Every week we’re spotlighting a program from around Pike County for our Team of the Week, presented by Casey Carter, Farm Bureau Insurance.

A new era of girls’ basketball began last week at McComb High, with first year head coach Taylor Brister and her team taking the court together for the first time.

The Tigers opened the season with a 57-32 loss to MHSAA 7A Oak Grove but bounced back to defeat Amite County at home 54-36 for Brister’s first win as head coach.

McComb is back at home tonight (Nov. 13) hosting Bogue Chitto.

Seniors on the roster include Aleia Green, Gabrielle Poole, Aniyah Sparkman, Zybrienai Johnson, and Macauly McInnis.

There are no juniors on the team and two sophomores in Destiny Bennett and Alajah Carter. A big freshman class makes up the majority of the roster and those players include Lura Edney, Londynn Quin, Pa’Trystal Martin, Paris Gayden, Lyrik Green, Sianna Perkins, and Lily Tucker.

Bennett led MHS with 24 points in the win over Amite County. Brister think’s she’ll be a sought after player as her career progresses.

The first-year coach knows what it takes to play on the next level, as she signed with East Central CC out of Lawrence County High School before transferring to Pearl River CC.

Brister prepped at LC under former Cougar coach and current Parklane Academy leader Vicki Rutland.

Their bond remains strong today.

“I Still call Coach V till this day about anything,” said Brister about her high school coach. “Some of the things she taught us when I player for her are the same things I’m trying to instill in these girls, not only for basketball, but for life. Some of the stuff she made us do, I didn’t understand then, but now I look back and it makes sense. I’m thankful for the experience of playing for her and I would still run through a wall if Coach Rutland asked me to. That’s the type of impression I want to leave on any player who plays for me.”

McComb will play at Brookhaven High on Nov. 21 and the school will host its traditional holiday tournament on Dec. 22-23.

When district play begins, Brister will be coaching against her alma mater, as she came to McComb from her most recent stint as an assistant coach at Lawrence County under Candice McDuffey.

In her career, Brister has coached both boys and girls and junior high and high school hoops.

The job at McComb didn’t materialize until August, so its been a whirlwind of preparation between then and now.

Her hope is that in this early going, her players will stick with her and stick with the program as they all build together.

The last district title for MHS in girls’ hoops came in 2020 and the last two teams finished with sub .500 records.

Brister is assisted this season by Karshae Peterson.

“We’re building from the ground up, literally,” said Brister. “I’m trying to change the culture and bring back a positive identify to McComb basketball. If I can keep the younger ones together and get them to buy in. If we can keep that up, I have a strong feeling McComb will be back on the map in girls’ basketball.”