs. Mount Pleasant
TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas High had to split its spoils with Mount Pleasant in District 15-5A play Tuesday at Tiger Center.
The Lady Tigers of Texarkana notched a come-from-behind 56-48 victory, leading for the final 7:30 after chasing the MP Lady Tigers the entire first three quarters.
Mount Pleasant’s boys pulled away in the second half for a 59-37 win over the home Tigers.
Girls
Texas High 56, Mount Pleasant 48
Texas High trailed for three quarters, but once it gained the lead it never relinquished the advantage.
THS shot 48 percent after halftime and finished with a 35 percent field goal percentage on 21-of-60 shooting. Texas High also held a turnover advantage, forcing 28 while committing 19.
Mount Pleasant shot 42 percent (18-of-43) but had a 29 percent field goal percentage in the second half as Texas High turned up the defensive intensity.
MP held a 38-34 advantage in rebounding. Down four coming out of halftime, THS found itself behind eight quickly in the third. However, over the next 55 seconds, the home
Lady Tigers scored seven in a row to make it 35-34 Mount Pleasant with 4:53 remaining in the third.
MP went up four (38-34) again, but Kerrighan Dunn closed the gap with a traditional 3-point play and then a shot behind the arc to knot the score at 40 at the end of the quarter.
Dunn scored the first points of the fourth to give Texas High its first lead, and the home team held it the rest of the way. Dunn scored 18 of her game-high 21 points in the second half.
THS scored the game’s final seven points to distance itself from the visitors.
Mount Pleasant started strong, building a 10-2 lead in the first 3:43. Texas High trimmed its deficit to 12-9, but MP closed the first quarter on a 6-1 run to hold an 18-10 advantage at the first break.
THS made it 18-13 with a quick 3-point run to start the second period, and that run extended to 6-2 to make it 20-16 with 6:14 left. Mount Pleasant extended its lead to 28-21 with 1:41 left before intermission, but Texas High scored five in a row to make it a one-possession game (28-26).
MP took a 30-26 lead into intermission.
Mount Pleasant had a 55 percent field goal percentage in the first half on 12-of-22 shooting. THS shot 27 percent on 10-of-37 from the field in the half.
Ashanti Northcross scored 13 points for Texas High, and Dunn also pulled down nine rebounds to go with her 21 points.
Zenya Bates paced MP with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Paris Beard added 12 points.
Boys
Mount Pleasant 59, Texas High 37
Texas High never could get its offense going against Mount Pleasant, which methodically extended its halftime lead in the second half.
MP shot 46 percent from the field on 22-of-48 shooting. The visiting Tigers also committed just 12 turnovers and forced 21 by THS.
Texas High shot 38 percent on 15-of-39 field goals and held a narrow margin in rebounds, 31-29.
Ahead by six to start the third quarter, Mount Pleasant led by 10, twice, and 11 points in the stanza. The home Tigers cut the lead to seven at 34-27 with 1:53 left, but MP closed the third on an 8-2 run to take a 42-29 lead into the fourth.
Mount Pleasant continued to add to its lead in the fourth quarter, going up 16 (48-32) with 4:22 remaining and 20 (54-34) with 2:19 left.
Mount Pleasant scored the first four points of the game, led by six and was ahead 9-5 at the first break.
Texas High scored quickly to start the second, but MP nailed a pair of 3-pointers to go up 15-7 with 5:55 left in the half. The visitors went on a 7-4 run to take a 22-11 lead with 2:15 left.
THS closed the half with a 7-2 run, cutting its deficit to 24-18 at intermission.
Texas High shot 33 percent (8 of 24) in the opening half, and Mount Pleasant shot 35 percent (9 of 26).
Kebo Hines scored all 19 of his points in the second half to lead MP, Zaveion Okoh scored 10 and Payton Chism had nine.
C.J. Kelley turned in a double-double for Texas High with his 16 points and 13 rebounds. Caleb Arnold added seven points.
THS rallied to win the junior varsity game, 48-45. Braxton White scored 16 points to lead Texas High, and JaKobe Johnson added 12. Elijah Morris scored 18 points for Mount Pleasant, and James Jimerson contributed 10.