Prep Basketball: Lady Indians bomb HCHS to finish Region 4-7A play at 12-0

Biloxi’s Jayla Carriere looks for some working room as Harrison Central’s Parklynn Floyd defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
BILOXI — The Biloxi girls left no doubt who the best team in Region 4-7A is Tuesday night
The Lady Indians finished league play at a perfect 12-0, hammering Harrison Central 52-19 in a battle between the top two teams in the region race. The win, here at The Biloxi Sports Arena, extends Biloxi’s win streak to 24 straight games, and the Lady Indians sit at sparkling 25-1 overall with one regular season game left to play.

Biloxi’s Na’Kenya Terry Jayla Carriere looks for some working room as Harrison Central’s Minia Hill defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Biloxi’s Zaniya Johnson chases down a loose ball as Harrison Central’s Autumn Keeler pursues Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Biloxi’s Jayla Carriere makes a move with the ball as Harrison Central’s Jordyn Dane defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Harrison Central’s Parklynn Floyd comes away with the ball as Biloxi’s Nia Shannon reacts Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Harrison Central dropped to 22-4 overall and 8-3 in the region race with its second loss to BHS in the past few weeks. The Red Rebelettes wrap up both region play and the regular season. Harrison Central is currently tied with West Harrison in the region standings currently, but can wrap up the second seed in the league with a win Friday over the Lady Warriors.
Although Biloxi won the first meeting just 36-27, the rematch was over before it started. Lady Indian shooting guard Jayla Carriere dropped in six points in the first quarter, twice as many as the entire HCHS team, and her teammate Nia Shannon rang up a 3-pointer as the home team jumped out to a quick and commanding 17-3 lead entering the second quarter.

Biloxi’s Zaniya Johnson (50) and Aubrey Madden (34) battle for a rebound with Harrison Central’s Parklynn Floyd Tuesday night as Nalaysha Batiste reacts. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Biloxi’s Jayla Carriere puts up a shot in the lane as as Harrison Central’s Autumn Keeler defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Biloxi’s Aubery Madden defends as Harrison Central’s Jalashia Washington looks for a passing partner Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Harrison Central’s Jordyn Dane surveys the scene vs. Biloxi Tuesday night. (Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

Biloxi switched from the outside shooting of those two in the opening period to the dominating inside force of 6-foot-5 Dandy Dozen standout center Zaniya Johnson in the next frame, as Johnson tallied seven points leading up to halftime and the Lady Indians steadily stretched their advantage to 30-7 at intermission and coasted to the win.
Johnson ended the night with a double-double, posting a 17 points and 12 rebounds worksheet, while Carriere chipped in 13 points and three steals to the winning effort. On “Senior Night”, both points guard Na’Kenya Terry and forward Aubrey Madden each were solid as Terry had eight points and four assists and Madden had four steals.
Autumn Keeler had five points for HCHS. Dandy Dozen junior center Saniyah Murray was limited to just one basket and two points.