Neshoba Central came up just short in a dramatic finish Friday as Olive Branch slipped past the Lady Rockets 58-57.
Neshoba Central jumped out to a strong start, taking a 15-8 lead after the first quarter. The Lady Rockets’ defense helped set the tone early, but Olive Branch responded in the second period with a 17-11 run to take a narrow 25-26 deficit into halftime.
The teams continued to trade momentum in the second half. Neshoba Central held a 36-37 edge after three quarters, setting up a tense final period. Both teams scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, but Olive Branch managed to squeeze out the one-point victory in the closing moments.
Jiar Henry led the Lady Rockets with 17 points, knocking down four three-pointers. Shastyn Lewis added 10 points and six rebounds, while Kyli Truss finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and five steals.
Lailah Henry contributed eight points and three rebounds, and Eden Ben chipped in six points on 3-of-5 shooting.
Olive Branch was led by Jayde Matthews with 17 points, including five three-pointers. Caleigh Nix added 16 points, while Chloe Dorsey recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Olive Branch held a 40-27 advantage on the boards, which proved critical in the tightly contested game. Despite the loss, Neshoba Central forced 17 turnovers and recorded seven steals.
The narrow defeat capped a strong season for the Lady Rockets, who battled to the final possession in the one-point contest.
