Lady Bulldogs fall in the first round of the MACJC State Tournament; await word on Region XXIII

FULTON --- The Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs went on a 13-0 run to open the second half here Tuesday afternoon to go up 51-40, but it wasn't enough as the Jones County Junior College took the lead again with 1:40 to play to pull off a 64-61 win in the opening round of the MACJC State Tournament being held at Itawamba Community College.

With the loss, the Lady Bulldogs fell to 16-6 on the season and now await word on the Region XXIII Tournament, which begins next Wednesday in Clinton at Mississippi College. Order of play has not been determined yet.

Jones took an early lead and held as much as a five-point lead with 15 minutes to play in the first half. Kierra Gilmore scored with 13 minutes to play to tie the game at 16. A Lauren Douglas three-pointer increased the lead to 21-16 with 12:15 to play in the half. Gilmore cut the lead to three at 25-22 with 9:30 to play in the half before Jones went back a run again to increase the lead to eight at 33-25.

The Lady Bulldogs then made a run of their own to take a lead at 35-34 when Marquita Tidwell hit a shot from the baseline, right of the basket. Jones regained the lead at 38-37 when Kasey McKinney hit two free throws and held a 40-38 lead at halftime.

Holmes then went on a 13-0 run to open the second half of play to go up 51-40. The Lady Bulldogs hung onto the lead until 5:26 to play in the game when Sharney Mills hit a two-point shot to tie the game at 54. Holmes then ran out again to 59-54 on a bucket by Louise Collins and a three-point play by Kierra Gilmore. With 3:30 to play, Alecia Autman tied the game at 59 with a three-pointer. McKinney then put Jones up for good.

The Lady Bulldogs had a chance to take the lead with 11 seconds to play but Mills stole the ball from the Lady Bulldogs and dribbled down for the easy layup leaving on two seconds to play. Holmes was unable to get the shot off before the horn blew.

Kierra Gilmore led the Lady Bulldogs with 19 points while Louise Collins had 17 and Dierra Gilmore had 11. Dierra Gilmore led the Lady Bulldogs in rebounds with seven while Kierra Gilmore had six.  Dierra Gilmore also had six assists.