Lady Wildcats open tournament with win

Jessi Stone scored 24 points and had 9 rebounds to lead Anna-Jonesboro to a 47-37 win over Trico in first-round action at the Benton Invitational high school girls’ basketball tournament Tuesday, Dec. 27.

Katie Grant added 8 points for A-J. Kim Mixen had 7 points, Valerie Pender 4 and Brooke Chamness and Erica Friebel  2 apiece.

Both teams traded baskets to open the game. Mixen’s 3-pointer put the Lady Wildcats ahead for keeps 5-3 in the opening quarter.

A-J  led 13-6 after one quarter and 25-14 at the half. Trico fought back to trail 31-23 headed into the final period.

A-J, 6-7, was scheduled to play Fairfield late Tuesday.

The Lady Wildcats were to have played host Benton on Wednesday and close out the tournament at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, today, against Carterville.