Lee Academy’s girls basketball team is undefeated to open the 2018-19 season after winning its home opener 48-27 against DeSoto School on Tuesday night.
Emily Moser led the Fillies (3-0) with 13 points all in the first half, Anna Byrd and Ashlynn Smith had eight each, Maggie Etheridge had six, Shleton Johnson had five, Meredith Wilkinson had four, Elizabeth Basha had two and Mikah Jantz had one.
The Colts (1-2) dropped their second consecutive game with a 69-59 loss to DeSoto.
Brett Wilson led Lee with 17 points including five 3-pointers, Phillip Brownlee had 16, D.J. Vassel had 13, Seth Campbell had eight, Hunt Barksdale had three, and Chandler Wells had two.
“Both games were intensely played and that’s what we do when we play schools that are not far from us,” Lee coach Michael Peckham said. “Obviously, when you play teams like we did last year and we had a different team last year, but when we handled them with ease in some respects last year, it was because we played harder.
“We had a different bunch and a different unit — a senior laden team that was a very athletic team. DeSoto is a good team and a lot of people don’t look at them sometimes and think, ‘Well, they’re solid.’ That team minus some players that graduated last year went to the overall (state tournament), so they’re solid.”
Peckham said the Thunderbirds made simple plays and his athletes made shots harder than they had to be.
“From the girls standpoint, I think we’re off to a good start,” Peckham said. “We’re 3-0. We’ve been able to play everybody on the varsity squad, get some minutes, get some rest. We’re still a little banged up.”
Peckham said both the Colts and Fillies are dealing with injuries at the moment.
The Fillies were dominant from start to finish in their win.
Peckham said it was the first game all Fillies were available with Moser and Byrd on the court at the same time.
“I’m really proud with the effort Meredith Wilkerson has played the last two games,” Peckham said. “She’s really battling well. Mary Luisa Czananske had played her best. Even though it might not show in the box score, she played aggressive tonight. We need that from her.”
Peckham said Smith played well on the board.
The Colts were behind much of the night, but did pull to within four points at halftme when they trailed the Thunderbirds 36-32.
However, the Colts were unable to break even.
“The thing is, we were gassed,” Peckham said. “We looked like we had been on Thanksgiving break and it showed. But that’s taking nothing away from DeSoto. DeSoto played hard. A lot of their plays were just effort plays, loose balls.”
Peckham said there was a loose ball early in the game where the Colts players assumed it was going out of bounds, but DeSoto made a hustle play and scored.
“Those are the things that sometime come to bite us when the other team has a little bit more desire, they give a little more effort,” Peckham said. “All of this is correctable. It’s just a matter of baring down, playing more team ball, trying not to do too much at one time.”
Peckham said Vassel is a freshman who plays two quarters and has been productive.
“D.J. Vassel really gives us a lift,” Peckham said. “Hopefully, that will be contagious to other players who work just as hard because he’s really helped us out.
“Of course, we’re a different team and the varsity boys are starting to learn to really have to play with each other and this unit.”
Senior Hayes Clegg is a football all-star and was unavailable Tuesday, so Wells, who is a sophomore, started.
Wilson was back for the first time he injured his ankle during football season in September.
The Lee varsity girls won at DeSoto last week 52-26.
Johnson had 15 points followed by Wilkinson with 10.
The Colts lost at DeSoto last week 66-54.
Wells had 16 points followed by Vassel with 13.
The JV boys lost 34-27 at DeSoto last week.
Vassel led the way with 10 points.
The JV girls won 42-14 at DeSoto last week
Etheridge led the way with 16 points.
Lee hosts Delta Academy on Thursday, is at Washington School Tuesday, hosts Marvell Academy Dec. 6 and Deer Creek School Dec. 7.
