AYA championships leave great memories for players, coaches
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, March 5, 2014
![Jack Daylon Brown of J.E. Hicks Distributing guards, right, Jonathan Ratcliff of Guedon Farms as he dribbles down the court in the first half of the fifth and sixth grade boys AYA championship game Tuesday at Adams County Christian School. J.E. Hicks defeated Guedon Farms 29-13. (Brittney Lohmiller / The Natchez Democrat)](https:https://www.natchezdemocrat.com//wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2014/03/030514_AYAchampionshipBLMain.jpg)
Jack Daylon Brown of J.E. Hicks Distributing guards, right, Jonathan Ratcliff of Guedon Farms as he dribbles down the court in the first half of the fifth and sixth grade boys AYA championship game Tuesday at Adams County Christian School. J.E. Hicks defeated Guedon Farms 29-13. (Brittney Lohmiller / The Natchez Democrat)
NATCHEZ — The fifth- and sixth-grade J.E. Hicks Distributing team finished their season off 9-0 with a 29-13 win against Guedon Farms in the AYA championship game played at Adams County Christian School Tuesday.
Guedon Farms had a tough time containing Desanto Rollins, who scored 19 points for J.E. Hicks in the win.
But most importantly, J.E. Hicks head coach Keith Mallett said, he was a good teammate as well.
“All season we have been teaching them about playing unselfish and tough defense and they did that tonight,” Mallett said.
Hicks Rollins scored all five of J.E. Hicks’ first-quarter points to lead 5-2, but the lead was stretched significantly in the second quarter as their defense didn’t allow Guedon Farms to score a single point to go ahead 11-2 at halftime,
But Guedon Farms didn’t go away easy as it went on a 5-0 run to start the second half when Jonathan Ratcliff hit a long three-pointer, 11-7.
But J.E. Hicks responded with a 6-1 run to go into the fourth quarter ahead 17-8 and cruise to a 29-13 win.
Fifth-and Sixth grade girls championship
Cutting Edge Glass head coach Stephanie Adams has been to the championship game three years straight, but could never come out on top.
But she was able to secure her first AYA championship as Cutting Edge routed McDonough Investments 19-9 in the fifth- and sixth-grade girls championship game.
Cutting Edge started the game strong with a 4-0 lead, and extended it to five points, 10-5, at halftime.
From there, they never looked back as they outscored McDonough 9-3 in the second half to take the championship.
![Anna Katherine McDonough of McDonough Investments guards Geri Brumfield of Cutting Edge Glass during the fifth and sixth grade girls AYA championship game Tuesday at Adams County Christian School. Cutting Edge Glass defeated McDonough Investments 19-9. (Brittney Lohmiller / The Natchez Democrat)](https:https://www.natchezdemocrat.com//wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2014/03/030514_AYAchampionshipBL1-247x300.jpg)
Anna Katherine McDonough of McDonough Investments guards Geri Brumfield of Cutting Edge Glass during the fifth and sixth grade girls AYA championship game Tuesday at Adams County Christian School. Cutting Edge Glass defeated McDonough Investments 19-9. (Brittney Lohmiller / The Natchez Democrat)
Adams said she is really proud of her players for their efforts.
“They worked really hard this season and learned a lot and it has not been easy, but they earned it,” she said.
Third- and fourth-grade boys championship
U.S. Lawns and Whitaker Insurance was tied at 7-7 at the end of the third quarter, but a strong performance by Jake Hanston and Will Ambry led U.S. Farms to a 14-9 win in the championship game.
Hanston scored five of his seven points in the last 1:20 of the game to seal the win.
Third- and fourth-grade girls championship
Ready Decks put away the Green Mighties 25-3 in the third- and fourth-grade girls championship.
Lauren Dunbar led Ready Decks with 15 points, while Julia Richardson scored six points.
Gracie Foster scored the Green Mighties only field goal in the fourth quarter,