By By Marty Stamper and Jamie Sullivan/The Meridian Star
Dec. 1, 2001
DECATUR The Newton County Cougars fell to the Neshoba Central Rockets 60-57, Friday night in the ECCC Tournament held on the campus of East Central Community College.
The Cougars went up early as they went on an eight to two point tare early in the first quarter. However, the Rockets would not be rattled, as they took a 17-16 lead after the first quarter.
The Rockets nursed a three point lead into the locker room, after the first half of play, as they led 34-31.
The Cougars came into the third quarter with high intentions, as they took a temporary one point lead, however, the Rockets quickly overcame the set back, as they took a four point lead into the final eight minutes of play 50-46.
Neshoba Central got some key free throws from Calvin Parker late in the fourth quarter to hoist the Rockets to the Championship game, Saturday night.
The Rockets will play the West Lauderdale Knights.
The 6-2 Rockets were led in scoring by Tawon Walker with 24, Tavares Walker with 15, and Parker added 14.
The Cougars were led in scoring by Al Willis with 20, and Tony Smith added 14.
West Lauderdale 51
Forest 41
Calvin Moore scored 22 points and Boo Ramsey added 18 to lead the Knights to the championship matchup with Neshoba Central.
Moore had 12 points in the first quarter as West jumped out to a 15-8 lead.
The Bearcats closed to within 21-18 by halftime.
The 8-1 Knights controlled the tempo most of the game as Forest suffered a bad night from 3-point range.
Forest, 7-1, got 14 points from Charles Rhodes, nine from James Dixon, and eight from Michael Hayes.
West defeated Neshoba Central on Nov. 20 at Collinsville.
Forest plays Newton County, 4-1, in the third-place game at 5:30 p.m.
Union 50
Scott Central 36
Anthony Johnson scored 16 points and Douglas Wansley tossed in 15 to lead the Yellowjackets past the Rebels in the losers' bracket game.
Union, 2-3, led 21-16 at halftime and then outscored the Rebels 14-8 in the third quarter to go up 35-24.
Union also got eight points apiece from Prentiss Evans and Derrick Harris.
Union will face Morton in the losers' bracket championship at 4 p.m. The two met in the first round of the tournament with Morton winning 58-57.
Scott, 1-4, got 11 points from Courtney McClendon, nine from MacHandy Bobbitt, and eight from Cedric Gray.
Morton 70
Sebastopol 64
Andrew Lewis led the Panthers, 5-1, with 13 points with teammate Elijah McDonald tossing in 12. Chris Lloyd and Ralph Patterson both scored nine for Morton in the losers' bracket contest.
Sebastopol, 4-7, got 21 points from Sylvester Snow, 16 from Curtis Price, and 11 each from Chris Price and Albert Nicks.
Jamie Sullivan is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. Email him at jsullivan@themeridianstar.com, or call 693-1551, ext. 3235.