By By Fredie Carmichael/Special to The Star
Feb. 25, 2001
On sophomore night at the Ivy Sports Center on Saturday, both squads of Meridian Community College left the home court with a good taste in their mouths by sweeping Southern Shreveport.
The Lady Eagles gave head coach Hilary Allen his 200th career win using a big run at the end of the game to wipe out the Lady Jaguars, 97-73. The men held on to put a nice ending on a tough season as they defeated the Jaguars 78-72.
MCC men 78, Southern Shreveport 72: The Eagles jumped out to another quick lead on Saturday night, only this time they finished things off and came away with the victory.
Former Meridian High stand-out Sammie Cole was unconscious in the first half as he sizzled the nets for 23 first half points for MCC.
Cole's deep three-pointer from down-town Meridian put the host Eagles on top 12-6 with 13:31 left in the first half. Seconds after popping the three, Cole took a pass from Cedric Drake in transition and rocked the rim with a one-handed jam that put MCC up by eight.
After another triple from the hot hand of Cole, Northeast Lauderdale graduate Robert Ivy got into the action as made an above-the-rim put back that had the Eagles leading 22-8 with 10:38 left in the first. The Jaguars then made a 4-0 run and cut the lead to 10 on two straight buckets from Johnnie Trahan.
Cole made the play of the night to counter-act the run when he rejected an attempted dunk by Roddrick Smith as he appeared to have an easy fast-break dunk. On the play, Cole raced back on defense as Smith picked up a loose ball and headed for the hole.
Smith caught Cole out of the corner of his eyes and decided to challenge the under sized guard from MCC. Cole made him pay though, as he got all ball and rejected the shot.
MCC's Cole wasn't through just yet. He knocked down consecutive trey's and was fouled on the latter one, making the free throw for the rare four-point-play that put the Eagles up 31-17 with 7:07 left in the half.
MCC let the Jaguars from Southern Shreveport ease back into the game as their lead was down to 44-34 at the break.
Eagle point guard, Jay Ragan played a solid second half for MCC as they walked off the court as 78-72 victors.
The win will help coach Brooks and his Freshman Eagles as they look to improve with the talent that's already in place and win the recruiting battles.
Followed by Cole's 31, Anthony Lane and Ragan netted 11 apiece, while Ivy chipped in with 10 for MCC. Smith led the way for the Jaguars with 19.
MCC women 97, Southern Shreveport 73: Hilary Allen needed only 25 wins coming into the 2000-01 season to claim his 200th career win.
He got the 25th Saturday afternoon as his Lady Eagles ran away from Southern Shreveport in the games' final five minutes to acquire the victory.
The win not only marked Allen's 200th, but it also gave MCC a perfect 8-0 record in Miss-Lou conference play.
Kim Henry, Tammy Bullock, Jackie Winfield…. And the list could go on and on of names of great women's basketball players that have come through the MCC program over the last few years. None more special than this group of Lady Eagle sophomores that played their final home game tonight.
After a big first half from Walden, and leading 49-36, the Lady Jaguars used a big run in the second half to cut it to 74-68 with 8:32 to play in the game.
Then the ladies from MCC used a 10-0 run of their own to get the lead to 84-70 with 4:43 left in the game. During that run it was plays made by sophomores Riley, Bullock, and Walden that sparked the Lady Eagles.
MCC went on to win by a hefty margin, 97-73, The Lady Eagles have one more regular season game at Wallace-Hanceville Wednesday at 6 p.m. to gear up for the Region 23 tourney which begins on March, 6.
MCC (25-4) was led in scoring by Walden's season high 30. McFarland scored 23, and Bullock added 15.