The Loyd Star Lady Hornets (6-6) looked like a team that is growing in comfort level and scheme on Tuesday night, as they jumped on the Wesson Lady Cobras (1-10) early and kept up the pressure on the way to a 57-22 home-court win.

First year Loyd Star coach Christi Terrell used full court pressure to cause turnovers and put Wesson in an early hole. Freshman point guard Aubrey Britt is out front on the press and is the player applying the initial pressure on most possessions. Long limbed and fleet of foot — she is the defending two-time 2A cross-country champion — Britt is a shadow on whomever she is guarding. Junior guard Carly Beth Wallace plays the role of traffic controller for the Hornet defense, as she usually directs things from the middle.

Tuesday night Wallace scored 10 points — all in the first half — and Britt added 10 points herself.

Offensively, the Lady Hornets try to get the ball in to senior center Sarah Britt early in their possessions. The four-out and one-in offense allows Britt to look for her teammates, who are all spotted up for set shots. Senior forward Christie Patterson says the Lady Hornets have worked hard to improve their offensive efficiency.

“We shoot the ball a ton in practice,” said Patterson. “That’s one of the things that coach Christi stresses the most. We’ve got to be ready to shoot and take shots we’re comfortable with.”

Sarah Britt and Patterson are the lone seniors on the team. Tuesday night, Britt scored eight points and Patterson added five.

Terrell has recently said her team grows in confidence every game and that each night she sees an area in which her team improves.

Sarah Britt agrees with that analysis by her coach.

“We’re working together and there is no selfishness,” said Britt. “We’re getting more aggressive and going after the ball more.”

Junior Ta’Maria Townsend came off the bench to lead the Lady Hornets with 13 points. Marleigh Bullock added five points, junior Taylor Smith scored four points and freshman Emma Falvey rounded out the Loyd Star scoring with two points.

“At the beginning of the year I felt like we were too uptight,” said Patterson. “We had a new coach and new starters and we had to learn how to work together. We’ve got better understanding of each other now.”

Loyd Star led 13-1 after the first quarter and also used a half-court trap to harass the Lady Cobras. First year Lady Cobra head coach Michelle Nunnery and her crew continued to fight all game, but the bigger, more experienced Lady Hornets caused too many turnovers and allowed very few second-chance opportunities.

Ki’onna Gibson led Wesson with seven points. Jerinesha Edwards scored five points and Shelbi Maxwell and Alashyia Mims scored four points apiece. O’Koya Barlow rounded out the Wesson scoring with two points.

Wesson hosts South Pike on Friday while Loyd Star plays host to Franklin County. 

Story by Cliff Furr