By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Dec. 8, 2001
NEWTON – Newton won a pair of Division 5-2A basketball games from Kemper County Friday night.
While the Newton girls' 64-49 win was pretty much expected, the Tigers' 64-59 victory would have to qualify as an early-season surprise.
Newton returns to action Tuesday here against Bay Springs, while Kemper hosts Williams-Sullivan Tuesday for its next games.
Newton boys 64
Kemper County 59
Bobby Lindsey scored 23 points and Laderrian Blaylock tossed in 22 to lead Newton past the Wildcats.
In a game that saw eight ties and 10 lead changes, Newton led 19-18 after one quarter and 34-32 at halftime before Kemper got to within one point (52-51) to start the fourth quarter.
A three-point play by Marques Mays put Kemper up 56-54 with 5:51 to go, but Newton got a three-point play from David Edwards and Blaylock's sixth 3-pointer to take a 60-56 advantage with just under five minutes remaining.
Blaylock hit a long 3 to end the first quarter with Newton up 19-18 after trailing by as much as 16-8.
After the Tigers took their 60-56 lead, Kemper would get no closer than three points as Newton effectively spread the floor and took time off the clock to improve to 2-3.
Edwards scored nine points for Newton.
Kemper, 7-2, got 18 points from Kenny Boyd, 17 from Mays, and eight from Gary Griffin.
Newton girls 64
Kemper County 49
Newton outscored Kemper in all four quarters to take the league win and improve to 6-1.
Newton led 16-15 after one period and eased into halftime with a 30-22 lead. The Lady Tigers were up 48-36 with one quarter remaining and led by as much as 20 (60-40).
Kemper led 18-16 early in the second period, but Lenore Gray scored eight points during a 10-0 run to put Newton up for good at 26-18.
Gray led the Lady Tigers with 22 points. Creoshia Williams scored 18, Tonya Jordan had 12, and Twila Clayton added eight.
The win was big in the rugged 5-2A league that has unbeaten Williams-Sullivan, Newton, South Leake, Scott Central, and Kemper County among its six members.
Kemper, 2-5, got 13 points from Tamician Davis, seven from Melody Nave, and six from Candra McCoy.
Marty Stamper is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com or call him at 693-1551, ext. 3235.