Paris girls win Monroe City consolation trophy

After a loss to the home team, the Paris girls kept winning.

The Lady Coyotes opened the girls Monroe City Basketball Tournament with a 57-34 loss to host Monroe City but then defeated Marion County 41-31 and then Louisiana 43-41 in the fifth-place game to earn the consolation trophy.

Paris (3-2) held Louisiana (2-3) to a 37.5 shooting percentage and shot 13-for-25 from the free-throw line to hang on to the victory despite the Lady Bulldogs outscoring Paris 16-11 in the fourth quarter. Louisiana had 12 points combined in the previous two quarters. Melanie Moore led the Lady Coyotes with 18 points, four assists and three steals, Sophia Crusha had 11 points and three 3-pointers and Reese Sutton had nine points and 12 rebounds while Louisiana was led by Tyona Campbell’s 13 points.

The Lady Coyotes gained and held on to a lead against Marion County (3-3) after a 14-7 second quarter to defeat the Lady Mustangs for the second time this season. Paris was pesky on defense to force a 24 shooting percentage and record 24 deflections while beating Marion County 12-2 in second chance points. Sutton led with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, including six offensive boards, and Emma Ashenfelter followed with nine points, five offensive rebounds and four steals while Marion County was led by Aylah Pollard’s 11 points and seven rebounds.

Monroe City (1-5) shot the ball well against Paris with a 43.6 shooting percentage and seven 3-pointers and added 23 points off turnovers. The Lady Coyotes trailed 11-9 after the first quarter and then 25-17 at halftime. Moore led Paris with 17 points, eight deflections and three steals, and Sutton followed with eight points and 15 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds while Monroe City was led by Naaron Hays’ 20 points and had two other Lady Panthers in double figures.

Paris plays at North Shelby (3-1) at 6 p.m. tonight.

Coyotes knocked out of Monroe City tournament early

The Paris boys’ week ended early last week in the 99th annual Monroe City Basketball Tournament.

The Coyotes lost 69-31 to host Monroe City and then 54-43 to Highland.

Against Monroe City (3-3), Paris (1-3) fell into a 34-19 halftime hole after being outscored 19-9 in the second quarter, finished with a 29.5 shooting percentage and allowed 40 points off turnovers. Cayden Poddany led the Coyotes with eight points and five rebounds, Brad Skinner followed with seven points and Brady Shivers had a team-high eight rebounds while Monroe City was led by Marty Smyser’s 14 points and three others in double figures.

Paris outscored Highland (2-4) 33-28 in the second half but had too big of a deficit to erase after falling behind 17-3 in the first quarter and 26-10 at halftime. The Coyotes shot 26 percent from the field and allowed 42 points in the paint. Colton Kendrick led Paris with 17 points and three steals and Brad Skinner had eight points, three steals and two 3-pointers while Highland was led by Brady Campen’s 18 points and 11 rebounds and two others scoring in double figures.

Paris plays at North Shelby (1-3) at 7:15 p.m. tonight.