By By Robbie Robertson and Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Nov. 30, 2000
DECATUR The Lake Lady Hornets and Newton County Lady Cougars turned a second-round matchup in the Central Mississippi Classic at East Central Community College into a classic of its own right Wednesday night as Lake posted a 69-68 win in double overtime in a contest of undefeated teams.
Newton County led 19-10 after one quarter but a 7-0 run by Lake to end the second period sent the teams into halftime knotted at 27-27.
The Lady Cougars used a 6-0 run by Tamekia Foley to open the second half and go up 33-27, but an 8-2 finish of the period by Lake led to a 42-42 stalemate. Kimyatta Viverette scored all eight of Lake's points in that run.
Eveness was the rule and not the exception as both teams battled to maintain their aura of invincibility.
The teams swapped leads three times and were tied on two occasions in the fourth quarter as regulation ended in a 50-50 stalemate, thanks to a basket by Foley with five seconds remaining.
Lake went up 59-52 in the first overtime with Kim Cox scoring five of Lake's first nine points.
Three-pointers by Foley and Kristin Chaney in a 13-second span and a basket from April Bufkin with 41 seconds left pulled Newton County to within 61-60.
Lakelia Bogan forced a second overtime with her short-range basket with five seconds showing in the first overtime.
The second overtime saw three lead changes and two ties before Lake's Latoyia Hunt made the first of two free throws with 12.6 seconds left to snap a 68-68 deadlock.
Lake, 5-0, advances to a Friday semifinal with West Lauderdale, 8-3.
Newton County coaching legend Richard Harris felt like his team cracked early but righted itself down the stretch.
Lake was led by Viverette's 25 points, 17 of which came after halftime. Cox scored 19, Roxana Rogers had 12 and Shariece Towner tossed in six.
Newton County, 8-1, was led by Foley's 29 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Chaney added 15, April Bufkin scored 10 and Bogan eight.
West Lauderdale girls 58, Scott Central 39: The Lady Knights outscored the defending Class 1A state champions in all four quarters to beat them for the second time in as many meetings this season.
West led 14-7 after one quarter, took a 28-20 lead into halftime, and held a commanding 43-27 lead going into the fourth.
J.J. Huggins led the Lady Knights, 8-3, with 15 points with older sister JaWanda adding 14. Kristina Gardner scored 10 and Julie McCrory added seven.
Britney Burkes led the Lady Rebels, 7-2, with 23 points while Katie Nickson added 10.
Neshoba Central girls 75, South Leake 49: The Lady Rockets improved to 5-2 on the season as they got 22 points from Tausha Evans in a 26-point win over South Leake.
The Lady Rockets started out somewhat slow and led 12-4 at the end of the first. But Billy Smith's squad got in gear in the middle quarters as they outscored South Leake 27-15 in the second and 22-11 in the third to take a 61-30 lead after three. South Leake took a 19-15 fourth quarter advantage.
Evans' 22 points led all scorers. She was also 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. Krystal Wells added 11 points as she hit two three-pointers. Miranda Evans also had 11 points while Lina Tucker chipped in eight with two threes as well.
Monique Overstreet led South Leake (7-4) with 13 points.
Forest girls 50, Philadelphia 48: Forest outscored Philadelphia 8-6 in overtime to advance in a winner's bracket game Wednesday.
After a 10-10 first quarter, Forest jumped out to a nine-point lead as the Lady Bearcats outscored Philadelphia 22-13 in the second and led 32-23 at the half.
But Philly, which fell to 5-4, battled back in the second half as the Lady Tornadoes cut the lead to 38-32 at the end of the third before outscoring the Lady Bearcats 10-4 in the final frame to send the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, Sophia Gray hit three free throws to held Forest to victory.
Kelly Boutwell led Forest, 5-4, with 19 points while Gray had 13. Sheena Evans chipped in eight.
Philly was led by Danielle Jones who pumped in 19 points while Shekara Young had 12. For the game, Philadelphia was 16-of-21 from the free throw line.