Okolona built a commanding first-half lead and withstood a late surge from Simmons to secure a 50-47 victory in the MHSAA Class 1A girls semifinal Monday night.
Okolona set the tone early, jumping out to a 16-8 lead after the first quarter and extending the margin to 31-13 by halftime. Simmons struggled offensively through the opening half, managing just five points in the second quarter as Okolona’s defense controlled the pace.
Simmons responded after the break, cutting into the deficit with a 17-9 third quarter to make it 40-30 heading into the final period. The comeback attempt intensified in the fourth, as Simmons outscored Okolona 16-7 behind a standout performance from Sariyah Alexander, who poured in 25 points, including two three-pointers.
Okolona leaned on Sanaa Chandler’s 20-point effort to steady the offense, while Braelyn Shumpert added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Neely Buchanan contributed eight points, including two three-pointers.
Despite being outscored in the second half, Okolona’s early cushion proved enough. The Lady Chieftains shot 19-of-44 from the field and recorded seven assists, while Simmons finished 18-of-55 and committed 16 turnovers.
With the win, Okolona advances to the Class 1A state championship game, surviving a determined Simmons rally to keep its title hopes alive.
