SA teams advance at North AAA event

SDN Staff Reports

BATESVILLE – It was 20/20 vision for a pair of Starkville Academy Lady Volunteers on Wednesday afternoon.

Mary Peyton Passons and Lillee Alpe scored 20 points each and Starkville Academy defeated Bayou Academy 5949 in the first round of the North AAA Tournament at North Delta Academy.

It was the 20th victory of the season for the Lady Vols as they bounced back from a 43-34 loss to Leake Academy in the District 2 championship game to improve to 20-13.

After Starkville Academy outscored Bayou Academy 1110 in a tight first quarter, the Lady Vols had a 21-8 run in the second quarter to take a 32-18 advantage at halftime.

Starkville Academy held off Bayou Academy in the second half and earned the 10-point victory.

The Lady Vols shot 39 percent (23-of-58) from the field, including making 9-of21 shots from 3-point territory.

Passons and Alpe made eight of those 3-pointers. Passons was 6-of-10 from long range.

Aubree Campbell was able to achieve a double-double for Starkville Academy with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

The Lady Vols advance to play the winner of the Kirk Academy-Canton Academy matchup on Friday at 4 p.m.

The Vols followed the girls onto the court and also had a winning result to start the North AAA event.

Starkville Academy avenged a 60-46 loss to Indianola Academy earlier in the season to improve its record to 188.

The two teams were tied 15-15 after the first quarter, then the Vols were able to take a 29-28 edge at halftime. Starkville Academy used a 17-9 third quarter to provide separation at the half 46-37.

Indianola Academy had a 14-9 run in the fourth quarter, but the Vols escaped with a four-point win.

Raegan Richardson hit 6-of-9 shots from the field with five of those being five 3-pointers and led Starkville Academy with 17 points. Noah Methvin also scored in double figures with 14 points as did Trey Tyler with 11 points.

As a team, the Vols shot 37 percent (19-of-51) from the field and made 7-of-24 shots from 3-point territory.

Starkville Academy earned a rematch with Canton Academy in the second round on Friday at 6:30 p.m.