Turnovers early in the second half hurt Mt. Hermon in a 45-32 loss to Kentwood at home Tuesday.
Mt. Hermon trailed 21-17 at halftime, but Kentwood went on 10-2 run that was aided by their defense forcing turnovers.
“We had some unforced turnovers,” Mt. Hermon coach Mary McGinnis said. “I’m pleased with our defense. Our defense is getting a lot better, but we’ve just got to take care of the ball on offense. We’ve got to make shots. We missed some easy buckets tonight we’ve got to get better at.”
Ja’Learia Hill began the run by splitting free throws to make it a five-point game at the 7:06 mark. Hill made a 3-pointer with 6:20 left.
Mt. Hermon’s Bailey Fortenberry hit a jumper from the baseline after a Lady Jackets’ offensive rebound to make it 25-19 with 6:05 left in the third quarter.
Hill made a steal and a layup at the 5:28 mark. Hill made another layup after a turnover and Ashanti Cooper made a field goal and it was 31-19 with 2:47 on the clock.
Mt. Hermon scored the next four points. Sikoya Jackson passed to Macey Applegate for a layup after Mt. Hermon’s offensive rebound. Jackson made a steal, got fouled and made both free throws, trimming the lead to eight with 1:28 left.
Johnaya Brown hit a 3-pointer before the buzzer and it was a 34-23 contest through three.
Fortenberry made a 3-pointer 1:06 into the fourth quarter, but that was as close as the Lady Jackets got in the 45-32 loss.
Fortenberry led the Lady Jackets with 11 points. She made two 3-pointers.
Destiny Lewis tallied seven points while Applegate posted six and Jackson and Kalei Hughes recorded four each. Hughes made a 3-pointer.
Cooper led all scorers with 21 points.
Hill posted 10 points that included a 3-pointer.
Layla Brumfield and Johnaya Brown had five points each and Dominique Hampton and Malaysia Knighton added two each. Brumfield and Brown made a 3-pointer each.