By By Fredie Carmichael/Special to The Star
FEB. 12, 2001
It's do or die time in high school basketball as the 2001 Division 7-2A Girls Tournament got under way Monday night at Clarkdale High School.
In the first of the night's two girls' games, the Newton Lady Tigers pulled out a thriller against the Lady Panthers of Morton 50-48. In the second girls game, Bay Springs ran away from Enterprise, 52-37.
Newton 50, Morton 48: In a game that was billed as the tournament's best first-round girls' matchup, both teams managed to live up to the hype.
Even though Newton led throughout much of the game, the Lady Tigers were never able to put away the pesky Lady Panthers.
After leading by as many as nine in the final quarter, the Lady Tigers allowed Morton to get back into the ballgame by not taking care of the basketball. The Lady Panthers used a smothering press in the final period to force seven Newton turnovers.
Creoshia Williams and the Lady Tigers of Newton got off to a good start as they led it after the first period, 15-10.
In a seesaw battle, Newton won the majority of those battles and held a 28-21 lead at halftime. Morton outscored Newton 22-17 in the second half but came up just short as the Lady Tigers claimed the win.
Williams led the way in scoring for Newton with 17, while Lenore Gray added 10. Teresa Ealy carried the load for Morton as she netted a game-high 25.
Newton will play again on Thursday as the Lady Tigers await the winner of tonight's game between the Taylorsville and Clarkdale.
Bay Springs 52, Enterprise 37: As in the night's first girls' contest, turnovers played a big role in the outcome of the game.
Enterprise used a stifling defense to set the tone early, but was unable to protect the basketball.
Fresh off of a momentum-building victory over Scott Central, the Lady Dogs of Enterprise seemed eager for another big win. In the game's first 30 seconds, they proved just that as they led 3-0 on a basket by Chasity Stingley and a free throw by Teela McBride. They stretched their lead to 8-2 on five consecutive points from Jerra Cook with 6:30 left in the first.
After two quick steals by Bay Springs' Brittany Martin and a knifing jumper in the lane by sister Kristi Martin, the Lady Bulldogs of Bay Springs cut it to 10-8 with 2:32 left in the first quarter.
Enterprise answered back and scored the next four points and led 14-8 with 1:52 to go in the first on a driving baseline shot by McBride.
Kristi Martin picked off an Enterprise pass and traveled the length of the court and laid it in to knot the game up at 14-14 with 1:01 left in the first. McBride made an open layup to put Enterprise on top 16-14 after one period.
That proved to be the last lead for Enterprise, though, as Bay Springs went on a tear in the second quarter and led 29-20 at halftime.
Bay Springs was led in scoring by Kristi Martin's 23, while Karen Clayton added 12.
Shonda Bester was the only Enterprise player who got into double digits, as she hit for 10.
Bay Springs faces the winner of tonight's contest between Richton and Seminary in Thursday's semifinals.