Laurel High School advanced to the Class 5A girls basketball finals after defeating Pontotoc High School 63-38 in the semifinals of the 2026 MHSAA Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 5. Laurel led from the start, taking a 19-10 lead in the first quarter and extending it to 34-20 by halftime.
After the break, Laurel continued to build its advantage, outscoring Pontotoc 17-12 in the third quarter and finishing with a 12-6 run in the fourth. Karly Hunter led Laurel with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Kayllis Walker contributed 17 points and Gracelyn Cramichael added 14. The team made 26 of its 45 shots from the field and held a rebounding edge of 28-21.
Pontotoc’s offense was led by Jazmine Cuellar with 12 points and Addy Jones with 11.
The game was part of the ongoing state tournament organized by the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA).
The semifinals took place at a neutral site as part of the tournament schedule.
The official box score reflects Laurel’s consistent scoring throughout all four quarters, resulting in their comfortable win over Pontotoc.
