Ferriday rallies in overtime to beat Homer High 82-75
Published 11:58 pm Monday, February 11, 2013
NATCHEZ — Quavion Ellis came alive just in time to keep Ferriday High School’s postseason hopes alive Monday night.
Ellis dropped in seven points in overtime of Ferriday’s contest with Homer High School to push the Trojans to an 82-75 win.
The Trojans had their backs against the wall going into Monday’s game, and a three pointer that forced overtime in the final seconds of regulation by Homer’s Danny Dawson was a shot to the gut for the Trojans.
But Ferriday bounced back, and head coach K.G. Watkins said his team responded as well as it could to the adversity.
“We only had eight kids tonight and two seniors,” Watkins said. “Our underclassmen really stepped up. That three pointer at the end of regulation was a let down, but they really stepped up. I am so proud of these boys right now.”
Ferriday responded with 13 points in the overtime frame to secure a win.
“The defense (in overtime) really set it off,” Watkins said. “We played really well on that end of the floor.”
Ellis led all scorers with 20 points in the game. Seventeen of his 20 came in the second half and overtime. Brandon Scott scored 17 for the Trojans, while Trey Hall and DaJohn Mitchell added 15 each.
Ferriday now awaits its postseason fate, Watkins said.
“Hopefully this will help us get into the playoffs,” he said. “That should give us third place in the district, and if that holds to form, hopefully we can squeeze into the playoffs.”
Ferriday will find out if it did enough this season to get into the playoffs at the LHSAA District 2-2A meeting Thursday.
If Ferriday does get in, Watkins said he knows his team will be ready to play in pressure situations.
“I told the kids that this was a playoff game,” he said. “We had to win this one to have a shot, and they stood up and finished. The last two weeks they have finished like I knew they could all season. I am very proud of what they’ve done. That’s the way to go out.”
The game was tight throughout before Ferriday stretched its lead to 10 points early in the fourth quarter. But Homer fought back and tied it with Dawson’s last-second three-point basket.
Dawson finished with 17 points for Homer.
Ferriday finished the season with a record of 10-14 overall and 5-5 in district.
Homer girls 54,
Ferriday 49
Jada Griggs scored 28 points and helped Ferriday jump out to a 31-17 halftime lead Monday night in its girls’ basketball game with Homer High School.
But the visiting Lady Pelicans got 26 points from Americana Walker to roar back in the second half and beat Ferriday 54-49.
Homer outscored Ferriday 37-18 in the second half to send the Lady Trojans out with a 5-18 overall record and a 3-7 district record.
ShaKeria Kelly finished with 17 points for Ferriday.