Coahoma County trailed New Site for six minutes in the first quarter and that was it.
The Panther then came on strong with their defense holding the Royals to two points in the second quarter and three points in the third to cruise to a 60-34 win in the first round of the road to Jackson and the state play offs.
The win sent the Panthers to 26-2 on the year. The lost their first two games of the season in October. They haven’t lost a game since and look primed to make it to Jackson and the State Championship for the fourth time in five years.
“We played a good team tonight, but once our defense got to rolling we shut them down,” said Coahoma basketball coach Derrick Moore. “We got our shots on offense and scored, but defense was the key tonight.”
Moore pointed to rebounds – particularly offensive rebounds – that allowed the Panthers to get their baskets and double the points of New Site.
Coahoma had the height advantage and worked the ball inside for their shots. When they didn’t go, the offensive rebounds let them try again to get their points.
Then the defense went to work with turnovers and defensive rebounds, putting the ball back in the hands of the Panthers.
“They were a quick team,” Moore said of New Site. “We haven’t seen a lot of that this year. This was a good win for us.”
Moore said his starting five played the majority of the game.
“We started slow,” he explained. “I don’t know if it was the playoffs that made us sort of tight. Once we got to rolling we settled in and took care of this one.”
New Site scored a quick eight points on Coahoma but the Panthers tied it up at the 2:03 mark in the first quarter. Senior power forward Kesean Maddox drove the lane, made the basket and got the foul. Coahoma never trailed after those three points.
The score stood 15-10 at the end of one.
But again it was the defense in the second and third quarter that shut down the Royals.
The Panthers started shooting from the perimeter, with Harlem Bell, Demarjay Rucker and Cameron Bell all hitting three-pointers. As the Royals came out after them, the Panthers worked it inside.
The Panthers led 34-12 at the half and 46-15 at the end of three.
“We pride ourselves on our defense and we work on it,” said Moore. “The three worked and then we just used our size inside.”
Junior wing Jeramus Eagins finished with 12-points followed by Bell with 11 – including three, three-pointers. Zechari Smith had 10 points and worked the inside to get his shots. Rucker had nine, Caleb Hearns had five, Cameron Bell and Eddrick Turner had three each and Drutravious Magsby and Kendarious Sims had a basket each.
“It was a well-rounded effort,” said Moore. “Defense worked hard and shut the door on them. I was pleased with the way we played.
Coahoma plays Choctaw County, out of Ackerman, at 6 p.m. Saturday in The Gym in Clarksdale. Choctaw County is 21-9 overall and 5-3 in 2A Region 4. The Chargers beat Charleston 69-67 on Tuesday night for the opportunity to come play Coahoma County at home in the second round of the playoffs.
A win Saturday will have the Panthers face the winner of the Baldwyn/East Webster game in the quarter finals of the playoffs at Mississippi Valley on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
The semifinals start Feb. 28 at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
