By Staff
FUTURE LADY EAGLE n Southeast Lauderdale's Monique Horner puts up a shot against a defender in this file photo. Horner signed with MCC on Monday. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Rocky Higginbotham/The Meridian Star
April 10, 2001
Basketball fans in and around the area have been blessed for the past six seasons to watch Mississippi's all-time career scoring leader on the high school ranks.
Now, those same fans should be able to watch Monique Horner play at least two more seasons.
Horner, who recently carried Southeast Lauderdale to the Class 3A state championship, signed Monday morning to play at Meridian Community College.
Even with the scoring exploits her 4,853 points easily shattered the previous state mark of 3,647 Horner played in relative obscurity until this past season, when she helped the Lady Tigers win 24 of their final 26 games on the way to a 32-8 mark and the state title.
But those schools Arkansas and Tulane included and the others didn't stay after Horner from start to finish as MCC coach Hilary Allen.
Allen said there was much more to Horner than the points record.
Horner scored a state-record 1,449 points during her senior season, when she averaged better than 36 points per game. She consistently put up triple-doubles throughout her career, as well, as the 5-4 guard often saw time in the post on defense.
She also saw plenty of double and triple-teams.
Horner said the opportunity to play so close to home was too good to turn down.
Also a slow-pitch softball star in high school, The Meridian Star's 2000 Female Athlete of the Year hasn't ruled out the possibility of playing fast-pitch while at MCC as well.
Rocky Higginbotham is the sports editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rhigginbotham@themeridianstar.com.