By By Marty Stamper/staff writer
Jan. 3, 2002
FOREST For the Newton Tigers, the Christmas holidays have been a busy time on the hardwood. After two games in the Peoples Bank Showdown at Mendenhall, Dec. 21-22, the Tigers played three times in the Bay Springs Round Robin last week.
The Tigers evened their holiday record at 3-3 with a 50-41 win over Pearl in the opening round of the Central Mississippi Classic Wednesday.
Today's boys' games have Scott Central, 3-9, meeting Pearl, 4-14, at 5:30 p.m. in an elimination contest, while Choctaw Central, 6-7, faces Newton, 8-6, at 8:30 in the winners' bracket.
Newton 50
Pearl 41
Newton scored 12 of the game's final 15 points in beating Pearl.
The Pirates led 12-11 after one quarter and carried a 22-19 lead into halftime.
Newton rallied to even the contest at 30-30 by the end of the third quarter.
Newton opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to go up 37-30 only to have Pearl take a 39-38 edge on a free throw by Matt Buchanan with 2:23 remaining.
A basket by Danule McNair gave Newton a 40-39 lead 18 seconds later and the Tigers would not trail again.
Zack Logan extended the lead to 42-39 with a layup with 1:36 left. He was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw. Laderrian Blaylock got the rebound and was hacked. Blaylock then made both free throws as the Tigers improved to 8-6.
Bobby Lindsey led Newton with 13 points. Logan scored 11 with Blaylock and David Edwards both adding nine.
Pearl, 4-14, got 14 points from Justin Sanders and seven each from Calvin Washington and Ricky Jenkins.
Forest 56
Lake 33
The Bearcats got 23 points from 6-foot-8 sophomore post Charles Rhodes as they improved to 14-2 with the 23-point victory. He made three 3-point baskets.
Forest led 36-17 at halftime behind 20 points from Rhodes.
The Bearcats extended their lead to 50-23 by the end of the third quarter.
Forest also got 12 points from Pierre Barlow and six from Jacquas Jones.
Lake, 3-9, got eight points apiece from Danny Towner and Marvin Washington.
Union 55
Scott Central 39
Even without two starters, the Yellowjackets beat the Rebels by 16 points.
Union led 13-10 after one quarter and extended its lead to 31-18 by halftime. The Jackets led 43-31 to start the fourth quarter.
Union, 8-7, got 20 points from Derrick Harris, 14 from Douglas Wansley, and 10 from Cordis Thompson.
Scott Central, 3-9, got 14 points from Cedric Gray, 11 from Roderick Loper, and eight from McHandy Bobbitt.