The Gilmore girls, Dierra and Kierra, directed a basketballclinic Monday night in West Lincoln’s Jack Case Gymnasium. Seniortwin sisters, Dierra scored 29 points and Kierra added 28 inleading the McAdams Lady Bulldogs to a 79-30 trouncing of WestLincoln in the championship finals of the South Mississippi Class1A Girls Tournament.

West Lincoln (21-11), the South runner-up, advances to the statetournament at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson and meets Northchampion Myrtle at 9 a.m. Friday as the Lady Bears play one oftheir earliest games on record.

Myrtle won the North state title last night, beating H.W. Byers58-50.

West Lincoln coach Lane Young said his team needed a perfect gameto beat the defending state champion Lady Bulldogs. Instead, theLady Bears struggled with cold shooting and turnovers.

“Two things we tried to do is not turn over the ball and not letthem shoot threes,” said Young. “We did neither and they justwhipped our tails offensively and defensively.”

Two of Young’s starters, guards Tatianna Marshall and KarlHerrington, were held scoreless. Young said, “Marshall andHerrington had a bad night not scoring a point and that hurt us aswell. We need everyone scoring to help us win.”

West Lincoln got 10 points each from Hannah Knouse and KristenHall. Knouse also had 5 rebounds. Marshall had 4 rebounds and 2assists.

McAdams (27-2) had a difficult time with Bogue Chitto Saturdaynight before winning 73-69. West Lincoln had edged Ethel 41-39 inthe other semifinals game. Under the new MHSAA format, only the toptwo teams advance to the state tourney instead of the topthree.

The Lady Bulldogs roared to a 19-8 first-quarter lead last nightand were up 43-12 at halftime.

“It was a fun game,” said McAdams coach Marvin McGee. “It’s notabout the game, it’s the kids. Everyone played hard for bothteams.”

Precious Ellington scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds forMcAdams. Dierra Gilmore had 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.Kierra Gilmore sacked 5 treys.