By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
DECATUR It seems that whenever the East Central Community College Warriors and Holmes Bulldogs tangle on the hardwood this winter, you can expect a tightly contested battle that will take more than 40 minutes to settle.
Holmes beat EC 86-79 in overtime on Nov. 13 at Goodman and rallied from a 16-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation to beat the Warriors 103-95 in double overtime Monday night.
The Warriors jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the game's first four minutes and took a 35-24 lead into halftime on a layup by Winfred Craig with 40 seconds to go before the break.
A breakaway dunk by Brett Augusta gave EC a 68-52 lead with 5:10 left in regulation, but three straight Warrior turnovers enabled Holmes to close to within 71-68 with 2:35 left.
A basket by Rod Newton knotted the game at 79-79 and forced overtime.
In the first five-minute period, Holmes led 87-82 with 1:44 remaining, but a 3-pointer from James Denson with four-tenths of a second to go pulled the Warriors even at 89-89 and forced another overtime period.
A three-point play by Chris Webb gave EC a 92-89 lead 25 seconds into the second overtime, but five straight Warrior turnovers allowed Holmes to go up 95-92 and the Warriors would not lead again.
EC had 32 turnovers for the game.
Markeith Brown of Jackson Provine scored 17 points, while Denson of Choctaw Central and Craig of Louisville both had 16 for EC, 4-3. Webb of Neshoba Central finished with 15.
Holmes, 3-4, got 20 points apiece from Greg Tucker, Jonathan Small, and Jonathan Asuzu. Newton had 16 and Isaac Greenwood added 11.
EC women 59, Holmes 57: It wasn't until Latasha Sumerall's shot at the final horn failed to go down that the Lady Warriors could celebrate their sixth win of the season.
Holmes led 25-24 at halftime. The Lady Warriors stretched out to a 54-49 advantage with just over four minutes remaining only to have Holmes close to within a point on two occasions.
Nicole Cox of Lake led EC, 6-1, with 17 points, all of which came in the second half. Margo Porter of Louisville tossed in 15, Alberta Norman had eight, Nikki Lacour scored seven, and La'Shonda Ford had six.
Sumerall of Durant led Holmes, 1-6, with 21 points. Kovana Reese scored 11 and Roshanda Kilbert added 10.
Jones women 80, Delta 69: Tammika Sims of Quitman scored 24 points and Courtney McGilberry had 21 to lead Jones past Delta in the early game.
The Lady Bobcats, 4-1, also got 17 points from Yvonne Phillips.
Jones led 34-33 at halftime.
Delta got 19 points from Sabrina Nelson, 12 from Shirley Gooch, and nine each from Tesha Blue and Chelsery Lee.
Jones men 104, Delta 73: The Bobcats raced to a 56-34 halftime advantage in whipping the Trojans in the other afternoon game.
Jones, 4-1, got 18 points from Omar Barlett, 14 from Jermaine Sherman, 13 from LaCederick Pettway, 12 from Derrick White, and eight each from Chris Keys, Llewellyn Sterling of Quitman, and Nick Paige of Bay Springs.
Delta got 23 points from Nick Seals, 11 from Kenny Green, 10 from Bruce Evans, and nine from Marellis Nix.