Pelahatchie beats Ashland for first title since 1969

JACKSON (AP) – Brittany Thompson scored 16 points, Janae Collier added 15 and Pelahatchie beat Ashland 54-48 on Friday to win the Mississippi Girls 1A State Championship at Mississippi Coliseum.

Pelahatchie (27-5) trailed 39-36 entering the fourth quarter but rallied for its first state championship since 1969. The 5-foot-9 Thompson had a good all-around game, adding nine rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots.

The Lady Chiefs grabbed 25 offensive rebounds and forced 22 Ashland turnovers.

Ashland (20-14) was led by Dametris Anderson, who scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Dorliyah Clardy added 15 points and JNiya Tallie scored 10 points and dished six assists.

The Lady Blue Devils haven’t won a state championship since 1967.

Shaw rallies to beat Coffeeville for boys 1A title

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Malik Walker scored 19 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead Shaw past Coffeeville 56-46 for the Mississippi Class 1A boys state title on Friday at the Mississippi Coliseum.

Shaw (24-8) won its second straight state title. It wasn’t easy for the Hawks, who watched a 17-point lead evaporate in the second half before recovering late in the fourth quarter.

The 6-foot-2 Walker made 7 of 13 shots from the field and grabbed four offensive rebounds. Jermarquis Stimage added 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

Coffeeville (18-13) was trying to win its first state title since 1958. The Pirates were led by Antavius Moody, who scored 15 points and had four steals.

E. Webster beats W. Tallahatchie in OT for girls 2A title

JACKSON (AP) – Quantesha Patterson scored 39 points to help East Webster beat West Tallahatchie 68-64 in overtime to win the Mississippi Class 2A girls state championship.

It is the Lady Wolverines’ (31-1) first basketball state championship in school history.

East Webster wore purple ribbons in honor of Stan Hughey, who was the team’s coach until he died unexpectedly in December.

Patterson shot 15 of 27 from the field to lead East Webster. After being down by as much as 16 points in the first half, the Lady Wolverines rallied to cut the West Tallahatchie lead to 39-36 going into the fourth quarter.

Down 54-53, Patterson made one of two free throws with two seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Vaquela Pimpton led West Tallahatchie (22-6) with 25 points.

Bay Springs tops Okolona for boys 2A title

JACKSON (AP) – Bruce Stevens scored 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds to help Bay Springs beat Okolona 74-58 for the Mississippi Class 2A boys state championship on Saturday.

It is the Bulldogs’ (24-7) first state championship in school history.

Stevens, a 6-foot-8 forward, made 7 of 18 shots from the field and grabbed five offensive rebounds.

Jonnas Spivey, a Mississippi State football signee, added 16 points with seven assists and seven rebounds for Bay Springs, while Montel Billups and Javien Hamilton both scored 14 points.

The Bulldogs started the game on a 22-9 run in the first quarter and were never seriously challenged.

Freshman guard Cameron Smith led Okolona (18-13) with 20 points. Ladarius Spears added 17 points with eight rebounds, while Jevon Smith scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Belmont edges Booneville for girls 3A title

JACKSON (AP) – Katelyn Nunley scored the game-winning basket on a layup with 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to lift Belmont over Booneville 41-39 in the Mississippi Class 3A girls state championship at the Mississippi Coliseum.

It’s the Lady Cardinals (31-4) ninth state championship in school history.

Belmont’s Elisiah Jones was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Jones had a game-high 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Chloe Watson and Morgan Stephens added eight points for Belmont, who lost their only two regular season games to Booneville.

Booneville didn’t take the lead until midway through the fourth quarter when a Shmia Williams layup pushed the Lady Devils ahead 32-30.

Adallice Young led Booneville with 11 points. Kabrina Hill added 10 points for the Lady Devils (32-3), the defending 3A state champions.

Velma Jackson defeats Aberdeen for boys 3A title

JACKSON (AP) – Quinndary Weatherspoon scored a game-high 28 points to lead Velma Jackson over Aberdeen 76-38 to claim the Mississippi Class 3A boys state championship on Friday at the Mississippi Coliseum.

It is the Falcons’ (33-2) third straight Class 3A state championship. Velma Jackson has not lost a game against a Class 3A opponent in more than two years.

Weatherspoon, who made 12 of 17 shots from the field and grabbed five rebounds, has signed to play basketball at Mississippi State. Moses Greenwood scored 19 points and Kendarius Smith added 10 points for the Falcons.

Aberdeen (26-7) fell behind 20-6 in the first quarter and could never recover. Trent Davis led the Bulldogs with 16 points while Marcus Carothers added nine points.

Raymond beats Bay High for 4A girls crown

JACKSON (AP) – Octavia Barnes had 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead Raymond past Bay High 50-35 on Saturday to win the Mississippi Class 4A girls state championship.

The Lady Rangers (30-4) won their third state championship in school history – the first since 2010.

Barnes, a Michigan State commit, made 6 of 12 shots and grabbed eight offensive rebounds.

Raymond trailed Bay High 22-18 at halftime, but outscored the Lady Tigers 15-3 in the third quarter to pull away.

Bre McCullah added 11 points for Raymond.

Amari Pittman led Bay High (27-6) with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Simone Jackson and Ashley Jordan added six points each for the Lady Tigers, who played in the 4A state championship for the third straight year.

McComb beats Quitman for 4A boys title

JACKSON (AP) – Antonio Cowart scored 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead McComb past Quitman 52-40 to win the Mississippi Class 4A boys state championship on Saturday.

It’s the Tigers’ (31-1) second straight Class 4A championship and second state title in school history.

Neither team shot the ball very well. McComb was 18 of 52 (34 percent) from the field for the game while Quitman went 10 of 41 (24 percent).

Emanuel Thompson had 13 points and five rebounds for McComb, while Carlos Porter added 12 points.

McComb led the entire game. Quitman pulled within 41-35 midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get any closer.

Anterio McKines led Quitman (30-3) with a game-high 14 points, while Jadarius Avery added 10 points for the Panthers.

Natchez beats West Jones to win girls 5A title

JACKSON (AP) – Skylar Morgan scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Natchez past West Jones 74-66 to win the Mississippi Class 5A girls state championship on Friday at the Mississippi Coliseum.

It is the Lady Bulldogs’ (24-1) second straight Class 5A state championship and third state championship in school history.

Ernesha Chatman and Kirdis Clark both scored 19 points to lead Natchez.

But the 5-foot-8 Morgan was the all-around star, shooting 5 of 11 from the field and controlling the glass to earn the game’s Most Valuable Player award.

Natchez was down by double digits twice in the game. They trailed by 12 in the fourth quarter, but rallied to take the lead with a little more than two minutes left.

Zan Ratcliffe led West Jones (26-8) with a game-high 21 points.

Callaway beats Ridgeland for 5A boys title

JACKSON (AP) – Malik Newman scored a game-high 27 points to lead Callaway past Ridgeland 66-43 to win the Mississippi Class 5A boys state championship on Friday night at the Mississippi Coliseum.

It’s the Chargers’ (31-3) fourth straight Class 5A state championship and sixth state title in school history.

The 6-foot-4 Newman, who is one of the nation’s top-rated recruits, shot 7 of 14 from the field, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range.

Callaway started slowly, but outscored Ridgeland 42-20 in the second half.

Wesley Harris scored 12 points for Callaway, while Dimencio Vaughn added 10 points.

Guy Johnson led Ridgeland (29-4) with 11 points.

Horn Lake surpass Olive Branch for girls 6A title

JACKSON (AP) – Alexyse Thomas scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Horn Lake past rival Olive Branch 52-42 to win the Mississippi Class 6A girls state championship on Saturday night.

The Lady Eagles (29-4) claimed their second straight Class 6A championship, which is also their second in school history.

Olive Branch had beaten Horn Lake in their three meetings in the regular season and district tournament.

Horn Lake trailed 22-19 at the half, but outscored the Lady Quistors 16-8 in the third quarter to take control.

Rodneyshia Martin scored 13 points for Horn Lake. Tae’lour Richardson added 11.

Myah Taylor and Mahogany Vaught led Olive Branch (32-2) with 12 points each. Myah Leflore scored 10.

Starkville tops Madison Central in OT for 6A title

JACKSON (AP) – Tyson Carter scored 14 points to lead Starkville over Madison Central 43-40 in overtime to claim the Mississippi Class 6A boys state championship on Saturday night.

It is the Yellow Jackets’ (26-5) second state championship in school history and first since 2010.

Madison Central’s Leroy Buchanan hit a 25-foot 3-pointer with one minute remaining in regulation that helped force overtime.

In overtime, Keith Harris made one of two free throws for Starkville with 14 seconds left to give the Yellow Jackets a three-point lead. Madison Central missed two 3-pointers in the final seconds that could have tied the game.

Raphael Leonard, who has signed to play football at Florida Atlantic, added 11 points for Starkville.

Leroy Buchanan (20-10) led Madison Central with a game-high 21 points.