Cobra teams fall to Hinds, sweep W. Lincoln
SPLITTING THE ‘D’– Wesson’s Ansley Schimmel drives through the West Lincoln defense on her way to a lay-up attempt in last week’s Lady Cobra win over the Lady Bears in Wesson. The Lady Cobras, coached by Hugh Webb, improved to 11-8. PHOTOS BY TRACY FISCHER
UHH, NO – Wesson’s Josh Hart, 24, rejects a bid by a West Lincoln player to score 2 points, as teammates Matthew Cliburn, 2, and Josh Hood, 23, savor the moment and await a rebound during a Cobra home win last week. The Cobras, coached by Ron Kessler, improved to 12-5.
BY BRADLEY CROW
The Hinds AHS War Dawgs moved to 17-0 on the season with an impressive second half smashing of the Cobras to the tune of 75-46.
Coach Ron Kessler’s Cobras (11-5) played toe-to-toe with the Dawgs for the entire first half with the Cobras only trailing 35-28. Hinds then outscored the Cobras 38-17 after the break to win it going away.
“We matched Hinds step for step in the first half,” commented Kessler. “Hinds is very talented and we just didn’t play our best after the half.”
Senior center Josh Hart led the Cobras with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Guards Lonnie Reeves and Josh Hood fired in 9 points apiece in the losing effort. Hinds was led by Kesslee Stewart who pumped in 19 for the Dawgs.
The Lady Cobras found a similar fate in Hinds County Friday evening falling to the Lady Dawgs 57-36 in a game that was only a 6 point Hinds lead at the half.
Wesson head coach Hugh Webb did not bite his tongue when speaking about the officiating. “We can play with Hinds, but you can quote me on this,” commented Webb. “That was the worst officiated ballgame I have ever witnessed in all my years of coaching. They just didn’t know the rules.”
Despite the loss, Webb praised the play of sophomore center Leah Greer who fired in 10 points for the Lady Cobras. Wesson forward Ann Shelby Davis only scored 7 on a night that only saw 3 of 18 shots fall for the sophomore. Letia Wilson led the Lady Dawgs with 18 points.
In junior varsity action, Tyler Lumley led the Wesson scorers with 9 in a 48-17 loss to the Dawgs.
The Wesson Cobras (12-5) used junior point guard Josh Hood’s long range accuracy to the tune of 23 points to beat the West Lincoln Bears for the first time under Coach Ron Kessler in a 68-60 victory for the Cobras.
The Bears and Cobras were all tied up at 48 after three periods, but the Cobras managed to outscore the Bears 20-12 in the final period behind precision shooting from Hood and good free throw shooting. Hood would finish 6-7 from behind the arc on the evening while the Cobras were 12-15 from the charity stripe.
“I believe that is my first time to beat West Lincoln,” commented Kessler. “They are always very well coached and play hard. My guys just rose to the challenge and played well considering we played on the road last night at Hinds.”
Junior guard Lonnie Reeves contributed 17 points on the evening while senior Josh Hart scored 14 while grabbing 8 boards. Senior forward Matthew Cliburn chipped in 10 points and 8 rebounds.
West Lincoln, coached by former Wesson graduate Lane Young, was led by Aaron Collins who had a nice game with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Jamey Byrd also fired in 14 for the Bears while Jeremy Byrd contributed 13.
In girls action, the Lady Cobras (11-8) went down to the wire with the Lady Bears finally pulling out the victory 60-54. Wesson led 27-25 at the half.
Sophomore forward Ann Shelby Davis powered the Lady Cobras offensively with 22 points and 3 steals. Point guard Marion Allen chipped in 13 points and 6 assists while post player Leah Greer continued steady improvement with 12 points and 9 rebounds for Wesson.
The Lady Bears got an outstanding performance from Talashia Fells who led the Lady Bears with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Tati Marshall fired in 13 points for the Lady Bears in the losing effort.
“Macie Case played outstanding defense on their perimeter shooter,” commented a pleased Wesson girls coach Hugh Webb. “We held her to 4 points with a goal of 8. I am proud of what my girls did today.”
