Edwards, Johnson power Kennett past Senath-Hornersville

In the Kennett girls basketball team's first foray following the SEMO Conference Tournament, a pair of underclassmen combined for nearly 70 points for the Lady Indians to win by a staggering final score of 82-18 against Senath-Hornersville Monday, Dec. 4, 2023.

Freshman Alyce Edwards scored a game-high 39 points and sophomore E'Marriha Johnson put up another 30. Along with their combined offensive power, Kennett head coach Erika Cobb said that the work her team has put in on a new defense helped seal the deal.

“Lots and lots of work,” Cobb described of the Indians' defense. “We're just now getting to where our rotations look better. It's a brand new thing, something they didn't know, and it's taken a lot of work.”

Kennett freshman Alyce Edwards, high scorer of the night with 30 points in total, charges down the court during a girls basketball game in Senath Monday, Dec. 4, 2023.Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

Johnson put Kennett on the board first and after Edwards joined in, the Indians rapidly took a 14-0 lead. Senath-Hornersville's Jada Burlison and Halle Jamerson, both returners from last season's roster, put in back-to-back three-pointers before the end of the first quarter, which eventually ended 29-10 in favor of Kennett.

The Indians kept pouring it on, but Jamerson provided the only score for the Lions in the second quarter with another shot from far. The tally at halftime stood at 49-13.

Johnson sank a three-pointer to kick off the third quarter, and Edwards did the same in the fourth. With very little change in momentum through to the end, Kennett won by a margin of 64 points and moved to an early 3-1 record for the season, the only loss so far coming to undefeated Notre Dame.

Despite graduating three cornerstone players on the Indian team including Lani Heeb, Taleigh Harrel and Sophie Boone, a healthy mix of experience and new grit and determination is quickly combining for success on the court.

“The girls are coming out and playing hard, and they're practicing really hard,” Cobb said. “We're just trying to get better every day. We've got a few hurt, two of my starters, but we're working to get them back healthy and we're all getting better as a team.”

Kennett travels next to play New Madrid County Central (0-5) Thursday, and Senath-Hornersville hosts East Prairie (2-2) Thursday as well.