MHSAA Semifinal 1A/4A Results and Report
Mississippi Coliseum
Jackson, MS
Monday March 5, 2018
1A
#59, #3 Wheeler (30-3) (Wheeler) 54
#10, #1 Okolona (30-2) (Okolona) 88
Okolona applied the pressure and before Wheeler could realize what happened the score was 22-0. It was a decently close contest after that until Okolona started to add to the lead in the fourth quarter. Player of the Game goes to Ladarrius “Moo Moo” Spears (6-6 ’18 C Okolona 15 pts 6-9 fg 13 reb 3 ast). Fellow seniors Cameron “Cam” Smith (6-7 ’18 G/F Okolona 19 pts 9 reb 4 ast) and Jaylon “Jay Mo” Bailey (6-0 ’18 G Okolona 20 pts 9-16 fg 3 reb 3 st) added solid games. Jalon Beene (5-11 ’19 G/F Wheeler 18 pts 2 3’s 5 reb 2 ast), Luke McBrayer (6-6 ’18 F/C Wheeler 10 pts 4-6 fg 12 reb) and Cole Swinney (5-10 ’18 PG 9 pts 2 3’s 2 reb 5 ast) looked good in the loss for Wheeler.
Wheeler (traveled 212 miles)
’18’s
Jayson “Alex” Wilson 5-11 SG 17 pts 5 3’s 2 ast
Okolona (traveled 174 miles)
’18’s
Antonio Buchanan 5-6 G 6 pts 3 reb 2 ast 3 st
’19’s
Jacorrius “Tudy” Stanfield 5-9 PG 10 pts 5-7 fg 5 reb 3 ast 4 st
Jamal Moore 6-2 G 9 pts 7 reb 2 ast
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Ladarrius “Moo Moo” Spears
6-6 ’18 C
Okolona
15 pts 6-9 fg 13 reb 3 ast
#73, #5 Ashland (23-11) (Ashland) 58
#33, #2 Houlka (26-7) (Houlka) 55
Ashland is going for the three-peat. DeAnthony Tipler (5-11 ’18 G Ashland 10 pts 2 3’s 8 reb 4 ast) had a bad shooting night but overcame that with other areas of his game. Jamarqus Everett (5-9 ’18 SG Ashland 14 pts 4 3’s 2 ast) connected on some long-range threes down the stretch of the game. The biggest impact player for Ashland was Ocquavion Agyekum (6-1 ’18 F 16 pts 7-10 fg 3 reb). He scored a majority of his points in the last quarter to help get the victory. For Houlka, it was the end of a era. Coach Jimmy Guy McDonald walked off the court for the last time as Head Coach. He has coached for 49 years and is hanging it up. Going out with Coach McDonald is Ma’Darius “MayDay”Hobson (6-3 ’18 G/F Houlka 25 pts 7-7 ft 15 reb 3 blk 3 st). Ma’Darius and Coach McDonald have to be one of the best Coach/players duos in the state. Both are outstanding at what they do and are even better people.
Ashland (traveled 207 miles)
’18’s
Taron Terry 6-3 G/F 7 pts 5 reb 3 ast
’19’s
Erik Bell 5-10 7 pts 3-5 fg 10 reb 2 st
Houlka (traveled 168 miles)
’18’s
Jertavious “Smooty” Turner 5-8 PG 5 reb 4 ast 4 st
’20’s
Jaqavious “DaShun” Berry 6-0 G 19 pts 9-12 ft 4 reb
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Ocquavion Agyekum
6-1 ’18 F
Ashland
16 pts 7-10 fg 3 reb
4A
#11, #3 Corinth (23-9) (Corinth) 63
#23, #4 New Hope (23-8) (Columbus) 46
In the first of the heavyweight fights, Corinth slugged their way to the finals. James “Will”Gardner (6-1 ’18 G/F Corinth 4 pts 4-4 ft 7 reb) only scored 4 points on his way to Player of the Game honors but it was his defensive pressure and hustle that earned him this award. JonDarius “JonD” Warren (6-0 ’18 PG Corinth 20 pts 6 reb 4 ast 3 st) and Axavius “Tada” Stricklen (6-0 ’18 G Corinth 18 pts 5-5 ft 6 reb 3 st) both had solid games against for Da House teammates. Those former summer ball buddies had huge games also. Andrew Junkin (7-0 ’18 C New Hope 6 pts 14 reb 6 blk) and Tyler Stevenson (6-8 ’18 G/F New Hope 30 pts 13-17 fg 8 reb) both did everything they could to keep New Hope in the game but it wasn’t enough to overcome the pressure of Corinth.
Corinth (traveled 239 miles)
’18’s
Shyron Rogers 6-4 C 9 pts 6 reb
’20’s
Dontayvious “DT” Sheffield 5-9 G 10 pts 5-7 fg 8 reb 4 st
New Hope (traveled 164 miles)
’18’s
Kyree Fields 6-1 SG 7 pts 6 reb
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
James “Will” Gardner
6-1 ’18 G/F
Corinth
4 pts 4-4 ft 7 reb
#9, #2 Raymond (28-6) (Raymond) 75
#7, #1 Gentry (30-4) (Indianola) 57
In the heavyweight battle number two, the “underdog” came away with the win. Raymond delivered blow after blow to Gentry until the final buzzer. SharDarrion “Phat”Allen (6-2 ’18 G Raymond 15 pts 12 reb 3 st) seemed to be the biggest difference maker for Raymond and earned Player of the Game honors. Jakorie Smith (6-5 ’19 F Raymond 13 pts 7 reb 2 ast 2 st 3 blk) and Cameron Woodall (6-6 ’18 F Raymond 24 pts 9-11 fg 5 reb) were also in the running with solid performances. Cartisco “Bill” Brown (5-8 ’18 G Gentry 22 pts 8-15 fg 2 3’s 2 st) had another solid game in the Coliseum.
Raymond (traveled 20 miles)
’18’s
Jiris Killingsworth 5-10 G 11 pts 9-12 ft 3 reb 3 st
Gentry (traveled 98 miles)
’19’s
Darrius “Chip” Clark 12 pts 6 reb 3 blk
Robert Bell 6-2 F 11 pts 5 reb 2 st
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
SharDarrion “Phat” Allen
6-2 ’18 G
Raymond
15 pts 12 reb 3 st
Magnolia Hoops 