By By Rocky Higginbotham/The Meridian Star
Jan. 8, 2001
Meridian Community College had three players with double-doubles as the Lady Eagles knocked off the nation's ninth-ranked women's junior college basketball team Saturday with an 84-81 win over Volunteer State in Gallatin, Tenn.
The victory improved the Lady Eagles to 12-3 on the season, while Gallatin dropped to 12-2.
Angela Bullock scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Tommie Walden had 16 points and 14 rebounds and Ole Miss signee Catesha Riley scored 10 points and dished out 11 assists to lead MCC.
Former Meridian High School standout Tijwana Collins added 13 points for the Lady Eagles, who host Bishop State Saturday at 4 p.m. as part of a split doubleheader. The MCC men entertain Gulf Coast at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Chipola, Fla. men 91, Meridian 85: The Eagles weren't as fortunate Saturday, falling to Chipola despite 35 points from sophomore post player Rocky Lane.
MCC trailed 44-40 at the half.
Freshman Sammie Cole, another former MHS standout, nailed six 3-pointers and finished with 21 points for MCC, while Ced Drake scored 11 points.
Janeno Spurlock pumped in 27 points to lead Chipola, which knocked down 10 3-pointers in the contest. Michael Wilder scored 24, while Lavelle Felton had 19.
MCC's men are at home Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game against Alabama Southern at the Ivy Sports Center.
Jones County women 83, East Mississippi 78: The host Lady Lions gave highly-touted Jones quite a scare Saturday before falling to the Lady Bobcats.
Kim Davis, another former Meridian High standout, led winless EMCC with 21 points, while Kelli Glenn scored 18. Freshman Kenyetta Moore of Kemper County scored 15 for the Lady Lions and Natalie Williams chipped in 12.
Sophomore forward Tammika Sims of Quitman pumped in 28 points for Jones, which got 29 points from Ebony Johnson.
The Lady Lions visit Mississippi Delta tonight for a North Division contest.
Jones County men 84, East Mississippi 78: Like the Lady Lions, homestanding EMCC put a scare into Jones Junior College Saturday, but couldn't pull off the win.
The teams were tied at 29 at halftime before Jones erupted for 55 second-half points.
EMCC fell despite 21 points from Dennis Williams, 17 Rashard Alonza and 10 from McKenzie Lash.
Jones County put six players in double figures, including former Heidelberg High standout Scottie Faulkner, who scored scored 15, and ex-Bay Springs star Nick Paige who had 14.
Derrick White led the Bobcats with 18 points, Omar Bartlett scored 14, Lacedrick Petteway had 12 and Chris Keys 11.
Rocky Higginbotham is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rhigginbotham@themeridianstar.com.