Walker scores 24, snags 17 rebounds in Class 5A semifinal victory
Lady Tornadoes to battle Canton at 6 p.m. Friday for championship
JACKSON — Laurel sophomore Kayllis Walker couldn’t have chosen a much better time to deliver one of the best performances of her young career. She put high school hoops fans throughout the state on notice with 24 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks to lead the Lady Tornadoes (27-3) in a 53-47 victory over Pontotoc in the Class 5A semifinals.
Laurel will return to the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on Friday to face Canton (28-4) for the Class 5A state championship at 6 p.m.
Every bit of Walker’s production was necessary for the Lady Tornadoes to hold off the Lady Warriors (27-3), who matched Laurel stride for stride through the first half to enter the third quarter tied 25-25. Pontotoc then erased a nine-point deficit in the third quarter and even led 41-40 with under four minutes remaining in regulation.
Laurel head coach Sherri Cooley said she expected nothing less from one of the most respected programs in Mississippi.
“That is a great, great team right there — a team with a rich history of winning a lot of state championships,” Cooley said. “So this was a big win for our girls.
“We told them that they were going to have to play their best defense against these Pontotoc girls because they’re so talented and can score in so many different ways. We had to make a lot of adjustments throughout the game, and our girls rose to the challenge.”
Cooley praised the 6-foot-tall Walker for being the driving force behind much of Laurel’s second-half success, scoring 12 of the team’s 14 points in the third quarter and adding eight points off offensive rebounds in the fourth. She also swatted away three Pontotoc shots in the last four minutes to help the Lady Tornadoes pull away for the win.
And the best part, Cooley said, is that she’ll only continue to get better.
“She’s just a 10th-grader who couldn’t even run or catch a year ago,” Cooley said. “That shows how hard she has worked to put herself into this position.
“This is what she’s been doing all season. She’s my leading scorer, and she’s such a quick leaper. If she misses her shot, she’s going back up to get it. She just does not quit. She’s a world-beater.”
Despite her youth, this was not Walker’s first experience playing at the “Big House.” She and the Lady Tornadoes reached the semifinals last year before falling to Callaway, 68-37. Both Cooley and Walker admitted the bitter taste from that lopsided loss has served as motivation for the team throughout this campaign, especially on Tuesday in their shot at redemption.
“These same girls were in this position last year, and Callaway beat us really badly,” Cooley said. “So we came back to show that we were better.”
Walker added, “We just wanted a chance to show everyone who we really are. We really want to send our seniors out with a championship, so we knew we were going to have to make some changes from last year and come back better.”
Laurel will have its work cut out for it on Friday as well, facing a Canton squad that will likely have a sizable home-court advantage. Canton (28-4) defeated Florence 52-38 on Tuesday to earn its spot in the big dance.
Cooley said the formula for success won’t change, however. The focal points that have gotten the Lady Tornadoes this far are still enough to get them one more win and earn a second golden ball since 2021.
“These girls have worked hard and push each other every day to get better, so we’re going to keep doing what we do best,” Cooley said. “On Friday, it’s going to be the same message as always. It’s all going to be about rebounding and defense.”
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