By Robert Wilson
Photos by Brad Bridges

Madison Central’s Jaycelyn Russ leads the nation in taking charges, according to MaxPreps. But the 5-foot-4 senior guard can do so much more.

Ridgeland found that out today at the first Girls Rumble in the South at Mississippi College’s A.E. Wood Coliseum at Clinton.

Russ earned MVP honors and scored 13 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, created 7 steals, dished out 6 assists and took 2 charges to lead Madison Central to a 48-21 victory over Ridgeland.

MHSAA Class 6A Madison Central improved to 12-6. MHSAA Class 5A Ridgeland dropped to 11-10.

After an 8-8 tie after the first quarter, Madison Central outscored Ridgeland 18-4 in the second quarter to take a 26-12 lead. Ridgeland never covered. And Russ was the main reason why.

“Jaycelyn had an outstanding game,” Madison Central coach Tamekia Brown said. “She was all over the floor. Jaycelyn is the heartbeat of our team. She plays with a lot of energy and passion and everyone feeds off of it.

“Our girls did a great job of executing the game plan. We played hard, poised, and with a lot of effort on both ends of the floor.”

Senior point guard Jamyiyah Cotton had 12 points and 5 assists and junior forward Jaydia Morris had 10 points and 4 steals for Madison Central.

Junior forward Katelyn Brinkley – a member of the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite 11 – led Ridgeland with 6 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.

RAYMOND 51, BRANDON 45:

Leah Sutton scored 8 points to lead a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to carry Raymond to the victory.

Class 4A Raymond improved to 18-2. Class 6A Brandon dropped to 12-7.

Sutton – a 5-6 junior guard and a member of the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite 11 Team – was named the MVP. She had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals. Junior Leah Roberts had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.

Brandon junior guard Kynnedi Davis – also a member of the Elite 11 Team – had 16 points and 3 steals. Jadyn Ragland, a 6-foot freshman center, added 12 points and 6 rebounds.

HARTFIELD 61, CALLAWAY 37:

Senior forward Ann Maris Ragan had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals and earn MVP honors and led Hartfield Academy to the victory.

MAIS Class 6A Hartfield improved to 20-3. MHSAA Class 5A Callaway dropped to 9-12.

Sophomore forward Nyla Hooten had 14 points and junior center Ma’Nia Womack had 13 points for Hartfield.

Freshman point guard Jernae Ringgold had 11 points for Callaway.

NW RANKIN 51, HOLMES COUNTY CENTRAL 48:

Andeya Robinson made a layup with 29 seconds to play and Courtney Bilbro added two free throws with 5 seconds to play to lead Northwest Rankin to the victory.

MHSAA Class 6A Northwest Rankin improved to 6-8. MHSAA Class 5A Holmes County Central dropped to 8-13.

Robinson, a junior center, had 12 points, 14 rebounds and 3 steals and was named MVP. Junior point guard Zamayia Brown – who suffered a head injury and left the game with 5 minutes to play – had 17 points and 4 steals.

MRA 58, NOXUBEE COUNTY 29:

Junior forward Riley Hancock had 29 points,16 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocked shots to earn the game’s MVP honors and lead Madison-Ridgeland Academy to the victory.

MAIS Class 6A MRA improved to 23-2. MHSAA Class 3A Noxubee County dropped to 7-10.

Junior guard Ella Wesley Davis had 15 points, 6 steals, 4 rebounds and 4 assists for MRA.

Sophomore guard Tootie Lockett had 15 points, 6 steals, 4 rebounds and 4 steals to lead Noxubee County.