By Robert Wilson
Even though the Forest Hill Patriots’ record is .500 this season, high-scoring senior guard Klylah Stovall is putting her team on back and trying to carry them as deep into the playoffs as possible.
The 5-foot-7 Jones County Junior College signee has averaged 30 points in last three games, including 32 points in the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A state tournament last week.
In addition to her 32 points, Stovall had 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal in Forest Hill’s 73-52 victory over West Harrison at Forest Hill.
For her outstanding performance, Stovall has been named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Girls Basketball Player of the Week.
Stovall made 9 of 15 shots from the field, including 2 of 6 from 3-point range, and 10 of 12 shots from the free throw line in the win over West Harrison.
She scored 24 points in a 67-49 victory over Jim Hill and 32 points in a 58-44 loss to Terry in the Class 6A, Region 3 tournament two weeks ago.
Stovall is averaging 24 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals per game this season.
“Klylah was able to break down the defense by getting to the rim against West Harrison,” Forest Hill coach Charles Moore said. “She has been the driving force on this team. I’m proud of her maturity as a player. Klylah plays with passion and always gets her team involved. I look forward to her next step in basketball.”
Stovall was a member of the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Preseason Elite 11 Team this year.
Stovall averaged 25.3 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals and helped Forest Hill to a 14-17 record and the MHSAA Class 5A first round and made third team All-Metro Jackson last season as a junior. Stovall scored 30 or more points five times, including a career-high 42 points against Wingfield.
Forest Hill, 15-15, meets Hancock, 29-1 and the favorite to win the state tournament, Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the 6A state quarterfinals at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston. Forest Hill is three wins away from winning its first state title since the Lady Patriots won back-to-back state titles in 2012 and 2013 with coach Angela Banks.
Stovall is the daughter of Jozetta and Donte Stovall. Jozetta is a graduate of Provine High. Donte played football at Clinton High and attended Hinds Community College. Her grandmother, Charlene Butler, played volleyball at Lanier High. Stovall’s grandfather, Arthur Butler, played basketball and tennis at Lanier. Her great uncle, Herbert Lee Stovall, was one of the first African Americans to play football for Clinton. Stovall has two younger sisters, Brooklynn Stovall, a 10th grader, and Cali Stovall, a fourth grader who plays basketball.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a girls basketball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
Previous Players of the Week
Week One: Taelar Felton, Clinton
Week Two: Ann Magee Stradinger, Jackson Prep
Week Three: Shamira Morton, Canton
Week Four: Lauren Sutton, Madison Central
Week Five: Maia Turner, Madison St. Joseph
Week Six: Alana Rouser, Germantown
Week Seven: Anna Morgan Anderson, MRA
Week Eight: Shamira Morton, Canton
Week Nine: Taelar Felton, Clinton
Week Ten: Liz Stevens, East Rankin Academy
