By By Robbie Robertson/The Meridian Star
Dec. 8, 2000
PHILADELPHIA In a battle of 5-5 teams, Philadelphia seemed to be the team on the rise.
Philadelphia used a 16-2 run at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth as the Tornadoes took a surprisingly easy win over Forest in the last game of the Philadelphia Invitational Tournament Thursday night.
Tonight's championship games will pit Forest girls against Bay Springs while Neshoba Central and Philadelphia will play in the girls consolation. The boys championship game will feature Bay Springs and Philadelphia.
Philadelphia set the tone for the game on the opening basket as Rashaun Hill hit a three-pointer to open the contest and Tony Riley's bucket at the 1:58 mark of the first game Philly a 9-4 lead. The Tornadoes held the advantaged and led 13-8 at the end of the first.
Things didn't change much in the second quarter. Philly jumped out to 19-10 lead with a 6-2 spurt. But Forest got right back in the contest toward the end of the half as Paul Brown converted a rare four-point play at the 1:53 mark to cut the score to 21-18. He followed that up with a three-point play to pull Forest within two at 23-21. Keith Houston added a layup before the half and Philly led 25-21.
Forest made things interesting in the third as the Bearcats got close at 27-27 and 32-31. But that's when Philly reeled off eight straight points and led 40-31. After two Forest free throws, Philly scored nine straight and pulled out to a 48-33 lead they would never relinquish as they held on for the easy win.
Houston led Philly with 18 points while Tellas Burnside added 15 points. Brown led Forest with 25 points while Maurice Longmire added 13.
Bay Springs girls 58, Philadelphia 50: Bay Springs led most of the game and never let Philadelphia get a big run as the Lady Bulldogs advanced to the championship game against Forest.
The game was close in the first half as Bay Springs led 15-12 after the first and 33-28 at the half.
Bay Springs built a comfortable lead in the third as Philly went cold from the field and the Lady Bulldogs led 44-32 after three.
Philly made things tight in the fourth and cut the lead to five points at the 2:45 mark on a three-pointer. But the Lady Bulldogs hit the free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.
Karen Clayton led all scorers with 18 points while Kristi Martin had 13, Brittany Martin 10 and Quaya Payton eight.
Daniel Jones led Philly with 17 points while Dedria Watson, Mary Shannon and Shekar Young each had eight points apiece.
Forest girls 48, Neshoba Central 37: Forest used a big fourth quarter as the Lady Bearcats knocked off Neshoba Central in the first game of the day.
Forest led most of the way as they took a 13-10 first-quarter lead and led 24-17 at the half.
Neshoba fought back in the third with an 11-7 advantage to cut the lead to 31-28.
But then the Lady Bearcats exploded in the fourth as they outscored Neshoba 17-9 to take the 11-point win. The Lady Bearcats hit six-of-10 free throws in the fourth to secure the win.
Forest's Sheena Evans led all scorers with 16 points. She had three three-pointers including two in the first. Patsy McKee added 13 while Sophia Gray chipped in seven.
Tausha Evans led Neshoba with 14 points while Miranda Rosarlyse Willis eight.
Bay Springs boys 59, Neshoba Central 47: Bay Springs broke open a tight contest in the second half as the Bulldogs outscored Neshoba 37-26 in the second half to take the win.
Neshoba led 8-7 after the first quarter but Bay Springs battled back to take a 22-21 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs started to pull away in the third as they outscored Neshoba 21-16 and led 43-27 at the end of the third.
The Bulldogs continued to pull away in the fourth as they hit 8-of-12 free throws in the fourth and outscored Neshoba 16-10 to take the 12-point win.
Jason Forte led a balanced Bay Springs attack with 22 points. Claude Prewitt added 11 and Enos Hamilton 10 while Kevin Wheaton chipped in nine.
Tavaras Walker led Neshoba with 22 points while Chris Owen had 11 points that included three treys.