After blowing by a good Puckett team Friday night to capture the Region 5-2A Tournament crown in Taylorsville, the Bay Springs Lady Bulldogs went right back to work Monday night in the first round of the MHSAA 2A South playoffs.
Bay Springs hosted and topped Wesson in a dominate 63-39 first round finish.
Working towards finally getting to the playoffs is something the Lady Bulldogs have been chasing all season long. Bay Springs, with 22 wins and only a handful of losses on the year, has been dominate on the hardwood. Now, things will begin to become more challenging, and head coach Nedra Hosey says her team is going to have to step up play during the post-season.
“It feels good to be in the playoffs,” said Hosey. “I just want them [the team] to have a killer mentality. We’ve kind of been coming out lazy, and I want their mindset to be positive and for them to get ready to at least try to blow other teams out. Practice, practice, practice. We are going to stay in the gym this week.”
Bay Springs was simply too strong for Wesson, a team they outsized in every position, Monday night. Jaliyah Shelby got things going for the Lady Bulldogs with a put-back jumper off the back of the glass for the first points of the game. Bay Springs never trailed in the game, and three Lady Bulldogs finished with double digit scoring.
Bay Springs ended the first period with a 12-4 run and carried a 27-16 lead into the half. The Lady Bulldogs held a 45-32 advantage at the end of the third period and pulled further away in the fourth to capture the victory.
Shelby, a senior forward, led Bay Springs with 19 points. Senior center Hailee Nixon produced 15 points, and senior guard Kaitlyn Ellis, who sat during the first period, finished with 11 points.
Heading into the fourth period, Bay Springs had created 11 turnovers, many which were due to the quickness and hands of senior guard Zaria Louis. Defense, creating turnovers, and a fast-paced transition has been Bay Springs’ go-to all season long, and according to Hosey, Louis is pushing the team.
“Zaria is carrying the team right now. Without her steals and defense, I don’t know where we would be right now,” she explained.
Bay Springs [22-4] will host East Marion [11-15] from Region 8-2A this Friday night in the second round of the playoffs. The Lady Eagles are coming off a first round 47-35 win over Lake. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.
