SHS Basketball Holds Senior Night

Despite an electric atmosphere and a historic scoring performance from Brooklyn Owens, the Stuttgart Lady Ricebirds fell short against a potent Southside Southerner squad this past Thursday.

In front of a full Ricebird Arena, gathered to honor the senior class of 2026, the Lady Ricebirds fought to the wire but ultimately lost, 75 to 93.

Senior Brooklyn Owens (#2) left everything on the court. Owens led all scorers for Stuttgart with a massive 41-point effort. Her scoring was relentless throughout the contest.

Owens kept the Ricebirds within striking distance, netting 16 points by halftime.

She turned up the heat, adding 11 points in the third and a game-high 14 points in the fourth quarter.

While Owens provided the offensive fireworks, Madyson Shelton (#44) anchored the interior, contributing 14 points with consistent scoring across all four quarters. Leighton Conyears (#4) also reached double figures, finishing with 12 points.

The turning point came in the second half. While Stuttgart trailed by just six points at the end of the first quarter (13-19), Southside’s offensive depth began to pull away. The Mavericks were led by Maci Witt, who tallied 30 points, and Bella Baxter, who added 23.

The Lady Ricebirds struggled to contain Southside's transition game in the third quarter.

The loss did little to dim the pride the community felt for the departing senior class. Recognized for their years of dedication were:

* #1 Kayleigh Smith-Covington

* #2 Brooklyn Owens

* #4 Jayde Bradley

* #5 Nadia Saranie

* #11 Kaci Cline

* #12 Ariana White

* #34 Keira Ashford

* Manager Rashyia Gray

The boys' game followed with equal intensity. The Ricebirds' defense was the story of the night, holding Southside to just 24 points in a gritty, physical contest.

Senior Jordan Abram (#1) led the charge with 22 points, showing exactly why he has been a leader for this squad.

Abram's ability to navigate the Southerners' defensive pressure in the second half ensured the lead never faltered. Abram set the tone in the first half with 12 points and remained a constant threat throughout the game.

Several other Ricebirds made significant contributions to the lopsided score:

* Cain Price (#3) was a force in the first quarter, scoring 11 of his total points early to help Stuttgart establish control.

* Maylen Earvine (#5) added consistent scoring in the second and third quarters to keep the pressure on Southside.

* Caiden Sims (#12) and Carmelo Minter (#25) each stepped up in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.

While the offense was clicking, the story of the night was the Ricebird defense. Stuttgart held Southside to just 24 total points for the entire game, allowing only single-digit scoring in three out of the four quarters. The Southerners were held to just 7 points in the first quarter and a mere 2 points in the final frame.

The night was particularly special for the five seniors recognized before tip-off: Jordan Abram (#1), Lane Saul (#11), JayMarrion Hoard (#21), Carmelo Minter (#25), and manager Kaven Bryant.

Each senior played a role in the victory, with Saul, Hoard, and Minter all finding the bottom of the net to make Thursday night at home even more memorable.