Kennett tops Neelyville for third at LRCC

BROSELEY — Neelyville sophomore Parker Ernst put the Tigers on her back in the fourth quarter Saturday night.

Ernst scored 10 of her team-high 20 points in the fourth quarter of the Tigers’ matchup against Kennett in the third-place game of the 2023 Lady Royals Christmas Classic at Twin Rivers High School.

Unfortunately for Neelyville, Ernst’s effort wouldn’t be enough to lift the Tigers past Kennett as the Indians held on for a 55-51 victory.

"We beat ourselves there," Neelyville coach Becky Hale said. "We had a stretch where we just didn't get anything done and we're trying to fight back, but time ran out and we couldn't get it done."

Despite falling short of their goal, Hale expressed pride in her players.

"I'm always proud of them," Hale said. "I'm always happy with them because they work their tails off, and that's what I want from them. "Our goal is to be the hardest-working team on the floor, and, hopefully, as the season moves along, it'll show on the scoreboard."

Kennett freshman Alyse Edwards gave the Tigers all they could handle, scoring a game-high 28 points off of 10 field goals and 8-of-14 free throws.

"I coach junior high, too, and she was the same way in seventh grade," Hale said. "She's crazy quick and she knows how to shoot. She knows the game and she's hard to guard. We're just trying to stay in front of her a little bit and make her make a mistake, but she wasn't going to do that. She knows how to get it to her teammates, too, and she makes her teammates a lot better."

Edwards was joined in double figures by sophomore teammate E'Marriha Johnson who added 12, including two 3-pointers. Johnson and the Indians gave Neelyville trouble in the paint with their size.

"They put two girls down there on the blocks to rebound and get the junk stuff," Hale said. "You've got to defend that plus defend the girl driving in. (Johnson) got hot in the first half from the 3-point line. It's hard to guard with all that happening."

In addition to Ernst's performance for Neelyville, the Tigers also received a double-digit scoring effort from senior Layni Dobbins who scored 12 points which included two 3s and a 2-for-3 performance at the charity stripe.

Although the Tigers fell short of taking the third-place trophy Saturday, Hale believes her squad is close to putting it all together.

"Two of our losses have been probably our own fault," Hale said. "Not taking anything away from Kennett right now, because they've got a great squad and everything. But if we handle that ball a little bit better and not turn it over so much, it's a matter of just a few points. We're going to have to put four quarters together. We can't just go on runs the whole time and expect to get very far, but if we put four quarters together we can be a solid team."

Kennett (8-3) will have a week off for the holiday before hosting Kelly at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Neelyville (5-4) hopes to get back on track in a road contest with Hayti — a team the Tigers throttled 70-22 in the opening round of the tournament — on Tuesday, Jan. 2.