WESSON – The North Pike girls overpowered Bogue Chitto’s Lady’Cats 60-39 Monday night in the championship finals of the WessonInvitational Tournament. The Lady Jaguars (10-3), displayingsuperior rebounding and shooting skills, were powered by juniorpost players LaQuita Ard and Nicole Robinson who scored 20 and 14points respectively.

Robinson, a 5-9 junior, was named the tournament’s Most ValuableDefensive Player. Ard, a 5-8 junior, contributed 11 rebounds to thetriumph and received the MVP Offensive Player award.

“There’s a big rivalry between us and Bogue Chitto,” said NorthPike girls coach John Stephens. “Our girls played hard and theyplayed together.”

Due to a new division rule, North Pike must play each of itsDivision 7-3A opponents on a home-and-home basis. Stephens saidthere were few available dates to play area rivals like BogueChitto and Loyd Star even though those games draw bettercrowds.

“We would like to play Bogue Chitto home-and-home,” saidStephens. He doesn’t have a senior on his talented squad. JuniorTristle Smith, sophomore guard Britta Stephens and freshman guardPhenika Taylor join Ard and Robinson in the starting lineup.

The Lady Jaguars roared to a 17-5, first-quarter lead and wereup by 20 points, 28-8, when Ard scored back-to-back field goalslate in the first half. Taylor and Ard each had 6 rebounds in thewin.

Bogue Chitto (10-2) was no match for North Pike on thebackboards and the Lady ‘Cats were unable to find their shootingtouch, with the exception of senior guard Jessica Melton. Shescored 18 of her game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter, hitting4 treys and making 10 of 11 free throws. Melton also had 3 stealsand 2 blocked shots.

Senior guard Randi Moak went scoreless but led BC in reboundingwith 7 boards.

“We got a good, old-fashioned whipping tonight,” said BogueChitto girls coach Mickey Myers. “Our hustle and intensity werethere but offensively we did not shoot the ball with anyconsistency.”

Myers said he was impressed with North Pike. “They are a solid3A team and they’re extremely athletic. They pound the boards andlimit you to one shot. Robinson and Ard are so aggressive.”

In the third quarter, the Lady Jags went up by 24 points, 36-12,on a short jumper by Ard. The Lady ‘Cats were slowed by 21turnovers.