POPLARVILLE, Miss. – No. 15 Pearl River women's basketball team used smothering defense and explosive offense to reach the 100-point plateau against Andrew College in the final game of the Pearl River Classic on Saturday at Marvin R. White Coliseum.
The Wildcats had 32 steals against the Tigers in addition to four players scoring in double digits.
"I am so proud of our girls, cleaning up so many small areas." Pearl River head coach Scotty Fletcher said. "We executed and had more discipline about us. The team played to a standard; for this team to be so new and young together, I was so proud."
FIRST QUARTER
Taylor Johnson-Matthews (Cleveland, Ohio; Charles F. Brush) and Hama'ya Fielder (Philadelphia, Miss.; Neshoba Central) came out of the gate running in the first period. Johnson-Matthews scored six of Pearl River's (3-0) first nine points as the Wildcats built a 9-2 lead. Johnson-Matthews opened with a short jumper and a putback after a PRCC miss, 5-2. Johnson-Matthews added two more after picking up a loose ball and hitting a short jumper, 9-2.
Not to be outdone, Fielder, off a nice pass by Roge'Ne' Hillard (Hazelhurst; Copiah Academy), hit a three to put the Wildcats up 15-5. Fielder hit a fifteen-foot floater on the Wildcats next possession to bring the score to 17-8.
Fielder forced a turnover at halfcourt and took the ball the distance for an easy layup to give PRCC a 19-8 lead. After an Andrew College (1-3) turnover, Alexis Arrington (Terry) found Fielder open for a 3-pointer, 22-8.
Kamren Edwards (Jackson; Murrah) hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:05 left in the quarter to give the Wildcats a 17-point lead, 25-8. Johnson-Matthews closed out the scoring with a layup following a nice move in the post, 27-8.
Fielder scored ten first-quarter points, and Johnson-Matthews added eight.
SECOND QUARTER
The Wildcats continued to pressure the Tigers early in the second quarter.
Fielder knocked down a three after Avery Young (Iota, La.) found Fielder with a nice pass on the wing, 30-8. After several trips to the charity stripe and a basket in the paint, the Tigers closed the gap to 10, 32-12. The Wildcats quickly stopped the Tigers momentum and went on a 10-point run. The Wildcats run was fueled by the play of Mikayla Riley (Tupelo) with six points, highlighted by a nice move under the basket after receiving a pinpoint pass from Samya Brooks (Pontotoc), 42-12.
With 2:08 left in the quarter, Young scored on a tear drop floater in the lane to keep the Wildcat lead at 30 points, 46-16.
Pearl River pushed the lead to 35 points at the break, 54-19, behind the shooting Hillard, who had a nice rebound and put back and a 3-pointer from Young that rattled around the rim before finding the bottom of the basket.
THIRD QUARTER
Fielder again opened the quarter with a 3-pointer in the corner off an assist by Young, 57-19. Fielder followed with a basket under the basket off an assist by Young.
Arrington got hot in the middle of the third quarter, scoring six of the Wildcats next nine points, 68-20. Arrington's run was highlighted when Arrington collected a Young pass and drove to the basket around a perfect pick set by Johnson-Matthews.
Riley added to the Wildcat lead by stealing a Tiger pass at halfcourt and taking the ball to the basket for a layup and foul. Riley converted the free throw to give PRCC a 53-point lead, 73-20.
With the score 78-26, Edwards drove the lane and drew the Tiger defense before finding Riley with a crisp pass under the basket. Riley was fouled while making the basket and made the "and one" to give PRCC an 81-26 lead. After a Tiger free throw, Riley struck again, hitting a 3-pointer off a Marley Freeman (Brandon) assist, 84-27.
Brooks closed out the scoring with a basket under the goal off an Arrington assist, 92-31.
FOURTH QUARTER
After scoring the last points of the third quarter, Brooks opened the Wildcats scoring in the fourth quarter with a nice left-handed hook shot in the paint, 94-32. Caples found Freeman under the basket on a fast break to put the Wildcats one point away from hitting the century mark in consecutive games, 99-33.
Brooks put PRCC over 100 points with a short jumper from the right side of the basket after an Audria Houston (Oxford; Tupelo) steal.
The Wildcats closed out the game, getting four points apiece from Houston and Edwards for a 109-38 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Fielder had a monster night for the Wildcats with 23 points, five rebounds, five steals and two assists.
"I'm so proud of her (Fielder). She stepped up to the challenge. It is a reflection of her and her character," Fletcher said.
Johnson-Matthews added 17 points, three rebounds and two steals in 12 minutes of action.
"Taylor is special," Fletcher commented. "She has turned herself into an elite basketball player. She is fun to coach."
Riley continued with the hot hand, scoring 20 points and six rebounds. Brooks contributed 12 points, three rebounds and one assist. Arrington continues to be a menace on defense, tallying eight steals to go along with seven points and four assists. Young led all Wildcats with seven assists in addition to scoring six points.
NEXT UP
The Wildcats will travel to Coastal Alabama-North on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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