By By Jamie Sullivan/staff writer
Feb. 16, 2002
PHILADELPHIA The Neshoba Central Rockets hit a drought in the second half of play Friday night to drop the Division 2-4A Boys Championship 47-39, to the Louisville Wildcats.
In girls' action, the Noxubee County Tigerettes knocked off the West Point Lady Green Wave 88-75 in the District 2-4A Championship game.
The Louisville Wildcats set a few goals before the season started, and now they are becoming reality.
The last time the Wildcats won a district title was in 1987, and the last time they have won 20 games was in 1990 these were two goals Jackson wanted to accomplish during the 2001-2002 season.
The Neshoba Central Rockets seemed to be in charge of the game, as they took a 27-19 lead into the dressing room at the halft.
In the third quarter, Fred Hopkins knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead to 29-26. Later in the quarter, the Rockets found a 6-0 run to take a 33-26 lead into the fourth quarter.
After a stolen in-bounds pass, Hopkins made a lay-up to make the score 35-28. The Rockets again found a run of four points to remain on top 39-29.
With 4:45 left on the clock, the Wildcats found a run that would claim the title.
The Wildcats went on a 17-0 run in the last 4:45 of the game to take a brutal decision over the homestanding Neshoba Central Rockets.
The 23-6 Wildcats were led in scoring by Hopkins with 13 and Andrea Sims with 11 points. The 23-9 Rockets were led in scoring by Tawon Walker with 12 points.
In the boys' division, Kosciusko's Chris Hall, West Point's Fredrick Fair, Aberdeen's Orwin Word, Noxubee County's O'Bryant Brandy, New Hope's Ontarion Hunter and Steve Sanders, Louisville's Mario Kirksey, Hopkins, Sims, and Neshoba Central's Walker, Taveres Walker, and Desmond Jones were named to the Division 2-4A All District team.
Noxubee Co.y girls 88
West Point 75
The Noxubee County Lady Tigers held on to a one-point halftime lead, to claim the 2-4A District Championship over West Point.
The Lady Tigers scored 18 points in the first quarter, compared to 16 points for the Lady Green Wave.
The Lady Tigers added 24 more points in the second quarter, to take a 41-40 lead into the dressing room.
In the third quarter, West Point only tossed up 10 points in the third quarter, compared to 19 for the Lady Tigers.
The 30-4 Lady Tigers finalized the decision in the fourth quarter, when they found a 8-0 run, to take the Division 2-4A crown.
Noxubee County was led in scoring by Jessica Mason with 24, Erlens Cooper with 18, Chaffie Spann with 16, and Latanya Williams with 10 points.
The Lady Green Wave was led in scoring by Cycelia Carr with 29, April Lewis with 22, and Kayla Ewing with 21 points.
In the girls' division, Amber Gardner of Aberdeen, Laura Lee Holman of New Hope, Katherine Potts of Kosciusko, Dee Forest of Louisville, Miranda Rosar and Elyse Willis of Neshoba Central, Lewis, Carr, and Katerina Holbrook of West Point, and Cooper, Spann, and Jessica Mason were named to the Division 2-4A All District team.