Former South Panola standout Chasity Kearney and the Meridian basketball team are in the Region 23 basketball tournament.

The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles were looking to win its season series against the Lady Bobcats of Jones County Junior College and MCC dominated the game from start to finish. MCC got a solid performance from sophomore Chasity Kearney and superb defense to come away with a 92-70 victory over JCJC in the quarterfinal round of the Region 23 Tournament at A. E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College Wednesday afternoon.

The Lady Bobcats built a 27-19 lead with 10:34 left in the first half, but MCC went on an impressive 19-4 scoring run to take a 38-31 lead with 4:59 left in the half.

Chasity Kearney and Gelese Lampton each had four points in the scoring run, while Norianna Haynes added four points and a pair of steals on defense for the Lady Eagles. MCC (20-10) took a 50-37 lead over the Lady Bobcats at halftime.

Kearney was the thorn in the side of Jones in the first half as the sophomore ended the first half with 27 points and 16 rebounds, to go along with three steals and one block.

Kearney had one of her biggest offensive games of the season to lead the way for the Lady Eagles with 39 points and 22 rebounds.

Kearney, during the last five games, has scored 26, 32, 33, 30 and 24 points in the five victories. Kearney is currently ranked eighth in the nation in scoring with a 19.3 average.

“Chasity has such great hands,” said Meridian head coach Hiliary Allen. “She grabs several offensive rebounds per game and catches every pass thrown her way. She is phenomenal around the basket.”

The semi-final round is today at 1 p.m. against Co-Lin.