By By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Dec. 5, 2001
QUITMAN Rivalry games seem to bring out the best in Wayne County point guard John Gray.
Gray and his partner Dietric Slater cut up the Quitman Panthers here Tuesday night for a 63-38 road victory in the Panthers' gym.
The win keeps the War Eagles unbeaten on the season at 6-0. Quitman slips to 1-6 with the loss. Wayne County also won the girls game in a romp, 58-27.
If he wasn't burying the long-range three, Gray was finding an open Slater inside for easy baskets. In the second half, he flew past Quitman defenders for layups off the spread. In all, Gray and Slater combined for 41 points.
Quitman actually led 11-6 late in the first quarter only to watch the War Eagles, led by Gray, steal it away. Two free throws by Tedric Rankin followed by a long three-pointer by Gray at the horn put Wayne ahead at 12-11.
Slater then got going with two free throws and a basket while Gray launched another three to put Wayne up 23-13 with 3:21 left in the second. The half ended with the War Eagles up 30-23.
The pair really got going in the third quarter combining for 16 points. Gray hit two more bombs to give him four treys for the game. Steven Ford added another for good measure.
The prettiest basket, however, was a running reverse layup by Slater off a fast-break that put Wayne ahead 48-30. The quarter ended with the War Eagles enjoying a 48-32 lead.
Gray slowed things down in the fourth quarter drawing out the Panther defense. That led to more easy scores and a 21-point lead at 57-36. Reserves finished up the contest.
Quitman head coach Steve Hampton said the War Eagles' pressure got to his team.
Slater had 21 points while Gray fired in 20. The War Eagles made 24 field goals, including five three-pointers. They were 11-of-16 from the line.
Lorenzo White paced Quitman with 12 points. The Panthers were limited to just 15 field goals.
Wayne County girls 58
Quitman 27
Carla Bartee showed why she is a Dandy Dozen pick by helping to beat the Quitman Lady Panthers 58-27 on Tuesday night.
Bartee scored a game-high 21 points to lead Wayne County to their ninth win in 10 decisions. She made nine field goals and was 3-for-3 from the line.
MUW signee Natalie Jordan added 13 points while Nicole Jordan scored eight.
Quitman, who starts a 6-foot-2 post and a 5-foot-11 forward, took a 3-2 lead early in the first quarter. After that, it was all Wayne County. Natalie Jordan scored five points in a nine-point run to close out the quarter. The Lady War Eagles then used a 12-5 second quarter to go up 25-8 at the half.
It was 41-21 after three quarters.
and the Lady War Eagles cruised in the fourth.
Kemonica McGee led Quitman with 10 points and Shaquille Mack had eight.