By STAN CALDWELL/Sports Writer

JACKSON, Miss — Jamie Sisco said it best for the Hancock girls.

“We picked a bad day to have our worst shooting game of the season,” Sisco, the Hancock head coach, said after the Hawks went down to a 48-30 defeat against Neshoba Central Wednesday night in the Class 6A semifinals at Mississippi Coliseum.

The Rockets improved to 31-1 and will battle Terry for the 6A state championship at 2 p.m. Saturday. Hancock finished its season 30-2. 

Indeed, the stat sheet told the story. The Hawks only made 8 of 35 shots from the field, including 1 of 14 from 3-point range. 

And Hancock’s shooting woes showed up at the foul line, as well. The Hawks got plenty of chances at the line, but only converted 13 of 24 free throws.

“We missed a lot of a shots we normally make,” Sisco said. “I think the backdrop may have affected us, but it was the same for them. I just know what the percentages were for us.”

The highly-anticipated showdown between two of the top girls programs in the state this season started off as expected. Through the first 12 minutes of play, there were five ties and three lead changes.

This was a new experience for the Hawks, with their first appearance in seven seasons, and the nerves showed, while Neshoba was here just two years ago winning the Class 5A title in 2022.

Hancock turned the ball over on their first three possessions of the game, and had five turnovers for the first quarter. In all, the Hawks committed 19 turnovers to just 12 for the Rockets.

“Maybe it was nerves, and adjusting the speed of their defense,” said Sisco. “They had a lot to do with it.”

Still, junior Cambria Necaise got a layup to tie the game at 6-6, and senior Brooklyn Cuevas gave the Hawks their first lead, 9-8, with a 3-point shot. 

But that was the only 3-ball the Hawks converted. The first quarter ended with the two teams tied 9-9.

Hancock’s shooting woes began to catch up with the Hawks in the second quarter, but it didn’t immediately show up on the scoreboard, because they got to the line on drives to the basket.

However, the Hawks were just 5 of 9 from the line, and they didn’t have a field goal in five shots in the period.

“They’re a very good team,” said Sisco. “They definitely sped us up and controlled the pace. They took us out of our rhythm.”

Junior Abigail Carver gave Hancock a 14-11 lead with a pair of foul shots, but that lead disappeared in a hurry, when senior Jakaylin York swished a 3-pointer from the left wing on the ensuing possession. 

And that started the Rockets on the decisive run of the game. Neshoba Central outscored Hancock 10-0 to end the first half, and took a 21-14 lead into the halftime locker room

The Rockets then extended the run by opening the third quarter by scoring the first seven points of the period, and that, essentially, was the ball game.

Neshoba Central led 34-22 at the end of the third quarter, and poured in on in the fourth quarter, opening up as much as a 21-point lead.

A big factor was rebounding. The Rockets had a 44-30 advantage on the glass, including 21 on the offensive end. And Neshoba also got 26 points in the paint and 17 points off the bench.

Cuevas led all scorers with 19 points for the Hawks, but no one else had more than five. Senior Zharia Leflore led Neshoba Central with 12 points and senior Atyia Allen added 10 for the Rockets.

Despite the disappointing finish, Sisco was bullish about his team’s future. The Hawks will have to replace Cuevas, along with reserve forward Emmi Madere. But everyone else returns for Hancock.

“That’s what I’m about to tell them,” said Sisco. “This was the first step. Getting here was step one in the process. Winning it is step two. We’re going to keep on keeping on.”