Lady Bulldogs battle hard but fall to Itawamba Lady Indians in Region semi-finals

CLINTON --- The Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs battled hard all afternoon long with North Division foe the Itawamba Community College Lady Indians tying the game several times inside the last 10 minutes but couldn't pull out the win as Itawamba advanced to the Region finals with a 62-53 win.

With the loss, the Lady Bulldogs ended the season at 17-7. Itawamba will face Meridian for the Region XXIII title tonight at 6 p.m.

Itawamba jumped out to a 5-0 lead with 19 minutes to play in the first half. Dierra Gilmore tied the game at five with 16 minutes to play with a three-pointer. The Lady Indians pulled out to a 10-point lead with 11 minutes to go as Jameika Hoskins hit two free throws to make the score 18-8. With 6:33 to play, Kierra Gilmore hit two free throws to pull the Lady Bulldogs to within three at 23-20. The Lady Indians crawled back out to a 10-point lead with less than a minute to play but Dierra Gilmore hit a three-pointer from just inside half court at the buzzer to make the score 32-25 at halftime.

Louise Collins finished a three-point play with 16:59 to go in the game to pull the Lady Bulldogs to within four at 34-30. Itawamba went back up 11 points with 14:45 to play befor ethe Lady Bulldogs fought their way back to tie the game at 44-44. During that stretch Amber Clay, Jacquonna Young and Kierra Anderson each hit two point buckets and Kierra Gilmore hit a three-pointer. The teams went back and forth tying the game at 46 all and 48 all before Itawamba pulled away in the end.

Dierra Gilmore led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points while Kierra Gilmore and Kierra Anderson each had 10 points. Anderson led the Lady Bulldogs with 14 rebounds while Louise Collins had nine. Kierra and Dierra Gilmore each had six rebounds.

Photo by Mitch Deaver, PRCC