Southaven dominates Warren Central girls

The Southaven girls basketball team wanted to come up with a unique slogan before the start of the season to complement its unique style of play.

They settled on, “Get it up, get it out, and lay it up.” Now we know why. That’s because for a majority of the season, that is essentially what the Lady Chargers have done in producing one of the best seasons in school history.

Tuesday night, by and large, was no exception against an overmatched Warren Central squad in the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs. The Lady Chargers extended their unbeaten streak to 28 games by routing the Lady Vikings, 62-35, at Southaven, in a contest that wasn’t even that close.

Behind a potent, balanced offensive attack, the Lady Chargers (28-1) wasted little time setting the tone of a contest that was out of reach by intermission.

Southaven raced to an 18-5 lead after the opening eight minutes against Warren Central (8-18) then, thanks to a pivotal 16-0 spurt during a 51/ minute stretch in the second quarter, witnessed its lead swell to 26 at the half, 43-17.

With the win, Southaven, the No. 1-ranked team in Mississippi by Maxpreps.com, earned the right to host the North Half tournament that begins Friday. The Lady Chargers will play JacksonMurrah at 6 p.m., followed by Columbus taking on Horn Lake. The winners of Friday’s semis advance to the Class 6A state tournament.

“It’s the white (home) jerseys all this week,” said Southaven coach David Baldwin, whose team connected on 18- of-26 field goals in the first half. “We are playing like the state’s No. 1 team, but that could change the next game.”

Sophomore combo guard A’queen Hayes scored 16 points, Joanna Smith managed 13 points, and Olivia Cunningham added 11 for the Lady Chargers, who led by as much as 37. Symone Stamps’ eight points led Warren Central.

For more playoff results go to commercialappeal.com.