Following a pair of impressive wins over East Marion and Amite County, the Lady Wildcats played vastly different in a pair of losses in the East Marion Holiday Classic.
It started for Columbia (4-8) against East Marion Dec. 20 as the Lady Wildcats started off strong in the first quarter only to be outscored 32-11 the next two quarters in a 57-35 loss. Jasmine Sheppard scored a team-high 16 points, but Aly Dunaway and Aniyah Fortenberry, who both had six points, were the only other Columbia players to score more than three points.
“A totally different team showed up a week earlier when we played East Marion,” head coach Charlie James said. “Everybody just kind of stood around and depended on Jasmine, and I’ve been telling them all year that you can’t do that. We need everyone involved. If we get everyone is involved, it makes it that much easier for Jasmine.”
It was much of the same story the following night in a 50-31 loss to Lawrence County in the consolation game. Sheppard had 15 points, while Fortenberry added six and no other player had more than three.
James said in both games the Lady Wildcats didn’t rebound well and didn’t get out and run in transition.
“We gave up too many second and third opportunities. We were taking one shot, and the other team was taking three or four shots. That just can’t happen, and that’s what made the difference in those games,” he said.
The Lady Wildcats don’t return to the court until Jan. 7 when they return to their home court to begin Region 8-3A play against Jeff Davis County.
Pictured Above: Columbia's Aniyah Fortenberry prepares to release a layup. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
