By Josh Troy
Clarksdale Advocate
The Clarksdale High School girl’s basketball team could possibly be playing on the road within the second round of the playoffs next week after falling short within the Region 3-4A District Tournament Championship at Yazoo City High School on Friday night.The Lady Wildcats (23-2, 8-0) got here into the tournament as the highest seed but finished runner-ups after falling to No. 3 Gentry 28-19 within the tournament championship.
Clarksdale led 7-3 at the top of the primary quarter due to sophomore post player Caitlin Hall scoring all 4 of her points through the period and junior guard Shacora Jurden connecting on a 3-point field goal. Jurden finished the sport with 8 points but made two 3-pointers through the first half. The Lady Rams adjusted and took a 13-10 halftime lead and a 19-15 lead at the top of the third quarter before winning 28-19.
“They prolonged their defense on the passing, keeping us from establishing our offense quite a bit,” said Lady Wildcats coach Greg Wilson. “Going from there, we tried to penetrate the defense, getting inside on the block drive to our big (Hall). They were fronting and jumping her, and we’d reverse it out, but we didn’t make the shots that we wanted to make.”
Wilson expects all of Clarksdale’s opponents to concentrate on Hall. “Everybody goes to scout us coming up with a game plan attempting to defend us in addition to they will, so that they’re going to try to remove Caitlin, our inside game. As we’re in here practicing, we’re working on outside shots. We’re working on ball fakes and attempting to get into the teeth of the defense.” Clarksdale finished the sport 2 of three from the free-throw line, while Gentry went 11 of 16. The Lady Rams made 7 of their foul shots through the fourth quarter.Clarksdale sophomore guard and forward Janterria Logan fouled out.
The Lady Wildcats beat Gentry twice through the regular season, but things were different within the district tournament championship. “I at all times say that Gentry kids play for mama and pawpaw and play for the community, so that they’re going to be a powerful team to play against,” Wilson said. “I just think that was the third time we played them this 12 months. We won by 4 over there (at Gentry) and three here (at Clarksdale), and so they won last night. So, they know what we do, and we all know what they do, and last night we just didn’t have a very, really good game.” Senior forward Janya Walker finished with 3 points for Clarksdale, while junior guard Ramiyah Brown and sophomore guard Sylenthia Earl added 2 apiece.
Clarksdale opens the playoffs hosting Itawamba Agricultural High School at 6 p.m. Monday, and Wilson encouraged fans to attend. “I’m watching film as we speak,” said Wilson on Saturday afternoon. “They’re a sound and fundamental team. They play good team basketball from watching the film immediately. They’re very fundamental. What we now have to do is play and execute our game plan that we’ll give you in the subsequent hour.”
Wilson said there are lots of ways to scout opponents Hudl, MaxPreps, and other services, but he said it might be different than facing opponents within the district tournament that the Lady Wildcats played two times each through the regular season. If the Lady Wildcats win on Monday, they can be on the road for the second round of the playoffs later in the subsequent.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Gentry High School focused on stopping Clarksdale sophomore post player Caitlin Hall within the district tournament championship. JALEESA COLLINS PHOTO
