Regardless of records or the sport, the Oak Grove-Petal rivalry is a fierce one. Just ask Oak Grove girls basketball coach Mark Swindle.
“Nothing comes easy,” Swindle said.
That was again the case Friday night, as Swindle’s Lady Warriors were held to just 8 points in Friday night’s first half against the Lady Panthers. Despite the slow start, Oak Grove took control to eventually win a wild one, 48-41, in double overtime.
“We scored 8 points in the first half, and we tripled or quadrupled that in the second,” Swindle said. “It’s one of those things where neither team could put the other away. I think we both had opportunities with free throws where both of us could’ve put it away, but we just didn’t.”
They did however fight back. Trailing 16-8 at halftime, Oak Grove came alive with a big third quarter, outscoring Petal 13-7 in the period to pull within two points, 23-21, heading to the fourth. Alesha Temple was a big part of that answer, as she scored 9 of those 13 points and finished with a game-high 18.
“She [Temple] was big,” Swindle said. “She had been a little shaky in the last couple of games, but she came through in the second half. And made some free throws. Hats off to her.”
Both squads went back and forth in both the fourth quarter and first overtime. But in the second, Oak Grove pulled away for the win, outscoring Petal 7-0.
It was clear late that Swindle’s halftime message had taken full effect.
“I was just telling them to try to be more aggressive. We were standing around shooting and having opportunities to go to the basket,” Swindle said. “In the second half, we got those and made some. Made some free throws every now and then. Just got better shots than we were getting in the first half.”
Jazmin Grayson and Umayah Harvey each added 11 points for the Lady Warriors, who improved to 13-4 with the win. Petal, who fell to 8-7 with the loss, was led by Jada Arrington’s 15 points.
