Neshoba, Louisville set for title bout

By Staff
From staff reports
Feb. 15, 2002
PHILADELPHIA The Neshoba Central Rockets and the Louisville High School Wildcats will square off for the fourth time this season, when they meet in the District 2-4A championship game tonight at 7:30.
Neshoba Central used a balanced attack to roll to a 77-54 win over New Hope, while Louisville beat Noxubee County 45-37.
In girls semifinal play, Noxubee County beat Louisville 65-52, while West Point downed Neshoba Central. The West Point-NCHS score was not reported.
Noxubee County and West Point meet for the girls title at 6 p.m. at Neshoba Central High School.
Neshoba boys 77
New Hope 54
Tawon Walker scored 20 of his game-high 28 points in the first half as the Rockets moved to 23-8 on the season with the win and assured themselves of a spot in the Class 4A State Tournament which begins next week.
Neshoba Central led 17-10 at the end of the first quarter and 37-19 at the half. The Rockets stretched that out to 59-31 after three quarters of play.
Desmond Jones had 22 points for NCHS, while Calvin Parker added 13.
Neshoba Central beat Louisville by three points at LHS earlier in the season and by nine in the Philadelphia Tournament, before dropping a one-point home decision to the Wildcats.
Louisville boys 45
Noxubee County 37
The Wildcats outscored the Tigers 16-7 in the fourth quarter to break out of a scoring slump and take the win.
Mario Kirksey scored 18 points to lead LHS, while Ryan Hudson hit for 10. Delvin Young scored 15 and O'Bryant Brandy 12 for the Tigers.
Noxubee led 14-13 after one quarter of play and 20-17 at the half. Louisville chipped away and cut it away to 30-29 after three quarters of play.
Noxubee girls 65
Louisville 52
Noxubee County trailed 46-44 after three quarters of play, before outscoring the Lady Wildcats 21-8 in the fourth quarter to take the win.
Arlexis Cooper scored 24 points to lead Noxubee County, while Jessica Mason scored 21.
Dee Forrest hit for 23 to lead Louisville High School.