By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
Jan. 5, 2001
ENTERPRISE The Northeast Lauderdale Trojans and Lady Trojans got off on the right foot in the annual Enterprise Invitational Thursday night.
The Southern Choctaw Indians and Southeast Lauderdale Lady Tigers also notched wins. The second night of action tips off at EHS gym this evening at 4:30 with the first two contests showcasing county rivals Southeast and Northeast and the final twinbill, Southern Choctaw and the hosts will hook up.
Northeast Lauderdale 67, Enterprise 55: Lewis Lightsey's bunch opened up the second half of a physical contest with a 10-0 run to take control.
The Trojans got got balanced scoring inside from Dekinno Winston and Jimmy Kelly, who scored 17 and 15, respectively, to balloon to as much as 25 before the host Bulldogs came back and made it respectable.
He may have been on to something, as the refs were quick with the whistle, tagging each team with 23 fouls.
Neither team did well from the charity stripe, however, as EHS (6-6) made only 17-of-36 and NEL (9-5) hit just 18-of-30.
That wasn't the case with Corey Boggan who sank 11-of-14 on the way to a 27-point night. And although Bryan Bester and Burrell Gandy exhibited playmaking ability at times, missed high percentage shots left them with 10 and 12 points.
A nifty give and go to Bester knotted the game at 17 with less than five minutes to go in the first half, but EHS wasn't able to break through down on the stretch against the defense and shotblocking from NEL post player Theo Naylor, who finished with six and six points. Clinton Hales added eight for the Trojans.
Southeast girls 80, Southern Choctaw 65: Monique Horner continued her stellar play, despite a knee injury, torching the Lady Indian defense for 32 points, including three 3-pointers.
Ebony Moore and Kenetta Cooley chipped in with 16 and 12.
the Lady Indians inched to within a point after three quarters, but the Lady Tigers (13-6), who drained five treys, pulled away with a 26-12 final frame.
Southern Choctaw 60, Southeast Lauderdale 48: The Indians did the little things right to run their record to 9-4. Shawn Causey put in 11 and Marcus McGrew spelled him with 13 to lead the tribe, who committed 21 fouls.
Anthony Horner kept the Tigers in it with 16 points, while guard Ben Reed added 10.
Northeast girls 62, Enterprise 21: The Lady Trojans were never threatened in the rout that was fueled by the 36-7 middle two quarters. Dorecious Powe dominated down low with 15 and Crystal Hopson added 10. For the Lady Bulldogs, Jerra Cook had nine. Quin Jackson and Tiffany Portis each added seven for Dan Stegall's squad.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com