By Austin Bishop
Marvin McGee says his Lady Bulldogs have a little something left to prove.
Despite rolling to a 78-68 win over Myrtle in the MHSAA Class 1A State Championship game on Thursday, the first-year coach still feels his McAdams girls team gets overlooked.
"All year I've said we were among the best teams in the state and I still say that," McGee said on Tuesday. He was upset about the fact none of his players were chose for the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game. The roster was released over the weekend.
"We are kind of upset because none of our girls made it," McGee said. "All of the teams we played, including the No. 1 team in the state (New Albany), said they (Kierra and Dierra Gilmore) are the best guards in the state. Everybody who has seen them play has come to the same conclusion."
Now McAdams heads back to Jackson this week with a little more to prove.
The Lady Bulldogs take on MHSAA Class 2A State Champion Newton at 1 p.m. on Thursday in the first round of the Mississippi Grand Slam, a six-team tournament featuring the winners from each classification.
The semifinals are set for Friday at 1 p.m. and the finals at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
"I think if the referees call the games fair something very interesting could happen," McGee said. "We are a little down right now, but we will be able to compete."
Kierra Gilmore pumped in 31 points against Myrtle to lead the Lady Bulldogs to their second consecutive state championship.
Myrtle made a run at the Lady Bulldogs late, but Marquita Phillips stepped up big hitting a big 3-pointer and the scoring on a fast-break lay-up on back-to-back possessions to stretch McAdams' lead from five to 10 points in a matter of seconds.
"I just shoot when I feel it," Phillips said of her clutch 3-pointer. "He (coach McGee) was shocked that I made it. I was shocked at myself."
McGee said he has confidence in Phillips.
“She has really been shooting the ball well lately,” he said. “She is a key part of this team and often gets overlooked.”
Kanesha Phillips scored 16 points for the 28-2 Lady Bulldogs, while Dierra Gilmore hit for 14, Marquita Phillips nine and Precious Ellington eight.
Aspriona Gilbert, Myrtle’s 6-foot sophomore center, led the Lady Hawks with 37 points.
