Magnificent Seven fall in semifinals

CLINTON — The Magnificent Seven battled all spring semester to get to the NJCAA Region 23 women's basketball semifinal Saturday.

One of their small number got hurt early and the fight was still there, but No. 8 Jones reversed a two-point halftime deficit in an 85-67 win at A.E. Wood Coliseum.

"The adversity this team has faced has been amazing," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams. "We raised the standard and the expectations are really high now. This is the seven who were able to fight through. They went 11-3, which is the best record we've had since I've been here. They went 17-5 overall, the best record. I'm very proud of this group. This year was about changing the culture."

Elsie Harris (So., Mobile, Ala./B.C. Rain) led Gulf Coast with 17 points and had three assists. 

The Bulldogs led by seven with 2:54 to go in the first, but the Bobcats (24-3) went on a spurt and led 20-17 at the first break. Gulf Coast scored the first seven points of the second period and despite TK Catchings (So., New Hebron/Simpson Academy) getting hurt would lead 37-35 at halftime.

"We kept the momentum when she went down, but not having her offensive presence and her ability to get down the floor full speed hurt us," Adams said. "Not being able to do that, Sakyia White got going fast. She's the best player in the league."

Catchings would finish with six. But her main replacement, Je'Mya Evans (Fr., Gulfport/Harrison Central), was spectacular. She had a career-high 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds.

"Mya came in and gave us some great minutes the first half," Adams said. "I think that's the best scoring game she's had all year. I love seeing that came out of her because she gets to come back next year with us."

Jones went on a run to open the second half, and the Bulldogs weren't able to respond. The Bobcats shot 42.1 percent from the 3-point line.

Ja'Sharreah Hunt (Fr., Roxie/Franklin County) had 12 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, making 2-of-5 from behind the arc. Simaru Fields (Fr., Gulfport/Gulfport) had 11 points and matched Hunt with six rebounds. 

Tytiana Buckley (Fr., Meridian/Meridian) had nine points, and that freshman foursome will be the foundation for the 2023-24 team to be built on.

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.