By By Cassie Chance/Special to The Star
Feb. 10, 2001
Don't tell Lewis Lightsey's Northeast Lauderdale Trojans that the third time isn't the charm.
The Trojans have had some ups and downs this season, but despite their 2-4 district record, Northeast has an overall winning record.
On Friday night, its neighbor from Kemper County paid a visit.
The Wildcats were looking to win the third contest between the two this season. The last time they met, in DeKalb, Kemper won 67-62. The Trojans weren't going down without a fight on "Senior Night." And fight they did, as Northeast rallied in the second half to take the 61-54 victory.
Lightsey was proud of the effort put forth by everyone. "We're undefeated in February. Kron [Johnson] really carried us tonight. His shots kept us in the game. Marcus [Betts] did a good job defensively, even with a hurt back. He got things done inside. We also got a solid job from our seniors: Brandon [Williams], Jimmy [Kelly], Kron, and Clinton [Hales]."
Kemper opened the game with a 9-0 run before Northeast scored with just 3:36 left in the first quarter. The Wildcats kept their lead and took a 15-9 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Trojans answered on three crucial 3-pointers by Kron Johnson, giving them the momentum to outscore the Cats 17-13 in the second. The rally cut Kemper's halftime lead to 28-26.
Northeast came out from the break fired up as it went on a 6-0 run with key shots by Betts and Hales.
Terrance Westerfield and Kenny Boyd scored the lone points for the Cats in the third quarter, as Northeast once again outscored Kemper 13-4 to take a 39-32 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
The fourth quarter proved to be the deciding factor in the game, as Kemper kept the Trojans' lead at three for the majority of the quarter.
However, with just 4:57 left in the game, Kemper went on a 6-0 run with help from Boyd, Westerfield, and Gary Griffin to tie the game at 44 with 3:41 left on the clock.
The lead then swapped back and forth for almost three minutes before Northeast found itself at the free-throw line. With just 37.8 seconds left in the game, Kelly nailed two free-throws to give the Trojans the two-point lead.
However, Kemper tied the game once again with just 30 seconds left. Kelly hit 1-of-2 from the line with just 23 seconds remaining to give Northeast a slim one-point advantage.
Then, De'Kenno Winston's free-throws with 14.3 left, along with two more with three seconds remaining, gave the Trojans the win.
Northeast (18-11) will open play in the Division 5-4A tournament at Mendenhall this week.
NE Girls 65, Kemper County 43: Dorecious Powe scored 21 points, while Crystal Hopson netted 18 as the Northeast Lauderdale Lady Trojans took a 65-43 victory over the visiting Lady Wildcats Friday night.
Kemper kept the game close in the first quarter, as Northeast was only able to have an 11-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
Hopson and Powe lead the Lady Trojans in the second quarter, but Monique Mosley carried the Lady Cats by going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. It wasn't enough for Kemper, as Northeast held a 24-16 lead at the break.
Northeast broke away in the third with help from Powe, Hopson, and Quin Jackson to outscore the Lady Cats 25-10.
This gave the Lady Trojans a 49-26 lead with just eight minutes to play. Kemper tried to rally in the fourth and was able to outscore Northeast 17-16. But it wasn't enough as the Lady Trojans took the win.
Mosley led the Lady Cats with 16. Jackson added 16 for Northeast.