The Winona girls and boys basketball teams both suffered two losses to end the regular season. The Tigers were defeated by Amanda Elzy 58-55 and Ruleville Central 64-40, the Lady Tigers 41-25 against Amanda Elzy and 44-18 against Ruleville Central, Both began play in the Region 3-3A Tuesday at Humphreys County, needing victories to qualify for the state tournament. The Tigers played the host team and the Lady Tigers went up against Coahoma Early College.
The semifinals will be Wednesday and the championship and consolation games Friday. Both Winona teams will face the top seed in the semifinals if they win the opening round games, the boys against Coahoma Early College and the girls against Ruleville Central.
Against Amanda Elzy, the Tigers rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to lead by nine early in the fourth quarter. “We missed free throws. We had some chances to close the gap at the free throw line, but didn't do it,” said Coach Presley Coleman. The Tigers were 15 of 33 from the line.
Kaleb Rush made seven of nine shots and led the Tigers with 23 points and eight rebounds. But he missed a three pointer at the buzzer that would have forced overtime. Jalen Daniels had 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
The Tigers trailed Ruleville Central by seven at the half. “The third quarter was sloppy both ways. Then they pulled away in the fourth quarter,” Coleman said, Daniels scored 17 points and Clifford Lee had 16, “We played poorly. Came out flat,” Lady Tiger coach Frank Miller said of his teams two losses. Tyra Weathersby was Winona's top scorer in each game with seven points against Amanda Elzy and nine against Ruleville Central.
