By By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Dec. 23, 2001
LAKE CHARLES, La., The Meridian Wildcats dropped two games in the Cameron State Bank Classic Tournament here at Barbe High School.
Coach Ernie Watson's club dropped a tough 70-68 decision to Sulpher in Friday night's late game of the CSBC Tournament. The loss drops the Wildcats record to 9-6 on the season.
Sulphur, 9-9, took a big lead in the first half outscoring the Wildcats 18-4 in the first quarter and 21-14 in the second to go up 39-18.
Meridian began a comeback in the second half with a 26-point third quarter trimming the deficit to 52-44. The Wildcats scored 24 more in the fourth quarter to make it a two-point game.
Jason Windham had 19 points while Tony Dunn added 11 for the Wildcats. Fred Cole chipped in 10.
Brian Guilbeaux and Martin Zeno had 16 apiece. Kevin Guilbeaux chipped in 15 for Sulpher who went on to play Lake Charles Central on Saturday.
Westgate, La. 66
Meridian 55
Meridian opened the Cameron State Bank Classic by taking on a tough Westgate club. The Wildcats fell 66-55.
Westgate improved to 13-3 on the season and went on to face John Ehret on Saturday for third place. Meridian fell to 9-5 with the loss.
Joseph Polite fired in 25 points to lead Westgate. Travis Batiste had 16.
Meridian was led by Jamaine Winfield with 10. Josh Walker and Tony Dunn each had nine.
Meridian took a 19-18 lead in the first quarter. Westgate came back to tie it at 30-all by halftime. The Wildcats went up 47-41 after three quarters only to see Westgate rally for a 25-point fourth quarter and win by 11.
Wayne County Boys 63
Northwest Rankin 60
Wayne County outscored Northwest Rankin 10-7 in overtime to pull out a key divisional road win on Friday night.
Wayne County improves to 10-1 on the season following the 63-60 win. Northwest falls to 6-10.
John Gray and Steven Ford combined for 29 points to lead the War Hawks. Gray had 16 while Kacey Wilson chipped in 12 and Dietric Slater had nine.
Northwest was paced by Ken Jefferson's 18.
The War Hawks led 27-26 at the half. They increased the margin to four at 41-37 after three quarters. The Cougars scored in the final quarter to send the game into overtime tied at 53-53.
Bay Springs Boys 75
West Jones 66
All-State guard Jason Forte led Bay Springs past West Jones 75-66 on Friday night in Soso.
Forte, ranked No. 2 on most state recruiting lists, tossed in a game high 30 points to lead Bay Springs. They are now 6-10 on the year.
Kevin Wheaton added 11 points.
West Jones was led by Andrew Galliazo with 17 points and Gorio Keys had 15.
Bay Springs led 36-32 at the half. They then put the contest away with a 25-point fourth quarter.
Mendenhall Boys 70
Newton 60
A big second half by the Mendenhall Tigers carried then past visiting Newton on Friday night.
Mendenhall moves to 10-6 following the 70-60 victory.
Newton led 32-29 at the half but the Tigers rallied with 41 second half points. It was 42-40 going into the final quarter. The Tigers scored 28 in the fourth.
Newton was led by Bobby Lindsey with a game high 27 points. Joey Jackson had 16 for Newton.
Bay Springs Girls 68
West Jones 41
Bay Springs shocked West Jones with a 27-point victory on Friday night in Soso.
West Jones had entered the contest with a 14-1 record. They left with two losses after Bay Springs used big second and third quarters to turn the tide.
West Jones led 18-14 after one quarter but Bay Springs answered with a 22-2 second period to go up 36-20 at the half. They then scored 18 more in the third quarter to make it 54-28.
Kristi Martin paced Bay Springs, now 8-11, with a game high 33 points. Quaya Payton had 19.
West Jones was led by Latoria Keyes with 13 and Sharon Pendarvis with 11.
Wayne County Girls 71
Northwest Rankin 45
Wayne County placed four players in double figures to whip Northwest Rankin 71-45 on Friday night in Division 6-5A action.
The Lady War Hawks move to 14-1 on the season. Northwest Rankin falls to 13-6.
Wayne jumped out to a 20-8 lead after one quarter. It was 34-18 at the half. The Lady Cougars scored 19 in the third quarter to cut it to 47-37. Wayne then finished up with a 24-point fourth quarter.
Natalie Jordan fired in 18 points while Carla Bartee had 12. Rakeshia Gray chipped in 11 and Sonya Henderson had 10.
Northwest was led by Lindsey Duke with 15.