Laurel High School secured the 2026 Girls Class 5A Basketball Championship with a decisive 52-26 victory over Holmes County Central High School on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The game was part of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) tournament.
Laurel established control early, leading 17-5 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, Laurel extended its lead with an 18-2 run, resulting in a 35-7 advantage at halftime. The team maintained its momentum for the remainder of the game.
The key stretch occurred in the second period when Laurel quickly increased its lead from 17-5 to 25-5 within less than two minutes. This run included consecutive baskets by Jahyla Dubose and multiple scores from Kayllis Walker. By halftime, Tatyionna Pittman added a three-pointer to close out Laurel’s dominant first half.
Kayllis Walker led all scorers with 20 points and collected nine rebounds for Laurel. Jahyla Dubose contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, and one block. Gracelyn Cramichael added six points as Laurel shot 17-for-48 from the field and won the rebounding battle by a margin of twelve.
For Holmes County Central, A’jah Davis scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds while Rh’tasia Greer finished with seven points. Holmes County Central made only ten field goals out of forty-four attempts and struggled offensively in the opening quarter.
The box score shows that Laurel also excelled at free throws, making seventeen out of twenty-three attempts compared to Holmes County Central’s two out of six. Both teams recorded four steals each during the game.
