Lady Indians rebound with resounding win over Portageville

KENNETT – The Kennett girls basketball team had a five-game winning streak cut short by Notre Dame earlier this week but bounced back Thursday with an explosive 76-44 victory over Portageville.

Portageville (15-3) had similarly been on a roll with six consecutive wins, but the speed and aggressive defense displayed by Kennett (13-4) on the Indians' home court proved too much as the hosts commanded an early lead and maintained momentum throughout the night.

“I felt like we came out with good intensity defensively, especially in the first half,” said Kennett head coach Erika Cobb. “I told them that we've got to prepare for (Portageville), because they're well-coached and really put together. They're one of those teams that will sneak up and get you.”

Kennett's six-point run to start the game led into a rapid chase for the Bulldogs to come back. With the Indians' stifling defense hard at work, lunging for Bulldog passes and picking off strays, a three-pointer shot by Kennett sophomore E'Marriha Johnson led into a timeout at which point the home team led 20-6.

Kennett sophomore Tayja Carter (10) leaps over Portageville defenders for the basket in a home game Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

Leading by 12 going into the second quarter, Kennett's Tayja Carter again opened with a two-point play to start a brief back-and-forth. Indian freshman Alyce Edwards, a newcomer to the team but an impactful addition, broke out for eight points in the second period. Edwards' speed and wily play on defense allowed her to take advantage of steals and quickly break away to pad Kennett's score.

After halftime, in which Kennett led 39-14, the Indians again opened up with an 8-2 run. Portageville launched into a half court trap that was largely ineffective against Johnson's height and Edwards' sheer speed. As the duo combined for 16 points in the third, Kennett slowly grew a 30-point lead into 35 to lead 61-26.

“I was pleased with the defensive effort that we gave tonight,” Cobb said. “I thought we moved the ball pretty well, we got our heads up and we shared it, especially with the high-low situation. We have post players turning and posting up, and we just didn't look as stagnant on offense.”

Portageville sophomore Taryn Irby (33) looks for an opening around Kennett defenders during a game Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. Irby was the game's high-scorer with 27 points. Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

In the fourth quarter, however, it was Portageville sophomore Taryn Irby's time to shine. Irby opened the action in the last period with a lengthy two-point bucket and, at first, went bucket-for-bucket with the Indian squad.

Down nearly 40 points with a timeout called, Irby responded with a pair of two-point shots and one of her two three-pointers in the fourth quarter. She propelled the Bulldogs to outscore Kennett in the fourth quarter, but the late rally wasn't enough to chip away at Kennett's previous lead.

Alyce Edwards led Kennett with 24 points in total, and E'Marriha Johnson closely followed with 21. Tayja Carted added 12, Anekia Farmer added seven, and Jayla Moore chipped in six.

Taryn Irby was top-shot of the night with 27 points for Portageville. Ja'niya Smith added three, Laney Stone added two and Aubrey Greenwell chipped in one.

Kennett travels to Malden tonight, where they play at 4:30 p.m., before boys games to follow. Portageville next jumps into the Bootheel Conference, in which the Bulldogs are seeded No. 1. With a bye in the first round, Portageville will face off against the winner of No. 4 South Pemiscot and No. 5 Holcomb on Monday at 3:15 p.m.