Lady Mules down Holcomb to open Lady Royals Christmas Classic

Poplar Bluff’s Julissa Johnson (4) drives the paint while guarded by Holcomb’s Landyn Hodges (22) and Kayleigh Love-Mullins (5) during the first round of the Lady Royal Christmas Classic on Saturday in Broseley.

DAR/Robert Augsdorfer

BROSELEY — The Poplar Bluff girls basketball team came into the Lady Royal Christmas Classic on Saturday with some swagger as the Lady Mules routed Holcomb 53-27 in the opening round.

With the win, Poplar Bluff improves to 6-3 on the season.

“It’s always great to get another win especially after a tough loss last week (at Notre Dame),” Poplar Bluff coach Soley Dugas said. “We need one more win to tie our win total from last year.”

Jadyn Brandon led the Lady Mules’ offense with 11 points, while Allie Johnson was right behind her with eight in the game. The Lady Mules struggled from the charity stripe going only 6-for-14.

Poplar Bluff started off strong and didn’t let their foot off the gas as the Lady Mules got off to a 6-2 run in the first three minutes of the ballgame and held the Hornets scoreless from there until the end of the first with a 10-2 lead.

In the second, Poplar Bluff nearly pitched a shutout until Holcomb’s Ava Gurley drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it 34-5 in favor of the Lady Mules at the break.

The Hornets showed a little more offense in the second half as Holcomb outscored Poplar Bluff 12-6 in the third quarter, capped off by another buzzer beating 3-pointer, this time scored by Chaiytlin Hardcastle, to make it 40-17 Poplar Bluff through three quarters.

However, the Lady Mules were able to take advantage of the lead they made in the first half as they were able to cruise into the win.

In the second round on Monday, Poplar Bluff will face East Carter at 4:30 p.m. and Portageville will play Twin Rivers at 7:30 p.m. In consolation action, Hayti faces Holcomb at noon on Monday, while Naylor takes on Malden at 1:30 p.m.

East Carter 75, Hayti 26

In Saturday's second game of the day, the fourth-seeded Redbirds ran out to a 33-4 lead after the opening period and never looked back.

Parker Golden paced East Carter with 20 points, while Katelyn Nichols added 17 and Anna Crowley finished with 10 as East Carter

Kalaiha Jones led Hayti with 10 points.

Portageville 73, Naylor 23

In Saturday's opener, the third-seeded Bulldogs led 21-5 after the opening period and 45-8 at the intermission as it had little problem moving past the 14th-seeded Lady Eagles.

Gloriaha Farmer led Portageville with 20 points, while Taryn Irby added 13 and Ja'Niya Smith finished with 11.

Trinity Futrell paced Naylor with 14 points.