By Stan Caldwell
stanmansportsfan.com
For the second consecutive season, the North Forrest boys were unable to cope with playing in the Big House.
The Eagles got off to a slow start and never completely recovered, losing to Coahoma County 44-31 in the Class 2A Final Four at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
North Forrest, which reached the 2A semifinals for the first time in 19 season last year, completed its season 20-9. The Red Panthers improved to 23-10 and advance to face Potts Camp on Friday in the state championship game at Ole Miss.
Neither team started the game well, and the first points of the game came midway through the first quarter on a free throw by North Forrest junior Joseph Holloway.
That would prove to be the only point of the period for the Eagles, who trailed 4-1 after the first quarter and 10-2 with 1:36 to play in the first half before finally finding the range with six points near the end of the second quarter.
North Forrest converted just 2 of 19 shots (10.5 percent) from the field in the first half, but shot better in the second half, hitting 11 of 25 (44.0 percent) in the final two periods.
North Forrest closed the margin with a solid third quarter, outscoring the Red Panthers 16-13 in the period, and the Eagles trailed 27-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Eagles kept it close through much of the final period, but Coahoma County finished the game outscoring North Forrest 10-2 over the final 2:35 to win going away.
A big culprit in the Eagles’ demise was foul shooting, as North Forrest was just 4 of 16 from the free-throw line. The Red Panthers also outrebounded the Eagles 40-28.
Junior Tre Williams led North Forrest with 13 points, and Holloway added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Bentavious Galmore had 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead Coahoma County, and Keshun Holly had 10 points and 13 boards for the Red Panthers.
Prep Basketball Summary
MHSAA State Tournament
BOYS
Class 2A SEMIFINALS
Tuesday at Jackson
Coahoma County 44, North Forrest 31
N. Forrest 1 6 16 8 – 31
Coahoma Co. 4 10 13 17 – 44
NORTH FORREST (20-9): Jaren Sullivan 5, Tyrell Pollard 2, Tre Williams 13, Joseph Holloway 11 (10 rebounds). TOTALS – FG 13-44 (3FG 1-8), FT 4-16.
COAHOMA COUNTY (23-10): Bentavious Galmore 15 (10 reobunds), Markevious Holmes 5, Keshun Holly 10 (13 rebounds), Tarkevious Logan 8, Trumaine James 6. TOTALS – FG 17-47 (3FG 2-12), FT 8-8.
