Free throw accuracy by Tommesha Brown enabled the Winona girls basketball team to move above the .500 mark at 7-6 with a 52-40 victory over Leflore County in the team's first game after the holiday break.
“She made only three field goals and 23 free throws, which is sort of weird,” said Lady Tiger coach Veronica Helms. Brown was 23 of 29 from the line in scoring 29 points. Tyra Weathersby had 10 points and MyCala Helms nine.
“They (Leflore County) have a really good guard,” Helms said of senior Tyshekerra Lard, who entered the game with a 17.5 scoring average. “We tried to take it to her and she got into some early foul trouble.
“It was a good win because we needed to start off division (MHSAA 2-2A) play with a win. We have a good chance to finish in the top half of the division.”
Games scheduled for last week against Montgomery County and Water Valley were called off due to winter weather. An attempt will be made to reschedule Montgomery County, but Water Valley probably will not be rescheduled since it is not a region game. Winona was scheduled to play East Webster Tuesday visit Eupora Friday in a rematch of a 41-40 Winona victory last month.
Tigers
Despite a 66-32 loss to Leflore County, Winona coach Presley Coleman felt his team played well. “We came out with a lot of energy,” he said.
The Tigers jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but Leflore County came back to lead 33-21 at the half.
“Late in the second half it got away from us,” Coleman said. “Leflore County is probably the best team in our district (MHSAA 2-2A). They are very long and athletic and probably the best team we have played all year.”
Freshman Sean Merritt led the Tigers in scoring with seven points and also had six rebounds. Sophomore Andarius Coffey had six points and nine rebounds and freshman Robert McMath six points and four rebounds.
“The chemistry is starting to come together,” Coleman said. “Over the break we had some really good practices that benefited us.”
