16 area teams still alive in hoops tourneys
By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
Feb. 21, 2002
Just one more win.
That's all 14 area MHSAA members need to secure berths in the state tournament which begins Monday at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
And the good thing is the teams will each have two chances to get that one more win. North and South State Final Fours are set for Friday-Saturday with three of the four teams from each tournament advancing to The Big House.
Meanwhile, the Kemper Academy girls and Leake Academy boys are in their respective MPSA state tournaments already. The 28-7 Lady Rams of Kemper play Lee (Ark.) at 4 p.m. today in quarterfinal action in the Academy Class A State Tournament at Delta Academy in Marks. The winner will play the Strider-Trinity Episcopal winner Friday at 1 p.m.
Kemper will have to deal with Lee's 6-foot-2 Elise Leslie, who had 23 points in the Lady Cougars' 64-57 win over Huntington, La., on Tuesday. Raleigh May added 18 points.
The 30-7 Leake Rebels take on Brookhaven Academy Friday at 6 p.m. in the semifinals of the Academy Class AA State Tournament at Canton Academy.
The Class 3A South State tournaments are sure to advance at least one area team apiece to Jackson as both the boys' and girls' four-team fields have two area entries.
In the Class 3A girls South State at West Lauderdale, the host Lady Knights (30-4) play Greene County at 8 p.m. with Heidelberg (22-13) battling Hazlehurst at 6:30.
West drubbed Velma Jackson 76-48 in Monday's opening round, while Heidelberg defeated Forest 62-49.
Greene County (21-4) got past Jefferson County 69-58 behind 31 points from Bridgett Lockhart. The Lady Wildcats also got 12 points from Crystal Woullard and nine each from Christy Matthews and Dayshla McCann.
Hazlehurst (26-5) blitzed Purvis 60-32 behind 20 points from Aiesha Collins. Victoria Richardson added 16.
At Leakesville, the Class 3A boys' teams from West Lauderdale and Heidelberg will be battling for a trip to state. Heidelberg (28-6) plays Jefferson County (18-11) at 6:30 with West Lauderdale (24-11) taking on the host Greene County Wildcats at 8.
West knocked off Morton 69-66 in double overtime Tuesday, while Heidelberg whipped Collins 83-63 in opening-round games. Marvin McDonald led Heidelberg with 22 points.
Jefferson County used a late 6-0 run to edge Prentiss and 6-foot-9 center Al Jefferson 59-56. The Tigers were 12-of-14 at the free-throw line and got 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists from Delvin Thompson and 13 points and five assists from Dewones Smith.
Greene County upped its record to 21-5 with a 59-47 win over Amite County. Martin Leverette led the Wildcats with 18 points. Sanchez Hopkins scored 13 and Marvin Wash added 11.
The Class 5A boys' picture has a local flair as well.
In the North half at Horn Lake, the Meridian Wildcats (19-10) will play Clinton (23-8) at 8 p.m., while in the South half at Gulfport, Wayne County's 28-1 War Eagles get a shot at the unbeaten Admirals of Gulfport (33-0) at 8 p.m.
Meridian got to the tournament by beating Olive Branch 65-49 at Meridian on Tuesday. Clinton advanced with a 53-43 upset of second-ranked Murrah. Also in the field are host Horn Lake (25-7) and Natchez (26-4) who get things under way at 6:30.
Horn Lake held Columbus to just two points in the fourth quarter in rallying from a 43-35 deficit to take a 50-43 victory. The Eagles scored the game's final 15 points. Natchez beat Jackson Callaway 84-68 behind 26 points from VasShun Newborne and 20 from Burton Brody.
