By By Robbie Robertson/The Meridian Star
Dec. 13, 2000
DECATUR Even with a severe knee injury, Southeast Lauderdale's Monique Horner scorched Newton County for 36 points Tuesday night.
But offense wasn't the problem.
Newton County took advantage of several defensive lapses from Southeast as the Lady Cougars downed their 5-3A rival 67-57.
Newton County improves to 13-2 while Southeast falls to 8-6.
For Southeast coach Joe Miller, he got some of what he expected and some of what he didn't.
For legendary Newton County coach Richard Harris, it was a win he was glad to take.
The Lady Cougars came out red hot from the field behind the hot shooing of Stephanie Airhart who hit two three-pointers and several other long-range bombs as Newton County led 27-11 at the end of the first.
The second quarter was almost exactly opposite from the first as Southeast got back in the game by outscoring Newton County 24-11 to make the score 38-35.
Both teams went cold in the third as each only scored six points as Newton County took a 44-41 lead into the fourth.
To begin the fourth, Horner grabbed a rebound, took it the length of the court and scored on a layup with 6:43 remaining to cut the lead to one at 44-43.
But just as Southeast got close, Newton County used two three-pointers and two three-point plays to pull away from the Lady Tigers.
Horner played the entire contest and led all scorers with her 36 points, putting her over the 3,900 mark with 3,915 all-time points. Lesley Ruffin added nine for Southeast.
Tomekia Foley led Newton County with 23 points while Airhart had 14, Kristen Chaney nine and April Bufkin eight.
Newton County boys 71, Southeast 64: Despite a slow start, Southeast Lauderdale gave Newton County all it wanted before falling in a tight contest to the 9-3 Cougars.
Newton County led 15-12 after the first and jumped out to a 42-30 halftime lead. But Ryan Miller's squad fought back in the third to tie the score at 51-51 heading into the fourth.
Newton County pulled away in the fourth by outscoring the Tigers 20-13 to take the victory.
Al Willis led Newton County with 24 points while Tony Smith and Chris Wansley each had eight points apiece.
Anthony Horner led Southeast (1-12) with 18 points while Ben Reed added 15. Doug Rowe had 13 points while LaPatrick Carlisle added 11.
Robbie Robertson is sports editor for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rrobertson@themeridianstar.com.