Second half runs power Lake girls

By By Marty Stamper/staff writer
Jan. 27, 2002
FOREST The Lake Lady Hornets used a 44-16 second-half advantage to knock off Choctaw Central 72-48 in the second-annual Broiler Classic at the Durward G. Smith Gymnasium Saturday night.
In other girls' games, Union beat Morton 51-36, Kosciusko got past Scott Central 44-40 in overtime, and Newton defeated Forest 64-51.
In three weeks, Lake will begin defense of its 2001 Class 1A state championship, but for now, wins over Class 2A Scott Central and Class 3A Choctaw Central in back-to-back nights will do just fine.
Choctaw Central, a Class 3A state semifinalist last year, led Lake 16-8 late in the first quarter and held a 16-10 advantage at the end of the opening period. The Lady Warriors then scored nine of the first 11 points in the second quarter to go up 25-12.
The Lady Warriors carried a 32-28 lead into halftime behind 10 points from Brittany Morris and eight from Chantay Frazier. Already without Willamae Thomas and Shavon Willis, Choctaw Central lost Deaundrea Johnson to a knee injury in the first half.
Lake took its first lead since 6-4 when Kim Cox gathered a long rebound and drove the court for a layup with 2:29 remaining in the third quarter for a 41-40 advantage. By the time the Lady Hornets capped a 15-0 run, they were up 48-40 with 43 seconds to play in third period. A 3-pointer by Kelly Willis cut Lake's lead to 48-43 at the end of the third quarter.
Lake then opened the final period with an 11-0 run to go up 59-43. The Lady Warriors didn't score in the fourth quarter until Morris made a pair of free throws with 4:04 left.
Lake's final 24-point differential was its biggest lead of the night as the Lady Hornets finished the contest with an 8-0 run.
Lake, 20-3, placed five players in double figures. Kimyatta Viverette scored 15 points, April Viverette had a career-high 14, Roxana Rogers scored 12, and Cox and Latoyia Hunt both had 11. Shariece Towner was a near miss as she hit three 3-pointers for nine points.
Choctaw Central, 20-5, got 15 points from Morris, 12 from Frazier, and six from Ashley Flint. The loss was the Lady Warriors' third in their last four games after a 19-2 start. They were coming off a double-overtime loss at Newton County Friday night.
Newton 64
Forest 51
Lenora Gray scored a game-high 22 points as Newton knocked off the Division 6-3A-leading Lady Bearcats.
Forest led 10-9 after one quarter, but Newton rallied to take a 30-22 lead into halftime behind 10 points from Gray and seven from Twila Clayton.
Newton, 20-4, had a 49-38 lead to start the fourth quarter.
In addition to Gray's 22-point effort, the Lady Tigers also got 13 points from Clayton, 11 from Kotreece Bender, and seven apiece from Tonya Jordan and Creoshia Williams.
Forest, 13-9, got 16 points from Ebone'e Leverette, 10 from Sheena Evans, nine from Pharen Nelson, and seven from Photasha Derrick.
Union 51
Morton 36
Marley Smith and Lauren White both tossed in 14 points to lead Union to the 15-point victory.
Morton led 8-5 after one period, but the Lady Jackets outscored the Lady Panthers 18-11 in the second quarter to take a 23-19 lead into halftime. Union was up 34-23 by the end of the third quarter.
Union, 10-12, also got eight points from LaSaundra Harrison, seven from Hali Rainer, and six from Clancy Cleveland.
Morton, 10-11, got 10 points apiece from Jessica Sparkman and Tyneisha McDonald, eight from Rachel Jenkins, and six from Makela Evans.
Kosciusko 44
Scott Central 40
Kosciusko outscored the Lady Rebels 6-2 in overtime to grab the four-point win after Scott Central blew an eight-point lead over the final 52 seconds of regulation.
Scott led 13-8 after one quarter and took a slim 21-20 lead into halftime. The contest was even at 28-28 to start the fourth quarter and at 38-38 at the end of regulation.
Scott, 16-12, got 16 points from Britney Burks, 12 from Kattie Nickson, and seven from Marquita Anderson.
Kosciusko, 11-15, got 13 points from Aly Frazure, 11 from Jakensa Braggs, eight from Robin Dawson, and seven from Katherine Potts.