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That’s the point total Jones’ leading scorer, Tanecka Carey, was held to by ICC’s Anna Dill – with a little help from her friends – in the second half.
The former Jackson Murrah guard scored 17 of her team-high 19 points in the first half. The talented sophomore came in averaging 23.9 a game.
“The key for us was being able to stop Carey,” Lady Indians coach Nanci Gray said. “Anna Dill was assigned to her. She did a super job.”
Dill, a sophomore and former standout for Itawamba AHS, changed her strategy on guarding Carey in the second half.
“She can drive and shoot the 3,” Dill said, then smiled. “In the first half, I was backing off her. In the second half, I stayed on her.
“I had some teammates help me when she drove.”
ICC’s man-to-man scheme allowed no other Lady Bobcats (6-3) to score in double figures.
The Lady Indians (8-3), who trailed 20-18 with 9 minutes remaining in the first half after Carey scored on a putback, took charge with an 18-5 run and raced to a 36-25 halftime lead.
ICC rookie guard Jameika Hoskins, the former Aberdeen star, scored 15 of her team-high and career-best 19 points in the second half to pace the Indians.
Hoskins, who scored the game-winning basket on a tip-in against Jones in November in Ellisville, scored eight of her points midway in the second half to help ICC pull away.
“This was a big win for us,” Hoskins said. “The last time we only beat them by one point. Our goal was to beat last year’s state champs.”
Shay Bonner scored 14, LaPrecious Naylon 13 and Dill 11 to round out ICC’s double-figure scoring.
“I thought Jameika and LaPrecious handled a lot of one-on-one situations well and scored,” Gray said. “They did a super job penetrating and scoring. I thought Bonner did a good job defensively and rebounding as small as she is.”
Bonner, who’s 5-foot-8, led the Lady Indians with seven rebounds.
ICC returns to MACJC North Division play next Tuesday when it hosts Mississippi Delta. The Lady Indians are 1-0 in league action.
“I like our chemistry; I like our depth,” Gray said. “If we can continue to get positive minutes out of nine kids every night, we could see some success down the road.”
(M) ICC 86, Jones 81
Melvin Morgan had a career scoring effort in the Indians’ win against the Bobcats. How else can you explain a guy averaging 7.9 points per game scoring a team-high 28.
“I knew we had some players sick and hurt,” said ICC’s sophomore guard from Bolton, Tenn. “I knew I had to step my game up from the scoring side.”
Morgan stepped it up in the final minute, grabbing two loose balls and scoring seven points.
“We need Melvin Morgan to play like that,” said ICC coach Marty Cooper, whose team has won three straight games. “He was our leading scorer (11.9 ppg) last season.”
Cooper was also pleased with the effort he got from 6-8 freshman center Nick Moncure, who scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
“Tonight was a breakthrough game for Nick. I’m happy for him,” Cooper said.
Todd Nelson connected on 5 of 9 3-pointers and finished with 21 for ICC (5-6) while Brandon Givens led five Jones (4-6) scorers in double figures with 20. He came in averaging 22.