JACKSON — For about a quarter Monday night, the Warren Central Lady Vikes looked like maybe, just maybe, they would shock the world.
Three quarters later, the final score barely raised an eyebrow.
Alivia Hughes scored nine of her game-high 27 points in the second quarter, when Clinton started to pull away following a sluggish start, and the top-seeded Lady Arrows routed Warren Central 70-41 in the first round of the girls Division 4-6A Tournament at Murrah High School.
WC led 6-5 with about three minutes left in the opening period, but Clinton outscored the Lady Vikes 33-13 the rest of the first half and was not threatened again. The 29-point final margin was the closest of three meetings between the teams this season. Clinton won the first two by 46 and 42 points.
“We were in the game for a while, and the turnovers was what really allowed them to take the lead. It wasn’t necessarily that they were scoring, it was just us turning the ball over a lot. That has plagued us from the very first or second game all the way until now,” WC coach Jackie Glass said.
Harper Newell and Destiny Cyprian added 14 points apiece for Clinton (22-3), which advanced to Friday night’s championship game against the winner of tonight’s first-round game between Murrah and Greenville-Weston.
Jessolyn Farmer led Warren Central with 14 points and Ama Arkoful scored nine. Warren Central wrapped up its season with a 7-19 record and failed to get past the division tournament for the second straight season.
The Lady Vikes were 5-8 in late December, then lost 11 of their last 13 games as injuries, illness and team discipline issues took a toll.
“It’s disappointing any time you lose or get put out. I’m not comfortable losing. On any level, in anything, second place always hurts. But it’s also an opportunity to build and look forward to what you have to do to get better,” Glass said. “Injuries, illnesses throughout the year has disrupted our flow and caused some problems with the gelling of our team.”