After a postponement last week at home against Rossville Academy, Tenn., the Kirk Raiderettes returned to the hardwood on Jan. 21 with a trip to Clarksdale to face Lee Academy in a key Class AAAA, District 1 contest. Kirk was looking to keep pace with North Delta in the regular season standings and hoping to bounce back from a road loss against Oak Hill.
Coach Robin Chastain’s girls jumped to a 13-4 first-period lead en route to an easy 45-26 victory over the Fillies. The Raiderettes improved to 17-5 overall and 6-2 in Class AAAA, District 1 action.
Lexie Draper led Kirk with a team-high 11 points. Molly Lane and Sophie Brister both scored nine points. Abby Beissel scored eight points and K.K. Bailey finished with four points. Gracie Summers and Abby Grace Campbell each had two points.
On the boys side, the Raiders were on the short end of a 52-26 verdict to the Colts. The loss drops Kirk to 1-13 overall and 1-7 inside the district.
Junior Hudson Mattox led Kirk with seven points. Richard Flautt and Lane Goss both had six points. Taylor Leverette, Caleb Connerley and Chris Bradford all had two points. Theron Hubbard rounded out the scoring with a point.
Junior Varsity
The junior varsity Raiders were outscored 16-2 in the second half to trail 21-11 in at halftime. Kirk rallied in the second half with a 12-4 fourth, but came up short losing a 31-26 decision.
Andy Redwine paced KA with 10 points and Noah Jackson chipped in seven points. Anthony Carollo scored five points while Landon Rice finished with three points. Linton Carson had two points.
In the girls game, the Raiderettes struggled offensively losing a 21-11 decision to the junior varsity Fillies.
Charley Rose led Kirk with four points and Mary Elise James scored three points. Camryn Allbritton and Allie Mattox had two points each.
Oak Hill
The Lady Raiders used solid perimeter shooting against the Raiderettes’ zone defense as Oak Hill slipped by Kirk Academy for a 51-49 victory on Jan. 14.
“Oak Hill shot the ball well,” Kirk coach Robin Chastain said. “I made the decision to play zone in the first half because I didn’t think they would expect it and we could save our legs. We had two players injured and other players out. We had a lot to overcome in the game.”
In the end, missed opportunities proved to be the difference.
“We missed some crucial lay ups and free throws that really hurt us,” Chastain added. “Despite all of that, we were still able to stay in the game. These recent losses have kept us humble, making us more accountable as a team. It has also helped us to realize how important of a role our bench has to play the rest of the season.”
Lane led all scorers with 22 points – 12 in the opening period. Beissel scored 15 points with 10 being scored in the final period.
Draper had nine points, while Brister scored two points. Summers finished with a point.
Boys
Following a solid first-half performance, Kirk managed just four field goals in the second half and lost a 56-31 decision to the Oak Hill Raiders.
Hubbard led Kirk with 10 points, while Mattox finished with eight points and Bailey added five points. A.J, Wren and Goss both finished with four points.
Junior Varsity
The JV Raiderettes were also involved in a close game, losing a 31-29 decision as Oak Hill, which outscored Kirk 10-5 in the final period to pick up the win.
Rose led the Raiderettes with 16 points. Allbritton and Cecile Brister each had six points. James rounded out the scoring with a point.
The junior varsity Raiders battled with Oak Hill for the entire length of the contest, but came up on the short end of a 33-29 decision.
Redwine led the Raiders with nine points, Jackson scored eight points and Gregg added five points. Carollo scored four points and Ryan Wei finished with two points. Carson rounded out the scoring with a point.
Kirk was scheduled to host Rossville, Tenn. and North Delta Tuesday. Results were not available by press time.
