By By Jim Luke/Special to the Star
Dec. 30, 2001
PHILADELPHIA As one fan put it, Saturday's action in the Philly-Rush Medical Holiday Classic was a backyard brawl of sorts as the pairing matched neighboring teams. Kemper County topped Nanih Waiya 85-67, Newton County beat Union 54-39 and Louisville downed Ackerman 31-34.
In the consolation game of the winners' bracket, the Louisville Wildcats were trying to bounce back from what they felt was a less than great defensive showing the day before against Neshoba Central. They would have to do it without their starting center who had to miss the game because of an injury.
Coach Dennis Jackson's team played outstanding defense in the first quarter, giving up only six points to the Ackerman Indians while scoring 18. The Wildcats gave up 11 points to the Indians in the second and fourth quarters while holding the Indians to six points again in the third quarter.
This was the third meeting between the two schools with Louisville winning all three games.
Mario Kirksey and Ryan Hudson led the Wildcats, 13-4, with 12 points each while Jerrick Porter added 10. Ackerman, 8-7 was led by Xavier Weeks with 10 points.
Newton County 54
Union 39
The second neighborhood clash of the day matched the Cougars of Newton County against the Yellowjackets of Union.
Union opened the game with an 11-7 lead at the end of the first quarter only to see the Newton County offense uncork for 21 points in the second quarter to take a 28-21 lead at the half. The Cougars continued the offensive and defensive pressure to take the win in the battle for fifth place in the tournament.
Newton County, 8-4, was led by Del Murrell with 15 points. Tony Smith added 12 and Al Willis 11 in the winning effort. Derrick Harris led Union, 7-7, with 15 points.
Kemper County 85
Nanih Waiya 67
The opening game of the days' action featured a pair of potent offenses in the consolation game of the losers' bracket. The Kemper County Wildcats did the most of their damage to the Nanih Waiya Warriors in the second quarter as they outscored their opposition 25-5 to take a commanding 46-20 at halftime.
Nanih Waiya refused to go away and matched Kemper in scoring in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter pretty much belonged to Nanih Waiya's David Frey as the sharpshooter hit six three-point shots in the quarter, some from well beyond NBA range. Frey ended the game with eight three-point goals and led all scorers with 26 points.
Kemper County, 12-5, was led by Ronterrian Dale with 14 points and Kendrick Benamon with 13. Terrance Westerfield added 12 while Marques Mays and Paul Williams both had 10. Nanih Waiya, 4-10, also had 17 points from Derek Holdiness and 14 points from Brent Blackwell.