By By Marty Stamper/staff writer
Jan. 4, 2002
FOREST The Choctaw Central Warriors became the first team to reach the championship of the Central Mississippi Classic as they took a bruising 80-76 win over Newton Thursday.
Today's winner's bracket contests have the Lake and Choctaw Central girls opening play at 4 p.m. with the Scott Central and Forest girls clashing at 7. The lone boys' winners' bracket game has Forest hosting Union at 8:30. Lake and Pearl will clash in a boys' losers' bracket contest at 5:30.
The Choctaw Central-Newton boys' battle Thursday night brought back memories of the 1995 football playoff game between the two for its intensity.
The Warriors, 7-7, led 20-19 after one quarter. The second period saw 11 lead changes before the Tigers went on a 7-0 run to carry a 38-31 advantage into halftime.
Newton scored the first five points of the third quarter to go up 43-31.
The Warriors got two 3-pointers from Tyler Williamson to close to within 52-49. With one second left in the period, the Warriors inbounded the ball at midcourt into their backcourt and Newton's Danule McNair was called for fouling Williamson on a desperation heave as time expired. McNair's foul was his fifth and Williamson drained all three free shots to knot the contest at 52-52.
The Warriors scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter with Williamson knocking down another 3-pointer for a 59-52 lead with seven minutes remaining.
Choctaw Central led by 10 at 75-65 with 1:18 to go when Andrew McMillian got free for a layup.
Newton battled back to within 77-75 with 12 seconds left as Zack Logan converted two free throws off a steal.
Sean Ashapanek hit one free throw with 10 seconds showing and Williamson added two with four seconds left for the win.
Williamson led the Warriors with 20 points. McMillian scored 12, Ashapanek and Braden Sam both had 10, and Deon Lewis and Anslem Henry both had six.
Newton, 8-7, got a game-high 28 points from Bobby Lindsey, 15 from Ladarrian Blaylock, 12 from Coshune Bingham, eight from David Edwards, and six from Logan.
Newton returns to action Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against the Forest-Union loser.
Newton girls 54
Meridian 52
Lenora Gray snapped a 50-50 tie with a basket with 1:03 remaining and Kotreece Bender extended the lead to 54-50 with a pair of free throws with 10 seconds showing as Newton took the losers' bracket contest.
Meridian carried a 27-22 lead into halftime behind 16 points from Valencia Hairston only to have Newton draw even at 36-36 by the end of the third period.
Two baskets by Latishea Jones put the Lady Wildcats up 40-36 in the first 30 seconds on the fourth quarter.
After six ties and three lead changes, Gray gave Newton the lead for good with just over a minute left.
Gray led Newton, 12-3, with 22 points. Tonya Jordan scored 14 and Bender had 12.
Hairston led Meridian, 12-7, with a game-high 28 points. Jones and Stephanie Mosley both scored six.
Newton made 10-of-16 free throws, while Meridian shot only six freebies, making two.
Union girls 44
Pearl 43
Union outscored Pearl 13-6 in the third quarter and held off a late charge by the Lady Pirates for the losers' bracket win.
Curbie Buckley gave the Lady Jackets a 44-41 lead with a pair of free throws with 29 seconds remaining and Pearl could manage only two points down the stretch.
Buckley and LaSaundra Harrison both had 14 points for Union, 6-9. Marley Smith added nine.
Union was 14-of-20 at the free-throw line, while Pearl was a dismal 5-of-23.
Tyree Brown led Pearl, 4-13, with a game-high 26 points despite an 0-of-7 showing at the charity stripe.
Union led 15-8 after one quarter and by as much as 21-13 before the teams entered halftime knotted at 23-23.
Pearl also got eight points from Suypia Padilla.
Pearl boys 61
Scott Central 42
The Pirates outscored the Rebels in all four quarters of the losers' bracket contest.
Pearl led 13-3 after one quarter, 28-15 at halftime, and 43-28 to start the fourth quarter.
Pearl, 5-14, got 13 points from Ricky Jenkins, 12 from Calvin Washington, nine from Ted Kanegiser, and eight from Matt Buchanan.
Scott Central, 3-10, got 13 points from Roderick Loper, 10 from Cedric Gray, and eight from Nate McKee.