Prep Basketball: East Central holds off Vancleave in Region 4-5A girls play

East Central’s Olivia Tanner takes aim on a shot vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
VANCLEAVE — East Central’s one-two punch of Olivia Tanner and Makyala Thornton was too much for Vancleave to overcome Thursday night.
That dynamic duo combined for 25 points, as the Lady Hornet knocked off the Lady Bulldogs 39-30 in Region 4-5A play. The ECHS combo offset a solid outing from Vancleave standout Hiaven Washington, and in the process pushed the Lady Hornets into sole possession of fourth place in the region race at 2-4, just ahead of VHS, which now sits in the fifth spot at 1-5.

East Central’s Makayla Thornton brings the ball up court as Vancleave’s Adalyn Fayard defends Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

East Central’s Olivia Tanner pressures Vancleave’s Hiaven Washington Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

East Central’s Taliyah Nichols head fakes in the lane as Vancleave’s McKenzie Wharton defends Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

East Central’s Makayla Thornton takes aim on a free throw vs. Vancleave Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

East Central’s Olivia Tanner makes a move with the ball as Vancleave’s Hiaven Washington defends Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Tanner tallied 13 points and Thornton chipped in 12 points to the winning cause for ECHS. Taliyah Nichols, just an eighth-grader, added eight points and Allie Loper had six points for the Lady Hornets.
Washington registered a game-high in a losing effort for Vancleave. Joslynn Seymour, also an eighth-grader, had six points for the Lady Bulldogs.

East Central’s Makayla Thornton reacts as Vancleave’s Joslynn Seymour makes.a break down the baseline Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

East Central’s Olivia Tanner looks to make a pass as Vancleave’s Hayleigh Hood defends Thursday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

East Central is now 5-11 overall and Vancleave is 10-10. The two teams will face off again in Hurley/Wade in two weeks.
Both teams jump right back into region action Friday night, as Vancleave heads to Northeast Jones and East Central travels to Purvis.