Bogue Chitto girls’ basketball stays unbeaten with another big win
Published 3:04 pm Tuesday, December 19, 2023
- PHOTO BY CLIFF FURR Senior center DeMya Porter prepares to shoot a free throw Monday against Enterprise.
The Bogue Chitto girls’ basketball team moved to 11-0 on the season with a 56-26 win over their county rivals from Enterprise on Monday at home. BC won 54-22 when the teams first met on Dec. 2 at Enterprise.
Even the 2015-2016 Bogue Chitto team, which finished 31-3 and won the MHSAA 1A state title, didn’t start the year off with 11 wins in a row.
As has been the case through the first half of the season, Bogue Chitto got balanced scoring across the board. Senior center DeMya Porter led the Bobcats with 16 points, senior forward Ty May added 15 points and sophomore Destinee Thompson scored 13 points.
Bogue Chitto and coach Marc Howard lost just one starter, shooter Fayth Magee, off a team that finished 14-10 last season.
The 6-foot-3 Porter finished with 15 rebounds, five steals, and three blocks in the type of typical performance that she’s been giving Bogue Chitto fans since joining the varsity full-time as a freshman.
A Southern University signee, stopping her is easier said than done.
“Everybody knows that DeMya is going to lead us, and everyone tries to stop her, but what makes her special is that she doesn’t have to force anything to get her touches,” said Howard. “She can make such an impact inside by rebounding and blocking shots, her impact goes way beyond the points she scores.”
Thompson and May are also returning starters with lots of experience. Thompson made five steals against Enterprise.
“Destinee is getting comfortable being more aggressive on offense and that’s only made us better,” said Howard. “Ty is starting to play like she did to end the season last year, which is when she was at her best.”
Junior point guard Neeli Magee didn’t score on Monday, but Howard said her ability to run the team is a huge part of the identity of this group.
“Neeli is like having a coach on the floor,” said Howard. “She knows where everyone is supposed to be, she talks and communicates with her teammates, and she knows how to handle pressure.”
Junior Alana Harthorne scored four points as did junior Layla McKnight, a first-year starter. Tylasia Anderson added two points while Kinsley Wisinger and Meghan Richardson rounded out the BC scoring with one point apiece.
The Bobcats need to have Thompson, May, Magee and Porter on the court at all times, so managing the bench rotation and foul trouble takes up a lot of space in Howard’s head as the game progresses.
Bogue Chitto got a quality 54-43 win over 5A North Pike (12-2) last week. The teams will meet again in Summit on Thursday.
West Lincoln has won the Region 7-2A girls regular season title and tournament championship for the last six straight seasons.
The Bears (9-4) opened region play on Monday with a 40-24 win over Loyd Star. West Lincoln is off until Jan. 5, when they’ll host Bogue Chitto in Jack Case Gymnasium.
Bogue Chitto will host Franklin County on Thursday. Howard and his Bobcats will also face some stiff competition after Christmas in the annual McComb Holiday Tournament.
On Dec. 27, BC will face 3A South Pike (8-3). They’ll then play 7A Meridian (5-5) on Dec. 28 and 5A Natchez High (9-2) on Dec. 29.
Enterprise (3-9) and coach Rusty Newman next play on Jan. 5 at home against Sacred Heart Catholic (0-11) from Hattiesburg. The Yellow Jackets are 1-0 in region play after beating Salem 57-25 last week. EAC competes in a region with Salem, Sacred Heart, East Marion and Lumberton (10-3).
The Jackets were led by junior Kailee Nuckles with eight points. Junior Natalie Williams scored six points and junior Miranda Anderson scored four points. Sophomore Lizzie Hall scored two points as did freshman Mikayla Price and sophomore Caitlin Case. Freshman Callie Beth Stuart and Laney Moree scored one point each for EAC.