Ameshya Williams lifts West Harrison past Ridgeland

JACKSON -- Ameshya Williams was just trying her best to control her composure.

"I wasn't making shots early in the game so I just stayed patient," she said. "Main thing is I didn't foul out."

Behind Williams West Harrison edged Ridgeland 49-43 in the quarterfinals of the MHSAA Girls Class 5A playoffs at Jackson State's Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center.

The Lady Hurricanes (24-2) will face Hattiesburg in the semifinals at noon on Tuesday at the Mississippi Coliseum.

"We made a lot of mistakes, but we did just enough to come away with the win," said West Harrison coach Otis Gates. "We missed free throws early, but down the stretch we made free throws when we needed too."

Williams, who committed to Mississippi State on Tuesday, piled up yet another double-double.

She poured in a game-high 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to go a long with two block shots.

"She did what she needed to do, but in a different way," Gates said. "She blocked a lot of shots like she normally does, but she got some rebounds and more importantly she kept her composure because she was getting double teamed pretty much the whole game."

Ridgeland coach Wade Hawkins praised Williams.

"She is as good as people make her out to be," Hawkins said. "She did everything she had to do to give her team the win."

But it wasn't just the Ameshya Williams show.

With the score 37-36 midway through the fourth quarter, West Harrison's Amari Graves hit a three-pointer to give the Lady Hurricanes a 40-36 lead.

From that point on, West Harrison would hold a two possession lead.

"That is one thing we've worked on all year is someone else stepping up," Gates said. "We ride Ameshya, but we need someone else to step up and last few games that has happened."

Vin'Sha Hatcher chipped in seven points for West Harrison.

"This senior class has the first of everything at West Harrison," Gates said. "They can a win in the state tournament, but we want something more."

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Ameshya Williams lifts West Harrison past Ridgeland ."