By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

ST. MARTIN — The Kennedy “Family Affair” turned into the first playoff win for St. Martin girls in three years Friday night.
The home-standing Lady Yellow Jackets thumped Pearl 60-36 in the opening round of the first-ever Class 7A South State playoffs. The win not only moves second-year head coach Jason Kennedy’s squad to 23-7 overall, but the Lady Yellow Jackets advance on to the Class 7A South State Quarterfinal Tournament in Perkinston on the campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College next weekend.
Pearl’s season comes to an end at 9-20. The Lady Pirates are coached by Kennedy’s ex-wife Lacey Kennedy. It marks the first playoff win for St. Martin since beginning the 2021 Class 6A South State playoffs with a win over this same Pearl squad.

“Very slow start for us, and we have a tendency to struggle when we break out of routine.” Jason Kennedy said. “Having a week off for Mardi Gras was something we had to overcome. Rough night shooting the basketball but our pressure paid off during the second half.”

St. Martin got a game-high 20 points from standout sophomore Kaleah Lowery in the win.
Lowery scored four points in the opening period, while both Mia Morrow and Kylenn Ward each dropped in 3-pointers as St. Martin took a 12-10 lead entering the second stanza.

It was in the second period when St. Martin began to take control. Lowery added four more points and Jay Robinson did the same inside while Ward nailed another trey and the Lady Yellow Jackets outscored Pearl 14-6 in the quarter to go into halftime with a double digit lead up 26-16.
Four points apiece from both Robinson and Morrow in the tiird frame helped the Lady Yellow Jackets start to ease away from the Lady Pirates en route to the convincing win.

“The name of the game at this point is survive and advance,” Kennedy added. “We are very blessed to still be playing ball. So proud of the way these young ladies are representing the school and the community.”
In addition to Lowery’s 20 points, St. Martin got 13 points from Morrow, 12 points from Robinson and nine from Ward in the winning effort.
Kayl Arrterberry led the Lady Pirates with 15 points in the loss.
Elsewhere in Class 7A South State girls playoff action Friday night, Biloxi held off Brandon 41-33, while both Harrison Central and D’Iberville fell on the road. Harrison Central lost to Meridian 42-30 while Northwest Rankin beat D’Iberville 58-42.