2025 Girls Tangle on the Trail
Saturday January 4, 2025
From Pontotoc HS
Pontotoc, MS
(G) Choctaw Central Lady Warriors 14-2 #2 (4A #1 Philadpelphia, MS) 65
Hernando Lady Tigers 11-5 #39 (7A #10 Hernando, MS) 52
Notes: Choctaw Central is pretty good. They were able to use a fourth quarter push to pull away from the much larger team in Hernando. Kailynn Perry (5-9 ’27 G Choctow Central) took home the MVP award barely edging out Yazzlyn Alex (5-2 ’26 PG Choctaw Central) and Karidee Willis (’25 G Choctaw Central).
When I mentioned Hernando is big I mean really big. They only have 5 players on the roster below 5-8. At any point of the game you can see 5-10 to 6-3 on the court at all five spots. Then you have Fran Kelly (5-10 ’26 G Hernando). She is every bit as good as advertised. She dropped 33 points against a really good defensive team.
Choctaw Central (traveled 118 miles) 65
’25’s
Raiyleigh Perry 5-9 G/F 8 pts 7 reb 1 ast 1 st
Karidee Willis G 14 pts 2 3’s 6 reb
’26’s
Yuriana Crosby 5-9 C 8 pts 6 reb 3 ast
Yazzlyn Alex 5-2 PG 6 pts 8 reb 6 ast 4 st
’27’s
Jazmyn Bohannon F 4 pts 1 three 3 reb 2 ast
Kailynn Perry 5-9 G 13 pts 3 3’s 4 reb 4 ast
’28’s
Tia John G 9 pts 7 reb
Hernando (traveled 85 miles) 52
’25’s
Halann Wallace 6-3 C 2 pts 8 reb 1 st
’26’s
Fran Kelly 5-10 G 33 pts 5 3’s 6 reb 1 st
’27’s
Lauren Williams 5-10 F/C 3 reb 2 blk
Jaliyah Kelly 5-11 G 2 pts 4 reb 2 ast 1 st
MVP
Kailynn Perry
Choctaw Central
5-9 ’27 G
13 pts 3 3’s 4 reb 4 ast
(G) Tishomingo County Lady Braves 16-0 #5 (4A #2 Iuka, MS) 76
Madison Central Lady Jaguars 11-9 #92 (7A #14 Madison, MS) 48
Notes: This game was very anticipated and fell just short of the hype. This was the big showdown between the top two freshmen in the state, Karley Robinson (5-7 ’28 G Madison Central) and Meg Moore (6-0 ’28 G Tishomingo County). This showdown came to an early ending with the injury of Robinson. She suffered a knee/leg injury that put an end to her day even though she tried to continue a couple times. You could see the pain in her eyes and I’m not sure if it was pain from the injury or the pain of not being able to compete. I’m sure this match-up will happen several more times over the next few years.
Meg got 23 points in a bad game which appeared that she may have been playing under the weather. She just didn’t have the normal look that she plays with. Can we finally get Kazli Timbes (5-5 ’26 G Tishomingo County) on the radar with all of the eyes that were watching this game? She can play and she edged Meg out for MVP honors with her 26 points. Baylon Middleton (5-11 ’25 G Tishomingo County) knocked down several long three’s in the win. Claire Ray (5-4 ’27 G Tishomingo County) had a nice stat line with 5 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. The game between Choctaw Central and Tish County will be huge when they meet in the playoffs. These two teams are both worthy state title teams.
Alilyiah Morris (5-7 ’26 SF Madison Central) stepped up in the absence of Robinson with a double-double.
Tishomingo County (traveled 78 miles) 76
’25’s
Baylon Middleton 5-11 G 12 pts 4 3’s 7 reb 1 ast 1 st
’26’s
Kazli Timbes 5-5 G 26 pts 8 reb 4 ast 1 st
Abbi Reed 5-5 G 9 pts 3 3’s 5 reb 1 ast 2 st
Chloe Glidewell 5-10 G/F 4 reb 1 blk
’27’s
Claire Ray 5-4 G 5 pts 1 three 5 reb 9 ast 4 st
’28’s
Meg Moore 6-0 G 23 pts 11 reb 2 blk 1 st
Madison Central (traveled 157 miles) 48
’25’s
Avarie Cheeks 5-5 SG 14 pts 3 3’s 3-4 ft 3 reb 1 ast 2 st
’26’s
Alilyiah Morris 5-7 SF 13 pts 11 reb 6 st
Alonna McCruter 5-11 SF 4 pts 4 reb 1 blk
Sharkyra Dixon 5-6 PG 10 pts 1 three 1 reb 2 ast
’28’s
Zoey Smith 5-7 G 5 pts 5-7 ft 4 reb 1 ast
Elizabeth Dennis 6-0 F/C 2 pts 5 reb 1 st
Karley Robinson 5-7 G 1 reb
MVP
Kazli Timbes
Tishomingo County
5-5 ’26 G
26 pts 8 reb 4 ast 1 st
(G) Booneville Lady Blue Devils 12-4 #15 (3A #1 Booneville, MS) 59
Oak Grove Lady Tigers 7-4 #22 (2A #3 Oak Grove, LA) 32
Notes: O me, that big can play. She was steeping out popping three balls. She was handling the rock and scoring on all levels. I mean the big we haven’t seen all year, Sa’Niyah Cook (6-3 ’25 F/C Booneville). Cook is finally back after missing the first part of the season with injury and she looks great. I’ve never seen her play like she played Saturday. She showed a part of her game that is going to translate over to the next level. Booneville looked really good in this game and solidified their spot as a championship contender.
The big draw in this game was nationally ranked and five star prospect Caroline Bradley (6-5 ’27 F/C Oak Grove (LA)). She was held to seven points with the stingy Blue Devil defense but was able to step out and show some range with a three. She asserted herself down low with 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Booneville (traveled 50 miles) 59
’25’s
Ava Kate Smith 5-8 G 4 pts 3 reb 5 ast 3 st
Kylee Johnson 5-7 G 10 pts 2 3’s 1 reb 4 ast 1 st
Sa’Niyah Cook 6-3 F/C 23 pts 2 3’s 3 reb 1 ast 4 st
’26’s
Cameya Hampton 5-9 F 10 pts 6 reb
’27’s
Kellan Johnson 5-8 G 5 pts 1 three 3 reb 2 ast 2 st
Oak Grove (traveled 203 miles) 32
’25’s
Kamira Hill SF 3 pts 1 three 3 reb 2 ast 1 st
’27’s
Emilee Johnson PG 2 reb 1 ast 3 st
Caroline Bradley 6-5 F/C 7 pts 1 three 11 reb 3 blk
MVP
Sa’Niyah Cook
Booneville
6-3 ’25 F/C
23 pts 2 3’s 3 reb 1 ast 4 st
(G) Pontotoc Lady Warriors 15-4 #12 (5A #2 Pontotoc, MS) 48
Chelsea Lady Hornets 13-8 #27 (6A #5 Chelsea, LA) 33
Notes: Lyla Cox (6-1 ’25 G Pontotoc) earned MVP honors with her 18 point performance. This is a solid Pontotoc team and they should be able to make a deep run in the playoffs and contend for the 5A title.
Don’t let the score of this game fool you either. Chelsea is a really good team that just happened to run into a defensive buzz saw with Pontotoc.
Pontotoc (home team) 48
’25’s
Lyla Cox 6-1 G 18 pts 4 3’s 4 reb 3 ast 1 st
Channing Lane 5-7 G 11 pts 3 3’s 5 reb 2 ast
Emarie Boddie 5-10 F 7 pts 7 reb
’26’s
Jazmine Cuellar 5-1 G 4 pts 2 reb 3 ast
’27’s
Markarri Rucker 5-8 G 6 pts 3 reb 2 ast 1 st
Chelsea (traveled 182 miles) 33
’25’s
Sadie Schwallie 5-6 G 8 pts 1 three 1 reb 1 ast
Haley Trotter 5-11 F/C 14 pts 1 three 6 reb 1 ast
MVP
Lyla Cox
Pontotoc
6-1 ’25 G
18 pts 4 3’s 4 reb 3 ast 1 st
(G) Biloxi Lady Indians 18-0 #1 (7A #1 Biloxi, MS) 45
Callaway Lady Chargers 15-3 #13 (6A #2 Jackson, MS) 40
Notes: Zaniya Johnson (6-4 ’27 F/C Biloxi) took the MVP award back to the gulf coast with her performance down low. Biloxi looked very solid in the win.
As good as Biloxi looked, Callaway looked equally impressive in the loss. They really took it to the 7A power and gave them everything they wanted. Jahanna “JoJo” Wilson (5-4 ’25 G Callaway) couldn’t get her outside shot going but she was dropping the mid-range jumpers easily. She scored 25 points in the loss. Could Callaway bring a gold ball back to Beasley Road this season? If they play like they did against Biloxi it is very possible.
Biloxi (traveled 309 miles) 45
’25’s
Aaliyah Davison 5-6 G 8 pts 1 reb 2 ast 2 st
Aubrey Hill 5-5 G 9 pts 6 reb 1 ast 4 st
’26’s
Na’Kenya Terry 5-3 G 10 pts 2 3’s 8 reb 2 ast 3 st
’27’s
Jayla Carriere 5-9 G 7 pts 1 three 3 reb 1 ast 2 st
Zaniya Johnson 6-4 F/C 13 pts 6 reb 3 ast 3 blk 2 st
Callaway (traveled 161 miles) 40
’25’s
Jernae Ringgold 5-4 PG 7 pts 1 three 1 reb 3 st
Jahanna “JoJo” Wilson 5-4 G 25 pts 2 3’s 5 reb 6 st
De’Jah Granderson 5-3 SF 3 reb 2 st
’26’s
Trinity Cook 5-7 G 4 pts 3 reb 2 st
MVP
Zaniya Johnson
Biloxi
6-4 ’27 F/C
13 pts 6 reb 3 ast 3 blk 2 st
(G) Hoover Lady Buccaneers 19-2 #3 (7A #3 Hoover, AL) 66
Tupelo Lady Golden Wave 17-1 #4 (7A #2 Tupelo, MS) 53
Notes: Aaliyah Blanchard (5-11 ’26 G Hoover) dropped a big double-double with a 30 piece. She added 11 rebounds in the big win. Equally impressive to me was the play of Kristen Winston (5-10 ’29 G Hoover). The eighth grader looked really impressive against top level competition.
Tupelo was missing Jade Rucker (6-1 ’25 G/F Tupelo) with an injury. Nadia Norfleet (5-7 ’25 G Tupelo) dropped 19 points to pace the Golden Wave. We are on a very nice pace to see the battle in Jackson between Tupelo and Biloxi. Get your popcorn ready. This game may sell the coliseum out when they meet.
Hoover (traveled 171 miles) 66
’25’s
Kaitlyn Gipson 5-6 G 12 pts 2 3’s 1 reb 1 ast 4 st
Layla Cannon 6-1 F 4 pts 4 reb 1 ast 1 blk
’26’s
Aaliyah Blanchard 5-11 G 30 pts 1 three 5-6 ft 11 reb 2 ast 1 st
’27’s
Jaliyah Manuel 5-4 G 4 pts 1 three 4 reb 1 ast 1 st
’29’s
Kristen Winston 5-10 G 13 pts 1 three 2 reb 2 ast 3 st 1 blk
Tupelo (traveled 17 miles) 53
’25’s
Jade Rucker 6-1 G/F DNP Injury
Nadia Norfleet 5-7 G 19 pts 3 3’s 3 reb 3 ast 1 st
Bailey Siddell 5-7 G 2 pts 4 reb 1 ast 1 st
’26’s
Cadence Crump 5-10 G 9 pts 7 reb
Destiney Trice 5-5 G 4 reb 1 ast
Olivia Smith SG 13 pts 4 reb 1 ast 3 st
’27’s
Reece Barbles 5-6 PG 10 pts 3 3’s 1 reb
MVP
Aaliyah Blanchard
Hoover
5-11 ’26 G
30 pts 1 three 5-6 ft 11 reb 2 ast 1 st
(G) Ingomar Lady Falcons 16-1 #21 (2A #1 New Albany, MS) 65
Brandon Lady Bulldogs 11-7 #29 (7A #7 Brandon, MS) 52
Notes: The Brandon team speed and defense really slowed Ingomar down until the shots started falling. Macie Phifer (5-11 ’25 G Ingomar) took home another MVP award scoring 22 points in her final of many Tangle on the Trail appearances. Ingomar is on track to bring another gold ball home this year.
Karissa Baker (5-11 ’26 F/C Brandon) had a nice game with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals. This team is a very gritty defensive team that is fun to watch.
Ingomar (traveled 14 miles) 65
’25’s
Macie Phifer 5-11 G 22 pts 2 3’s 4-4 ft 8 reb 1 ast 1 st
Cadie Jo Byrd 5-10 G 5 pts 1 three 3 reb 2 ast 1 st
’26’s
Daylen Grisham 5-4 G 17 pts 5-7 ft 3 reb 2 ast 1 st
Bella Phifer 5-10 F 14 pts 4 3’s 4 reb 1 ast 1 st
’29’s
Peyton Wray 5-8 G 4 pts 4 reb 1 ast 2 blk
Brandon (traveled 167 miles) 52
’25’s
Kelsie Mangum 5-7 G 11 pts 5-6 ft 1 reb 1 ast 2 st
’26’s
Karissa Baker 5-11 F/C 19 pts 5 reb 1 ast 5 st
Erin Huddleston 5-10 PF 1 pt 5 reb 1 ast
Kaitlyn Griffin 12 pts 2 3’s 2 reb 1 ast
’27’s
Katelin Dixon G 6 pts 1 reb 1 ast 2 st
MVP
Macie Phifer
Ingomar
5-11 ’25 G
22 pts 2 3’s 4-4 ft 8 reb 1 ast 1 st
(G) Starkville Lady Yellowjackets 13-5 #11 (7A #4 Starkville, MS) 64
Neshoba Central Lady Rockets 9-8 #20 (6A #4 Philadelphia, MS) 46
Notes: Ciara “CC” Warren (5-6 ’25 G Starkville) scored 17 points while connecting on five 3’s to earn MVP honors. She barely edged out Zariyah Edwards (6-0 ’25 F Starkville) as Edwards had a near double-double. This was the best I’ve seen Starkville look this season. If they continue to play at this level they will be in the mix for the 7A title.
Neshoba Central was without star Kyli Truss (5-7 ’26 G Neshoba Central) and 3 other starters due to injury.
Starkville (traveled 69 miles) 64
’25’s
Ciara “CC” Warren 5-6 G 17 pts 5 3’s 1 reb 4 ast 2 st
Zariyah Edwards 6-0 F 15 pts 3-3 ft 9 reb 2 ast
’26’s
Jada Gay 6-2 F 4 pts 4 reb 2 ast 1 blk 1 st
Morgan Williams 5-8 G/F 8 pts 6 reb 2 ast
’27’s
Zariah Brown 5-8 G 10 pts 1 three 5 reb 2 ast
Neshoba Central (traveled 112 miles) 46
’26’s
Kyli Truss 5-7 G DNP Injury
Iyley Denson 5-7 G 8 pts 2 reb 2 st
Jiar Henry 5-6 G 17 pts 3 3’s 2 reb 1 ast 6 st
’27’s
Shay Lewis 5-6 G 12 pts 2 3’s 1 ast 3 st
Taysha Isaac 5-6 G 2 reb 1 ast 2 st
MVP
Ciara “CC” Warren
Starkville
5-6 ’25 G
17 pts 5 3’s 1 reb 4 ast 2 st
(G) Belmont Lady Cardinals 15-2 #22 (3A #2 Belmont, MS) 71
Olive Branch Lady Conquistadors 11-7 #47 (6A #8 Olive Branch, MS) 66
Notes: When I go to games I do not have favorites despite what some of you believe. However I do have a rooting interest for the better story. I didn’t really care who won but I did want to see how a seventh grader would do against the big bad 3A state champ bullies. I didn’t care who won the game I just wanted to see a good game from her. Caleigh Nix (’30 G Olive Branch) gave me exactly what I wanted dropping 27 points and snatching 7 steals. She couldn’t be stopped. She has to be easily the best seventh grader I’ve ever seen on the high school level. She could end up being the states all time leading scorer if we can keep her within our borders and not let her slide into Shelby County. Olive Branch was cruising and even got the lead to 20 plus points at one point from what I can remember. I was having a hard time trying to figure out which game was going to be the best game of the day because there were so many of them. I told someone that I wanted to see if Belmont had heart and if they could cut the lead to 10 I would be impressed.
Coach Higginbottom said “hold my clipboard and watch this” in my head. Belmont made a huge second half heel turn with the comeback. The better story was no longer how the seventh grader could handle the 3A champs but instead how could the 3A champs play with the seventh grader and the 6A bullies. McKinley Bennett (5-2 ’26 G Belmont) hit three 3’s while Presley Ross (5-5 ’27 G Belmont) and LaMaya Southward (5-7 ’27 G/F Belmont) connected on one each. Katie Jourdan (6-0 ’25 C Belmont) started to dominate once the rest of the team started hitting shots. She finished with a big double-double scoring 22 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. She was able to go ten out of twelve from the free-throw line. Belmont was able to take the lead and get the solid win. Booneville and Belmont should be able to play 3 more times this year just like they did last season.
Belmont (traveled 57 miles) 71
’25’s
Katie Jourdan 6-0 C 22 pts 10-12 ft 16 reb 1 ast 3 blk
Hailey Ivey 5-9 G/F 12 pts
’26’s
McKinley Bennett 5-2 G 9 pts 3 3’s 3 st
’27’s
Aubree Scott 5-8 PF 11 pts 5 reb 2 ast 1 blk 4 st
LaMaya Southward 5-7 G/F 11 pts 1 three 6-6 ft 2 reb 4 ast 2 st
Presley Ross 5-5 G 6 pts 1 three 1 reb 3 ast 2 st
Olive Branch (traveled 112 miles) 66
’25’s
Jakhidra Anderson 5-6 G 5 pts 1 three 6 reb 1 st
’26’s
Ivy Selph 5-7 G 4 pts 1 three 5 reb 3 ast 2 st
’27’s
Gabrielle Bowen G/F 10 pts 6 reb 2 ast 2 st
Vadaija Pimpton 5-8 F 13 pts 2 reb 1 ast 2 st
’30’s
Caleigh Nix G 27 pts 3-4 ft 2 3’s 4 reb 2 ast 7 st
MVP
Katie Jourdan
Belmont
6-0 ’25 C
22 pts 10-12 ft 16 reb 1 ast 3 blk
Girls
Head Coach-The best coaching job that I saw during this time period.
Chris Higginbottom Belmont
Best Game-The best game that I saw during this time period.
Belmont 71 Olive Branch 66
Top 5 Teams-The top five teams that I saw during this time period.
- Starkville Lady Yellowjackets 13-5 #11 (7A #4 Starkville, MS)
- Hoover Lady Buccaneers 19-2 #3 (7A #3 Hoover, AL)
- Biloxi Lady Indians 18-0 #1 (7A #1 Biloxi, MS)
- Callaway Lady Chargers 15-3 #13 (6A #2 Jackson, MS)
- Tupelo Lady Golden Wave 17-1 #4 (7A #2 Tupelo, MS)
Magnolia Hoops Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes that I saw during this time period based on stats.
2025: Katie Jourdan 6-0 ’25 C Belmont
22 pts 10-12 ft 16 reb 1 ast 3 blk
2026: Aaliyah Blanchard 5-11 ’26 G Hoover
30 pts 1 three 5-6 ft 11 reb 2 ast 1 st
2027: Zaniya Johnson 6-4 ’27 F/C Biloxi
13 pts 6 reb 3 ast 3 blk 2 st
2028: Meg Moore 6-0 ’28 G Tishomingo County
23 pts 11 reb 2 blk 1 st
2029: Kristen Winston 5-10 ’29 G Hoover
13 pts 1 three 2 reb 2 ast 3 st 1 blk
2030: Caleigh Nix ’30 G Olive Branch
27 pts 3-4 ft 2 3’s 4 reb 2 ast 7 st
Magnolia Hoops Starting 5
The top five players that I saw during this time period based on stats.
- Aaliyah Blanchard 5-11 ’26 G Hoover
30 pts 1 three 5-6 ft 11 reb 2 ast 1 st - Katie Jourdan 6-0 ’25 C Belmont
22 pts 10-12 ft 16 reb 1 ast 3 blk - Fran Kelly 5-10 ’26 G Hernando
33 pts 5 3’s 6 reb 1 st - Caleigh Nix ’30 G Olive Branch
27 pts 3-4 ft 2 3’s 4 reb 2 ast 7 st - Kazli Timbes 5-5 ’26 G Tishomingo County
26 pts 8 reb 4 ast 1 st
Katie Roberts Photography Senior Squad
The top five seniors that I saw during this time period based on stats.
- Katie Jourdan 6-0 ’25 C Belmont
22 pts 10-12 ft 16 reb 1 ast 3 blk - Jahanna “JoJo” Wilson 5-2 ’25 G Callaway
25 pts 2 3’s 5 reb 6 st - Macie Phifer 5-11 ’25 G Ingomar
22 pts 2 3’s 4-4 ft 8 reb 1 ast 1 st - Sa’Niyah Cook 6-3 ’25 F/C Booneville
23 pts 2 3’s 3 reb 1 ast 4 st - Lyla Cox 6-1 ’25 G Pontotoc
18 pts 4 3’s 4 reb 3 ast 1 st
Magnolia Hoops 